Rickett's comments on his team

[JeffH]

I will go on record today. The chance of Ricketts firing Hendry in the next six months is essentially zero.

[XZero771679666304]

I think an even bigger boon than canning Hendry would be hiring a sharp baseball mind as president ( who would likely recommend firing Hendry). Are there any names that come to mind?

[Vinestal]

I will go on record today. The chance of Ricketts firing Hendry in the next six months is essentially zero.

I agree, and the Ricketts family hasn't done squat that would make the fan base believe they give a rats butt about winning. Hendry should have been fired during last offseason honestly. I dont have much faith they would have the brains to hire someone who would do a better job though so maybe it doesn't even matter.

[Vinestal]

Bruce Miles just posted an article about a regime change it was a good read, I'd post a link but for some reason I can't copy the link from the tweet on my iPad. Hiring Schurholtz as president was an idea I really liked.

[Tarver]

So let me get this straight; you think an intelligent, sharp operator like Joe Ricketts is going to sit back and let his dopey son run his billion $ investment into the ground?

 

As attendance continues to slip (and it will), you'll see changes. The buck never stopped at Tom's desk.

[SouthSideRyan]

Let me get this straight, you think a guy with an MBA from U of C is too stupid to realize low attedance = bad.

[Tarver]

Let me get this straight, you think a guy with an MBA from U of C is too stupid to realize low attedance = bad.

 

I'm not getting in an argument about the questionable value of MBAs, I'm pointing out that it ultimately might not be Tom's choice to make.

[questionmarkgrace]

The bad baseball was one thing, but that Undercover Boss appearance still chaps my ass.

 

Yeah, I couldnt even watch that. I think what did it for me was the news conference wearing the harry carrey glasses. It really seemed to contribute to that cuddly, carefree, 90 loss portrayal of the cubs. Something only a cubs owner could do. And this is supposed to be the suave business man who made billions of dollars innovating how stocks are traded today. Dude looked like some jag at a carnival.

[Guest]

Bruce Miles just posted an article about a regime change it was a good read, I'd post a link but for some reason I can't copy the link from the tweet on my iPad. Hiring Schurholtz as president was an idea I really liked.

 

http://dailyherald.com/article/20110602/sports/706029870/

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Ricketts should just criticize the whole team ala Wippon. That would be great.

[Mark Priors Calves]

http://dailyherald.com/article/20110602/sports/706029870/

 

Fantastic article by Bruce Miles. I've said it before and I'll say it again, the length of Jim Hendry's tenure is really remarkable. Overseeing mediocrity, with a two, two year periods of success (one deep playoff run and another 90+ win season) and choosing three different managers is amazing especially considering there's been a major ownership change within that tenure. I really hope that Hendry is no longer GM within the next six months but I've previously had that sentiment.

[USSoccer]

Congratulations, you guys are on the same page as Steve Rosenbloom.

 

It doesn't matter if he said it, just as long as he's not stupid enough to believe it. Because only a complete freaking moron would think it's true.

 

So basically you think Ricketts has done everything right the past 18 months? Good to know.

The Hayden Simpson pick, retaining Hendry, completely [expletive] up the asking for public money to fix Wrigley, Todd appearing on Undercover Boss and looking like a moron, and now pretending that injuries are the only thing wrong with this awful team is OK with you?

 

-Did Tom Ricketts run the draft?

 

-Any team owner with half a brain will try and get the state to kick in money for a stadium. It happens everywhere, but somehow our guy is the idiot.

 

-Who cares about him going on Undercover Boss? Would it make you feel better if, instead of helping a bunch of hot dog vendors and car valets, he spent those 4 days screaming obscenities at Jim Hendry from a box seat, throwing paper clips at Alfonso Soriano and berating Chad Marshall?

[SouthSideRyan]

Batteries at Soriano, D Cells.

[USSoccer]

Bags of urine at Rudy Jaramillo

[questionmarkgrace]

Congratulations, you guys are on the same page as Steve Rosenbloom.

 

It doesn't matter if he said it, just as long as he's not stupid enough to believe it. Because only a complete freaking moron would think it's true.

 

So basically you think Ricketts has done everything right the past 18 months? Good to know.

The Hayden Simpson pick, retaining Hendry, completely [expletive] up the asking for public money to fix Wrigley, Todd appearing on Undercover Boss and looking like a moron, and now pretending that injuries are the only thing wrong with this awful team is OK with you?

 

-Did Tom Ricketts run the draft?

 

-Any team owner with half a brain will try and get the state to kick in money for a stadium. It happens everywhere, but somehow our guy is the idiot.

 

-Who cares about him going on Undercover Boss? Would it make you feel better if, instead of helping a bunch of hot dog vendors and car valets, he spent those 4 days screaming obscenities at Jim Hendry from a box seat, throwing paper clips at Alfonso Soriano and berating Chad Marshall?

 

It just seems like the way he has gone about things is less than what we all would have expected. Hayden Simpson was a D2 guy drafted in the first round for pure money concerns. The stadium thing just alienated pretty much everyone who pays taxes in this damn state because its already broke and the tax payers are already footing enough of the bill. True most would have made a proposal but that it was so out of line with reality and present revenue concerns it smacked of arrogance and ignorance which is why it had virtually zero backers. The undercover boss stuff just screams un-professionalism. I think I speak for most when we thought that the new ownership group would be an improvement over the tribune or sam zell. I'm not seeing it thus far. I see a goofy guy, who instead of buying a convertible had enough money to buy a baseball team in order to re-live his twenties in wrigleyville. All that would be fine if it just looked like he knew what he was doing. Between the above things and underestimating the park's condition, the team's perpetual marketability, fan reception to annual ticket raises, and the viability of a number of overpaid declining players; they have looked ill-prepared from the start. But I guess thats what happens when you pay roughly twice what the cubs were worth to begin with.

 

Also its Sean Marshall not Chad.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

This team will never win a championship until we get a faceless corporate owner with tight spin control. Maybe they could own a big part of the media.

[SouthSideRyan]

Your blurb about Simpson implies we haven't spent money on prospects, this is false.

 

You admit that most would make a proposal to bleed money from the state, Selig probably writes the damn thing into your ownership agreement, "get more free money"

 

I am literally speechless that people care about Undercover [expletive] Boss

 

And to wrap it up, you believe the Cubs + 25% stake in CSN is worth 425M.

[questionmarkgrace]

Note from CubColtPacer: I apologize. I went to quote part of this post and write a response and instead I accidentally edited and deleted it. The first paragraph is still quoted in my response below.

[SouthSideRyan]

I have no idea how that yahoo article is supposed to back up your assertion that the Cubs + 25% of CSN = 425M

[USSoccer]

 

Also its Sean Marshall not Chad.

 

Wow, way to mix up your sports, USS.

 

That post was an idiot.

[Brett]

You admit that most would make a proposal to bleed money from the state, Selig probably writes the damn thing into your ownership agreement, "get more free money"

 

I think the criticism is not that Ricketts asked for public funding for updates to Wrigley (as you say, it's a standard ask), it's that Ricketts screwed up the tenor and timing of the ask.

[CubColtPacer]

Quote is from questionmarkgrace

 

Yes we have spent a bit more else where, but Simpson was an unjustified pick, not even in the top 200. We didnt have nearly the number of overslot players as in previous years, and we spent, comparatively nothing to other teams in Latin America last year. So sure, we went and got two or three guys from korea for a million or so, its still less overall than in past years with the trib. And perhaps more misguided spending given how few korean prospects have actually panned out.

 

The Cubs ended up spending around the middle of teams on the draft last year. They did pay Szczur 1.5 million so they weren't just in money saving mode. And while they didn't spend a lot in the Dominican, they paid 2 million for two Cuban players along with all their money in Korea. I doubt if you took their international signings and draft signings that it was less than the years with the Trib. And while they didn't get many players from Latin America last year, they announced a major investment to upgrade their facilities down there to hopefully become more competitive in the future.

[SouthSideRyan]

Thanks CCP, I know I'd read elsewhere that the Cubs spent a fairly standard amount on amateurs, but didn't know where to find that info.

[questionmarkgrace]

It clearly says in that article that Sam Zells share of csn chicago was worth 180million at the time of sale. Look again. As far as the draft, yes I forgot about the Cuban guys. So ill give you that they have been on par drafting or above the trib. But that still doesn't negate the fact that ricketts isn't the shrewd businessman we all thought he was for the other reasons I listed above.

 

Southside Ryan do you really think he's has done a good job since taking over? It's been one blunder after another and now the debt is rising to the point that the mlb is sending warnings. This is not how I saw this transition going that's for sure

[Guest]

Blunder after blunder?