Re: Cubs to Leave Mesa for Florida?

[moochpuppy]

Cubs plan to make decision on Naples/Mesa spring training location some time in January.

 

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2009/dec/07/naples-chicago-cubs-spring-training-decision-/

[Old Style]

If they move to FL it may kill my old man. :(

 

He dreamed for years about going to ST every year and when my parents retired, he got "season" tickets and they would rent a place there for the entire month. Within a year or two, he got their seats moved to the 2nd row on the aisle right behind the Cubs dugout. Now they've bought a place in the Mesa area and spend 5 months or so there every year. He lives for ST games and even goes to as may practices as he can get to.

[Ballgame64]

I know most people don't respect Phil Rogers, but I tend to agree with his take on the move to Florida.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-10-rogers-on-baseball-dec10,0,1650172.column

 

Its only been a couple of months, but I don't like the start Ricketts has gotten off to. If the family was willing to spend $850 million to buy the damn team, they should have been prepared to spend a little more to upgrade the roster this winter. Worry about the bathrooms and concession stands later. Like McDonough says, "the best marketing plan is a winning team."

 

This whole organization needs an enema.

[DivineBovine]

I know most people don't respect Phil Rogers, but I tend to agree with his take on the move to Florida.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-10-rogers-on-baseball-dec10,0,1650172.column

 

Its only been a couple of months, but I don't like the start Ricketts has gotten off to. If the family was willing to spend $850 million to buy the damn team, they should have been prepared to spend a little more to upgrade the roster this winter. Worry about the bathrooms and concession stands later. Like McDonough says, "the best marketing plan is a winning team."

 

This whole organization needs an enema.

 

 

I'm going to wait before I drawing conclusions about the Ricketts family. They are obviously rich, but you can't sustain a high payroll out of your pocket. It has to come from revenue. There is no owner in pro sports who pays out of their pocket to win, and there never will be. To me, maximizing revenue is smart. No stingy. They just paid a lot of money for the team, it probably isn't the right time to start throwing money around just yet. Ricketts has said that revenue will be invested back into the team. I'll give them a chance to show this before I criticize.

 

To compare them with the Trib is unfair. The Tribune, to me, was as bad as owners can possibly be. A for profit company who only cared about the bottom line. And for years, the Cubs were money in their bank. They rigged TV and radio deals and claimed they had no cash to spend. The payroll has risen substantially in the past few years prior to the sale. That should say something. Where was this payroll 10 years ago? In 1997, the Cubs were outspent by the Twins, Padres and Royals. Number TWENTY THREE out of 28 teams. They didn't crack the top 10 in payroll until 2003.

 

To compare them to the Tribune because they haven't upped the payroll from 2009 is unfair. In 2009, they were #3 in baseball in terms of payroll. The only reason the Tribune ever let the payroll get there was because they were selling the team. But obviously, the money has been there for a while. The Tribune was a f@#$ing joke. You can't expect the Ricketts to start throwing money around to increase baseball's #3 payroll right after they financed hundreds of millions in a recession to buy the team.

 

At least I get the impression that the Ricketts family wants to win. Let them raise revenue. Let them raise ticket prices. The fans will still be in the seats. And hopefully, the money goes back into the team.

[UMFan83]

Honestly, it'd be nice to have a little money to spend this offseason, but I think we need to stop throwing money at our problems, especially when Jim Hendry doesn't make the right decisions when he's doing so. I think to get out of this mess Jim has left us in, we need to look in terms of multiple years. I would sign a filler FA or two (Cameron is fine I guess), see if we can get lucky and click, but have the focus be long term.

[XZero771679666304]

Honestly, it'd be nice to have a little money to spend this offseason, but I think we need to stop throwing money at our problems, especially when Jim Hendry doesn't make the right decisions when he's doing so. I think to get out of this mess Jim has left us in, we need to look in terms of multiple years. I would sign a filler FA or two (Cameron is fine I guess), see if we can get lucky and click, but have the focus be long term.

 

I agree. I don't see the answer out there on the market right now, and if I did, I sure wouldn't trust Hendry to identify it. I feel good about the Ricketts so far. I like that they're going to give Wrigley the attention it needs. I like what I've heard about player development. And I don't think walking in the door tossing millions around, dictating that our top prospects be traded for rentals and possibly more bad contracts would be a great idea.

 

This is a long term endeavor, and to be honest, I would be more perturbed if the new owners came in and started making huge moves, not having an entirely intimate knowledge of everything that's going on. In any walk of life, when you enter an new situation, waiting until you have your full bearing before acting is the soundest tactic.

 

And the payroll is plenty big as it is. The problem is how it's allocated, and that won't be fixed overnight.

[Soul]

I'm deferring to my Cub brethren in giving Ricketts some time...

[Tyrant]

I know most people don't respect Phil Rogers, but I tend to agree with his take on the move to Florida.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-10-rogers-on-baseball-dec10,0,1650172.column

 

Its only been a couple of months, but I don't like the start Ricketts has gotten off to. If the family was willing to spend $850 million to buy the damn team, they should have been prepared to spend a little more to upgrade the roster this winter. Worry about the bathrooms and concession stands later. Like McDonough says, "the best marketing plan is a winning team."

 

This whole organization needs an enema.

 

Phil Rogers is a board-certified ruhtard.

[Pushfrog98]

I know most people don't respect Phil Rogers, but I tend to agree with his take on the move to Florida.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-10-rogers-on-baseball-dec10,0,1650172.column

 

Its only been a couple of months, but I don't like the start Ricketts has gotten off to. If the family was willing to spend $850 million to buy the damn team, they should have been prepared to spend a little more to upgrade the roster this winter. Worry about the bathrooms and concession stands later. Like McDonough says, "the best marketing plan is a winning team."

 

This whole organization needs an enema.

My big problem with the article is that he suggests moving to Florida would hinder the recruiting of new players. Seeings as though Roy Halliday has specifically said he doesn't want to get traded to a team who doesn't play in Florida... I would have to say that the move to Florida would not hinder recruiting of new players.

[Tyrant]

I know most people don't respect Phil Rogers, but I tend to agree with his take on the move to Florida.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-10-rogers-on-baseball-dec10,0,1650172.column

 

Its only been a couple of months, but I don't like the start Ricketts has gotten off to. If the family was willing to spend $850 million to buy the damn team, they should have been prepared to spend a little more to upgrade the roster this winter. Worry about the bathrooms and concession stands later. Like McDonough says, "the best marketing plan is a winning team."

 

This whole organization needs an enema.

My big problem with the article is that he suggests moving to Florida would hinder the recruiting of new players. Seeings as though Roy Halliday has specifically said he doesn't want to get traded to a team who doesn't play in Florida... I would have to say that the move to Florida would not hinder recruiting of new players.

 

Plus, players will probably consider 50 other factors before where the team plays in spring training.

 

Rogers also says that the move to Florida is as confusing as the Mark DeRosa trade, which really wasn't that confusing.

[moochpuppy]

The Arizona Republic reports: With the Cubs expected to decide on their future spring-training home by January, Mesa is spending $750,000 to improve the team's facilities at Fitch Park. The City Council next week is expected to approve spending up to that amount for two 5,000-square-foot buildings that will each accommodate two covered batting cages.

 

Mayor Scott Smith said the Cubs and Mesa have been talking about the batting cages for a couple of years, before Naples, Fla., began its efforts to lure the team away.

 

Get the full story: AZCentral.com

[Soul]

The Arizona Republic reports: With the Cubs expected to decide on their future spring-training home by January, Mesa is spending $750,000 to improve the team's facilities at Fitch Park. The City Council next week is expected to approve spending up to that amount for two 5,000-square-foot buildings that will each accommodate two covered batting cages.

 

Mayor Scott Smith said the Cubs and Mesa have been talking about the batting cages for a couple of years, before Naples, Fla., began its efforts to lure the team away.

 

Get the full story: AZCentral.com

 

They've really got Mesa scrambling. I think it's mission accomplished for the Cubs, no matter how this works out.

[moochpuppy]

From Naples Daily News:

 

NAPLES — The groups working to bring the Chicago Cubs to Collier County, will are tentatively scheduled to hold a rally from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 16.

 

The public event, which will be held to encourage the Cubs to relocate from Mesa, Ariz., is tentatively set for Cambier Park in Naples.

 

The group will confirm the location as soon as it can determine that no other events are taking place at the park on that date, said Gary Price, a partner in Fifth Avenue Advisors, one of two groups pushing to bring the Cubs to Collier County. The other group is Esmark Inc.

 

The effort is known as “Project Home Run.”

 

“We’re expecting (the event) to be well attended,” Price said.

 

 

http://www.floridacubs.com

[Guest]

The Arizona Republic reports: With the Cubs expected to decide on their future spring-training home by January, Mesa is spending $750,000 to improve the team's facilities at Fitch Park. The City Council next week is expected to approve spending up to that amount for two 5,000-square-foot buildings that will each accommodate two covered batting cages.

 

Mayor Scott Smith said the Cubs and Mesa have been talking about the batting cages for a couple of years, before Naples, Fla., began its efforts to lure the team away.

 

Get the full story: AZCentral.com

 

They've really got Mesa scrambling. I think it's mission accomplished for the Cubs, no matter how this works out.

 

Good. The facilities in Mesa are horrible and easily the worst in Arizona.

 

But I want the Cubs to stay in Arizona.

[jersey cubs fan]

The Arizona Republic reports: With the Cubs expected to decide on their future spring-training home by January, Mesa is spending $750,000 to improve the team's facilities at Fitch Park. The City Council next week is expected to approve spending up to that amount for two 5,000-square-foot buildings that will each accommodate two covered batting cages.

 

Mayor Scott Smith said the Cubs and Mesa have been talking about the batting cages for a couple of years, before Naples, Fla., began its efforts to lure the team away.

 

Get the full story: AZCentral.com

 

They've really got Mesa scrambling. I think it's mission accomplished for the Cubs, no matter how this works out.

 

Good. The facilities in Mesa are horrible and easily the worst in Arizona.

 

But I want the Cubs to stay in Arizona.

 

Somebody wrote that the facilities in AZ are only 12 years old. Is that true? I was there in 2005, I believe, and it was a dump. Are they talking Fitch Park or HOHOKam?

[David]

The Arizona Republic reports: With the Cubs expected to decide on their future spring-training home by January, Mesa is spending $750,000 to improve the team's facilities at Fitch Park. The City Council next week is expected to approve spending up to that amount for two 5,000-square-foot buildings that will each accommodate two covered batting cages.

 

Mayor Scott Smith said the Cubs and Mesa have been talking about the batting cages for a couple of years, before Naples, Fla., began its efforts to lure the team away.

 

Get the full story: AZCentral.com

 

They've really got Mesa scrambling. I think it's mission accomplished for the Cubs, no matter how this works out.

 

Good. The facilities in Mesa are horrible and easily the worst in Arizona.

 

But I want the Cubs to stay in Arizona.

 

Somebody wrote that the facilities in AZ are only 12 years old. Is that true? I was there in 2005, I believe, and it was a dump. Are they talking Fitch Park or HOHOKam?

 

 

I remember the new hohokam being built in the late 90s...

[moochpuppy]

Two properties the Cubs like have been secured. Decision to come in weeks. Collier County Hoteliers have given full support for move and use of bed tax.

 

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2010/jan/07/cubs-decision-could-come-weeks-collier-hoteliers-s/

[Guest]

Dear Mesa - please get off your butts and make this thing work out.

 

Thanks

[J.R.]

Dear Collier County,

 

The upset is within reach. Keep dishing the money and land.

 

Thanks

[A-Cal]

Florida.

 

Do it.

 

Thanks.

 

Me

[moochpuppy]

:-))

 

So far you look outnumbered Tim.

[Guest]

:-))

 

So far you look outnumbered Tim.

yeah, but I've given actual baseball logic for why AZ makes more sense in this thread. The votes for florida are "they'd be closer to me!"

 

The only baseball reason to move to florida is that they'll provide facilities that are enough better to offset all the other reasons to stay in AZ.

[A-Cal]

:-))

 

So far you look outnumbered Tim.

yeah, but I've given actual baseball logic for why AZ makes more sense in this thread. The votes for florida are "they'd be closer to me!"

 

The only baseball reason to move to florida is that they'll provide facilities that are enough better to offset all the other reasons to stay in AZ.

 

Meh. I am sticking with option, "they will be closer to me, Alex."

[moochpuppy]

The only baseball reason to move to florida is that they'll provide facilities that are enough better to offset all the other reasons to stay in AZ.

 

How about the more beaches/more babes option?

[Guest]

The only baseball reason to move to florida is that they'll provide facilities that are enough better to offset all the other reasons to stay in AZ.

 

How about the more beaches/more babes option?

That would hold if they were in Miami instead of Tampa.

 

Coked up supermodels > Meth addicted high school drop outs.