Cubs facilities a reason we haven't won in over 100 years...

[kente777]

...per Scott Rolen. He also says we need a younger team because of the grueling day schedule.

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/ct-spt-0706-around-town--20100705,0,5504936.column

[Sammy Sofa]

He has valid points.

[J.R.]

Hopefully Ricketts can fund the new third base side facilities that would bring the Cubs' digs up to snuff.

 

I question some of Rolen's points however ... the Reds have just as much variance in their start times as the Cubs, and the visiting teams at Wrigley have even more spartan facilities than those used by the Cubs.

 

If there is a disadvantage at Wrigley, it stands to reason that it's more difficult for the visitors as there hasn't been a similar park (as far as facilities go) in the league since Shea closed down. The Cubs are used to all of the Wrigley quirks, and should have the advantage. The fact that they haven't made use of it since 2008 reflects a deficiency of management rather than an indictment of the park IMO.

[Sammy Sofa]

The Cubs play way too many day games.

[J.R.]

I love the day games, but perhaps you're right. I don't play.

 

In any case, the organization doesn't see it as a factor, as they continue to "burn" night openings on concerts.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Damn, I always thought it was because they put together too many crappy teams.

[jersey cubs fan]

It was cool when they played all night games in Miller Park in 2008, not sure why they decided to move back to day games at Wrigley the last two years.

[Soul]

Damn, I always thought it was because they put together too many crappy teams.

 

What he's talking about can contribute to some players deciding to go elsewhere though.

[erik316wttn]

He has valid points.

 

Really? Wrigley Field is the reason we haven't won since 1908? I find that extremely hard to believe. Even in 1984 when they had to move the last 3 games of the NLCS to San Diego because NBC wanted night games and Wrigley didn't have lights yet, the Cubs still should have won at least one of those games.

 

J.R. makes a lot of good points about the faculties and the start times. The whole "day games and Wrigley Field is supposedly crappy" argument just seem like excuses. The real reason is because of some of the crappy teams that have been put together and the mind-bogglingly boneheaded decisions made by Cubs management over the decades, not because we play some games at 120.

[jersey cubs fan]

Damn, I always thought it was because they put together too many crappy teams.

 

What he's talking about can contribute to some players deciding to go elsewhere though.

 

The Cubs have not suffered from players refusing to join the team.

[Soul]

Damn, I always thought it was because they put together too many crappy teams.

 

What he's talking about can contribute to some players deciding to go elsewhere though.

 

The Cubs have not suffered from players refusing to join the team.

 

No, not in aggregate, but they may have missed out on a few individual players because of it. And may miss out on some in the future.

[jersey cubs fan]

He has valid points.

 

Really? Wrigley Field is the reason we haven't won since 1908? I find that extremely hard to believe. Even in 1984 when they had to move the last 3 games of the NLCS to San Diego because NBC wanted night games and Wrigley didn't have lights yet, the Cubs still should have won at least one of those games.

 

That did not happen.

[SouthSideRyan]

Even in 1984 when they had to move the last 3 games of the NLCS to San Diego because NBC wanted night games and Wrigley didn't have lights yet, the Cubs still should have won at least one of those games.

 

Myth

[Guest]

Damn, I always thought it was because they put together too many crappy teams.

 

What he's talking about can contribute to some players deciding to go elsewhere though.

 

The Cubs have not suffered from players refusing to join the team.

 

No, not in aggregate, but they may have missed out on a few individual players because of it. And may miss out on some in the future.

I don't buy it. Not for a minute. Scott Rolen is prick.

[Soul]

Damn, I always thought it was because they put together too many crappy teams.

 

What he's talking about can contribute to some players deciding to go elsewhere though.

 

The Cubs have not suffered from players refusing to join the team.

 

No, not in aggregate, but they may have missed out on a few individual players because of it. And may miss out on some in the future.

I don't buy it. Not for a minute. Scott Rolen is prick.

 

Actually, I find these comments particularly interesting coming from him. When he left the Phils we were in need of a 3rd baseman, and Rolen didn't give the Cubs much thought. It was really only the Cards he wanted to play for.

 

Could this have been one reason why?

 

I'm definitely not saying Wrigley is the reason we fail though. It's probably one factor that counts as a negative with a few players. Others find way more positives and choose the Cubs over other teams. Wrigley likely counts as a net positive more than it does a net negative. I'm just saying, when you boil it down to individual guys, a few might stay away.

 

Big deal -- there are plenty of good players out there and we've had our crack at more than enough to be successful.

[jersey cubs fan]

Actually, I find these comments particularly interesting coming from him. When he left the Phils we were in need of a 3rd baseman, and Rolen didn't give the Cubs much thought. It was really only the Cards he wanted to play for.

 

He was traded to STL.

 

It's possible somebody didn't want to play for the Cubs because of Wrigley/day games. Some people have supposedly avoided NY because of the demanding fans/media, Philly because of horrible fans, west coast teams because they have family out east, American League teams because they like the NL, etc.

 

It has nothing to do with 100 years of losing.

[erik316wttn]

Even in 1984 when they had to move the last 3 games of the NLCS to San Diego because NBC wanted night games and Wrigley didn't have lights yet, the Cubs still should have won at least one of those games.

 

Myth

 

Well I guess you learn something new every day.

[J.R.]

Ueberroth left the '84 NLCS alone, but did state that the Cubs would get home games 3, 4 and 5 at Wrigley were they to advance to the Series instead of 1, 2, 6 and 7 as was planned for the NL that season.

 

Before the '85 season, he declared that no postseason games would be played at Wrigley until lights were added.

[chuckywang]

He has valid points.

 

Really? Wrigley Field is the reason we haven't won since 1908? I find that extremely hard to believe. Even in 1984 when they had to move the last 3 games of the NLCS to San Diego because NBC wanted night games and Wrigley didn't have lights yet, the Cubs still should have won at least one of those games.

 

J.R. makes a lot of good points about the faculties and the start times. The whole "day games and Wrigley Field is supposedly crappy" argument just seem like excuses. The real reason is because of some of the crappy teams that have been put together and the mind-bogglingly boneheaded decisions made by Cubs management over the decades, not because we play some games at 120.

 

What? I thought it was only for the World Series where the commish wanted night games, so the Cubs couldn't have played in Wrigley had they made it. Unfortunantly, they crapped the bed in the last 3 games of the NLCS so it was a moot point.

[UK1679666180]

The day games take a toll on them I'm sure, I don't know completely about the facilities whether or not it is just comfort in the locker room or actual training/recooperation facilities which would be more logical than having more elbow room.

 

The Cubs lack of talent has been the greatest factor, IMO.

[Irrelevant Dude]

The Cubs have been in the playoffs 3 of the last 7 seasons. Once the playoffs start, you can completely throw out the "Cubs play too many day games" theory. They lost each of those years because they didn't play well enough when it counted.

[soapy]

Cubs record in Sept/Oct the last few seasons is as follows:

2009: 18-14 (September was their second best month after July)

2008: 12-12 (Best month was Aug at 20-8)

2007: 17-12

 

If you want to go back to the Dusty era:

2006: 12-17 (They had a .407 WP for the season so it's not a big drop-off)

2005: 16-13 (.488 WP for the season)

2004: 17-13

2003: 19-8

 

Record wise, they haven't shown a tendency to fade the last month or so of the season over the last several years, FWIW.

[Pushfrog98]

I think they are valid points. But what does Scott Rolen know. It's not like he actually plays baseball or anything like that. You simply can't discredit the day games and the horrible facilities. Sure, visitors have the same disadvantage, but they are only here for 3-4 games at a time. The Cubs have to play 81 games in subpar conditions. "Oh... but they make millions a year, they should suck it up." Easier said than done.

 

Also, I'm sure it probably costs more to lure some of the bigger name free agents to play at Wrigley than if the Cubs had more reasonable facilities to play in.

[jersey cubs fan]

I think they are valid points. But what does Scott Rolen know. It's not like he actually plays baseball or anything like that. You simply can't discredit the day games and the horrible facilities. Sure, visitors have the same disadvantage, but they are only here for 3-4 games at a time. The Cubs have to play 81 games in subpar conditions. "Oh... but they make millions a year, they should suck it up." Easier said than done.

 

Also, I'm sure it probably costs more to lure some of the bigger name free agents to play at Wrigley than if the Cubs had more reasonable facilities to play in.

 

Oh, well if you are a sure that is probably true, then it must be.

 

Baseball players are uneducated goons. They don't really know much at all.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I think they are valid points. But what does Scott Rolen know. It's not like he actually plays baseball or anything like that. You simply can't discredit the day games and the horrible facilities. Sure, visitors have the same disadvantage, but they are only here for 3-4 games at a time. The Cubs have to play 81 games in subpar conditions. "Oh... but they make millions a year, they should suck it up." Easier said than done.

 

Also, I'm sure it probably costs more to lure some of the bigger name free agents to play at Wrigley than if the Cubs had more reasonable facilities to play in.

 

Oh, well if you are a sure that is probably true, then it must be.

 

Baseball players are uneducated goons. They don't really know much at all.

Seriously, most of them are dumb as [expletive]. Imagine the dumbest person you've ever worked with. S/he is likely quite a bit smarter than your average professional athlete.

 

There is little to no evidence of people not wanting to play for the Cubs because they play day games. They have had a wonderfully long history of constructing really bad teams.