Is The Ricketts Family the worst thing to...

[Sammys Boombox]

Not really sure where to put this, but yesterday I saw a friend of a friend that I see every now and then. This person has been a beat writer covering the NL Central for a few years.

 

I asked what the rest of the division and media think about how the Cubs are going about their rebuild. Most of the people this person has talked to do not understand why the Cubs feel the need to throw away so many seasons to complete the rebuild. There are conjectures that the Cubs are not able to spend more money, but many believe that they are just not WILLING to spend the money. The divisional rivals do not feel like the Cubs will be a threat to win the division for "several years."

 

This person also said that going to Wrigley is awful because of the facilities (duh). When I said they should be getting better soon this person responded that they would believe it when they see it.

 

While none of this is news I left the conversation more depressed because the division rivals are not taking the Cubs seriously anytime soon. The Cubs have tried to paint the picture that they will own the division sometime soon, but it doesn't seem our rivals are too concerned with what the Cubs are saying.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Well, it just makes sense. There are three teams with better MLB rosters right now that are failry young and in good shape. Two of those three teams have comparable farm systems and the third has a decent one.

 

Unless and until the Cubs show an interest in being truly aggressive, they're not going to come close to closing the gap.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I think it's plausible that Ricketts could have accidentally burned Wrigley Field to the ground on his first day as owner, and that alternative history would have the Cubs in better shape in 2014 than what he's actually done.

[JoseHernandez18]

I think it's plausible that Ricketts could have accidentally burned Wrigley Field to the ground on his first day as owner, and that alternative history would have the Cubs in better shape in 2014 than what he's actually done.

 

=D>

 

Well said, at least they gave us a mascot today to distract the kids and tourists from the awful on field product. I can't believe there are people that believe the BS that comes out of Tom's mouth.

[Sammy Sofa]

Wait, I thought it was the new Jumbotron that was the travesty that was going to magically distract people from how bad the team is.

 

Make up your mind, meatballs.

[mul21]

Wait, I thought it was the new Jumbotron that was the travesty that was going to magically distract people from how bad the team is.

 

Make up your mind, meatballs.

 

They can't seem to get that built so they had to come up with something else?

[LeftCoastCubFan]

I think it's plausible that Ricketts could have accidentally burned Wrigley Field to the ground on his first day as owner, and that alternative history would have the Cubs in better shape in 2014 than what he's actually done.

You’re being a bit harsh on Rickets and have some unrealistic expectations on spending.

 

Blame Zell and the Tribune for their tax avoidance strategy (it’s ironic the IRS is going after them and they may need to pay the taxes anyway). They were not going to sell the team unless it was highly leveraged, which is why so many bidders dropped out. As a result the Cubs started 671 million in debt, with some bad contracts, weak team, weak in talent, and a weak organization. It was public knowledge at the time of the sale that there wasn’t much money to spend on players for a few years. No owner could have changed that.

 

It is frustrating as a fan, but I am a realist. You can’t spend more money when revenues are sinking. The Cubs need revenues and can’t spend until they do. But hope is on the horizon.

 

- 2014 National broadcast rights increase 20 to 25 million a year

- 2015 Local broadcast contract 10 million plus a year

- 2017 Wrigley renovations complete (if not held up long in court) another 75 to 100 million a year

- 2020 New broadcast contract. Hard to predict the market but if there is a quality product on the field it could be a 200 million plus a year windfall per year

 

So the money just isn’t there the next few years, other than incremental upgrades. By 2016 or 2017 the spending will increase significantly and we will have a steady supply of young cheap players, allowing for sustainable success (no guarantees of course). That has been the business plan from day one.

 

Enjoy the ascent of some talented young players and wait till next next next year.

[jersey cubs fan]

So the money just isn’t there the next few years,

 

The money is absolutely there if they wanted to spend it. They don't want it to be spent right now.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I'm being harsh on Ricketts because a deal he agreed to is screwing the Cubs?

[Guest]

I'm being harsh on Ricketts because a deal he agreed to is screwing the Cubs?

 

Well.

 

You can be mad and critical as a fan but you can't really call him dumb for it if accepting this is what made ownership possible (or likely) for him.

 

/rehashing this conversation again

 

Let's just skip ahead to the part where it's over.

[LeftCoastCubFan]

I'm being harsh on Ricketts because a deal he agreed to is screwing the Cubs?

You totally missed the point

[jersey cubs fan]

I'm being harsh on Ricketts because a deal he agreed to is screwing the Cubs?

You totally missed the point

 

The point being that you are totally cool with the ownership for being unnecessarily cheap.

[CubsWin]

I'm being harsh on Ricketts because a deal he agreed to is screwing the Cubs?

You totally missed the point

 

The point being that you are totally cool with the ownership for being unnecessarily cheap.

:roll: :roll: :roll:

 

What Cub fan would be happy that the owner of their favorite team is being cheap and unnecessarily so on top it? Give me a break.

[jersey cubs fan]

I'm being harsh on Ricketts because a deal he agreed to is screwing the Cubs?

You totally missed the point

 

The point being that you are totally cool with the ownership for being unnecessarily cheap.

:roll: :roll: :roll:

 

What Cub fan would be happy that the owner of their favorite team is being cheap and unnecessarily so on top it? Give me a break.

The one that just posted a bunch of bs excuses for the cubs being so cheep just above here.

[CubsWin]

I'm being harsh on Ricketts because a deal he agreed to is screwing the Cubs?

You totally missed the point

 

The point being that you are totally cool with the ownership for being unnecessarily cheap.

:roll: :roll: :roll:

 

What Cub fan would be happy that the owner of their favorite team is being cheap and unnecessarily so on top it? Give me a break.

The one that just posted a bunch of bs excuses for the cubs being so cheep just above here.

I read it. I disagree with his reasoning, but nowhere does he say that ownership is being unnecessarily cheap. He believes they're being cheap out of necessity, the exact opposite.

[Banedon]

Wittenmeyer was on Mully and Hanley this morning and ripped the Cubs up, down, left and right. Anything "positive" he managed to say was begrudging and quickly follow by some negative qualifier. He's convinced the team is broke, but then criticizes them for not spending resources on the current team.

 

Did say that if the Cubs do get Tanaka, it will make this offseason a successful one.

[jersey cubs fan]

I read it. I disagree with his reasoning, but nowhere does he say that ownership is being unnecessarily cheap. He believes they're being cheap out of necessity, the exact opposite.

They are being unnecessarily cheap and he is making excuses for it because he's apparently completely fine with it. It's called context

[ctcf]

Wittenmeyer was on Mully and Hanley this morning and ripped the Cubs up, down, left and right. Anything "positive" he managed to say was begrudging and quickly follow by some negative qualifier. He's convinced the team is broke, but then criticizes them for not spending resources on the current team.

 

Did say that if the Cubs do get Tanaka, it will make this offseason a successful one.

 

Kinda sounds like no one in this front office has decided to talk to him behind the scenes much.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Wittenmeyer was on Mully and Hanley this morning and ripped the Cubs up, down, left and right. Anything "positive" he managed to say was begrudging and quickly follow by some negative qualifier. He's convinced the team is broke, but then criticizes them for not spending resources on the current team.

 

Did say that if the Cubs do get Tanaka, it will make this offseason a successful one.

 

Kinda sounds like no one in this front office has decided to talk to him behind the scenes much.

 

Kinda sounds like the team is in a bad place and has been for several years.

[Banedon]

Wittenmeyer was on Mully and Hanley this morning and ripped the Cubs up, down, left and right. Anything "positive" he managed to say was begrudging and quickly follow by some negative qualifier. He's convinced the team is broke, but then criticizes them for not spending resources on the current team.

 

Did say that if the Cubs do get Tanaka, it will make this offseason a successful one.

 

Kinda sounds like no one in this front office has decided to talk to him behind the scenes much.

 

Kinda sounds like the team is in a bad place and has been for several years.

 

Which makes it odd that he chooses to squash the few positives with his own negative speculation.

[Guest]

Wittenmeyer was on Mully and Hanley this morning and ripped the Cubs up, down, left and right. Anything "positive" he managed to say was begrudging and quickly follow by some negative qualifier. He's convinced the team is broke, but then criticizes them for not spending resources on the current team.

 

Did say that if the Cubs do get Tanaka, it will make this offseason a successful one.

 

Kinda sounds like no one in this front office has decided to talk to him behind the scenes much.

 

Kinda sounds like the team is in a bad place and has been for several years.

 

Everyone knows the Cubs are in a bad place in certain ways, but Wittenmyer clearly has an agenda at this point. Stop playing devil's advocate in his defense.

[BeerHere]

Wittenmeyer was on Mully and Hanley this morning and ripped the Cubs up, down, left and right. Anything "positive" he managed to say was begrudging and quickly follow by some negative qualifier. He's convinced the team is broke, but then criticizes them for not spending resources on the current team.

 

Did say that if the Cubs do get Tanaka, it will make this offseason a successful one.

 

Kinda sounds like no one in this front office has decided to talk to him behind the scenes much.

This. Wittenmeyer is the worst of the worst.

[jersey cubs fan]

Wittenmeyer was on Mully and Hanley this morning and ripped the Cubs up, down, left and right. Anything "positive" he managed to say was begrudging and quickly follow by some negative qualifier. He's convinced the team is broke, but then criticizes them for not spending resources on the current team.

 

Did say that if the Cubs do get Tanaka, it will make this offseason a successful one.

 

Kinda sounds like no one in this front office has decided to talk to him behind the scenes much.

 

Kinda sounds like the team is in a bad place and has been for several years.

 

Everyone knows the Cubs are in a bad place in certain ways, but Wittenmyer clearly has an agenda at this point. Stop playing devil's advocate in his defense.

It's not just "certain ways", it's the only way that matters. Why are you the judge jury and executioner when it comes to who can be defended? Some people seem more interested in defending an owner who has purposefully underspent and has had the team do nothing but lose, but get pissed at media members who call them out for it.

[davell]

Wittenmeyer was on Mully and Hanley this morning and ripped the Cubs up, down, left and right. Anything "positive" he managed to say was begrudging and quickly follow by some negative qualifier. He's convinced the team is broke, but then criticizes them for not spending resources on the current team.

 

Did say that if the Cubs do get Tanaka, it will make this offseason a successful one.

 

Kinda sounds like no one in this front office has decided to talk to him behind the scenes much.

 

Kinda sounds like the team is in a bad place and has been for several years.

 

Everyone knows the Cubs are in a bad place in certain ways, but Wittenmyer clearly has an agenda at this point. Stop playing devil's advocate in his defense.

It's not just "certain ways", it's the only way that matters. Why are you the judge jury and executioner when it comes to who can be defended? Some people seem more interested in defending an owner who has purposefully underspent and has had the team do nothing but lose, but get pissed at media members who call them out for it.

 

 

Wittenmeyer is the debt structure guy. Which you don't believe has anything to do with the Cubs not spending. So, why are YOU defending him?

[Guest]

Wittenmeyer was on Mully and Hanley this morning and ripped the Cubs up, down, left and right. Anything "positive" he managed to say was begrudging and quickly follow by some negative qualifier. He's convinced the team is broke, but then criticizes them for not spending resources on the current team.

 

Did say that if the Cubs do get Tanaka, it will make this offseason a successful one.

 

Kinda sounds like no one in this front office has decided to talk to him behind the scenes much.

 

Kinda sounds like the team is in a bad place and has been for several years.

 

Everyone knows the Cubs are in a bad place in certain ways, but Wittenmyer clearly has an agenda at this point. Stop playing devil's advocate in his defense.

It's not just "certain ways", it's the only way that matters. Why are you the judge jury and executioner when it comes to who can be defended? Some people seem more interested in defending an owner who has purposefully underspent and has had the team do nothing but lose, but get pissed at media members who call them out for it.

 

Because I said so.

 

But seriously, it's because he's an annoying sniveling jackass who is reporting with a clear bias. What more reason do you want?