Yankees Sign Masahiro Tanaka

[UMFan83]

Buster Olney went on air with info that the Ricketts ownership was blindsided and overwhelmed by the cost and obstacles of running the franchise.

 

Did anyone else hear that on the radio yesterday?

[Benny Rodriguez]

So much for the old.."The Cubs will not be outbid for Tanaka".

 

It would have been a nice shot in the arm but wouldn't have gotten us over the top this year or probably next. The tough part of the loss is that to find a much needed replacement for him is either going to be much older, much more expensive or cost us good prospects out of our system(or all of them)

[MWV]

Buster Olney went on air with info that the Ricketts ownership was blindsided and overwhelmed by the cost and obstacles of running the franchise.

 

Did anyone else hear that on the radio yesterday?

Was a station or program specified?

[Ryne Ween]

Buster Olney went on air with info that the Ricketts ownership was blindsided and overwhelmed by the cost and obstacles of running the franchise.

 

Did anyone else hear that on the radio yesterday?

 

They seemed like they had it under control in undercover boss.

[UMFan83]

Buster Olney went on air with info that the Ricketts ownership was blindsided and overwhelmed by the cost and obstacles of running the franchise.

 

Did anyone else hear that on the radio yesterday?

Was a station or program specified?

 

Assuming it would have been on ESPN 1000 given Olney works for them, or maybe it was said on ESPN TV. It was in an article by that Loxas dude.

[Have a seat, Neifi]

Buster Olney went on air with info that the Ricketts ownership was blindsided and overwhelmed by the cost and obstacles of running the franchise.

 

Did anyone else hear that on the radio yesterday?

Was a station or program specified?

 

Assuming it would have been on ESPN 1000 given Olney works for them, or maybe it was said on ESPN TV. It was in an article by that Loxas dude.

I heard it, too. You can listen to it on the ESPN 1000 daily podcast for yesterday (Wednesday 1/22). Olney spoke in vague, broad terms, but said that he's heard from other owners around MLB that the Cubs' ownership has been "surprised" by how much more difficult and expensive taking over the Cubs has been and how much the Cubs' ownership underestimated all of the money they'd have to put into various "expenses" and how much of a pain in the arse the rooftop situation would be with respect to the renovations.

 

Not incredibly profound, nor is it particularly surprising. It would also be consistent with Theo and Jed not being fully aware of all the financial limitations they'd have; put simply, it's possible that the Ricketts weren't aware, either.

[Benny Rodriguez]

They (Ricketts) made reference to owning the Cubs for generations during the convention. If they were caught off guard by the cost, they don't seem to be fazed by it.

It sounds a bit like a vague comment about a team with a huge fan base starting to get perturbed with ownership, to try to get some heat going.

It's a very slow sports time, and maybe Olney is trying to stir up some energy-interest in sportstalk radio.

Just look at the sports news this week- Sherman's rant and waiting for the Tanaka decision.

They probably needed something or anything else to talk about.

[UMFan83]

Buster Olney went on air with info that the Ricketts ownership was blindsided and overwhelmed by the cost and obstacles of running the franchise.

 

Did anyone else hear that on the radio yesterday?

Was a station or program specified?

 

Assuming it would have been on ESPN 1000 given Olney works for them, or maybe it was said on ESPN TV. It was in an article by that Loxas dude.

I heard it, too. You can listen to it on the ESPN 1000 daily podcast for yesterday (Wednesday 1/22). Olney spoke in vague, broad terms, but said that he's heard from other owners around MLB that the Cubs' ownership has been "surprised" by how much more difficult and expensive taking over the Cubs has been and how much the Cubs' ownership underestimated all of the money they'd have to put into various "expenses" and how much of a pain in the arse the rooftop situation would be with respect to the renovations.

 

Not incredibly profound, nor is it particularly surprising. It would also be consistent with Theo and Jed not being fully aware of all the financial limitations they'd have; put simply, it's possible that the Ricketts weren't aware, either.

 

Thanks.

 

Which is weird because the MLB supposedly goes through such a vigorous process of scrubbing the candidates to make sure they are worthy of owning a team.

[A New Era]

they might be surprised, and overwhelmed. But I think it's going to be ok. Considering they hired the right team and invested in the scouting and minor league coaching to turn our farm from lower middle of the pack to top 2. When the TV money gets here all of the overwhelminess goes away.

[Guest]

they might be surprised, and overwhelmed. But I think it's going to be ok. Considering they hired the right team and invested in the scouting and minor league coaching to turn our farm from lower middle of the pack to top 2. When the TV money gets here all of the overwhelminess goes away.

When the waves of prospects bloom and the money starts rolling in it will be high times.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Yes, and I don't care for it either, but it's been clear since Day One that this FO has taken the longview to rebuilding the franchise, and the fruits of the farm are now getting close enough to A) be evaluated to see if they can help the club or B) be extremely valuable chips to obtain big league talent. If we had won on Tanaka and he was as advertised, then this conversation wouldn't be taking place. I just don't see how losing out on him changes the entire narrative on how we do business for the next 13 months.

 

You don't see how the presence of absence of an MLB pitcher better than any one in our organization, in the heart of his prime, changes the short-term outlook of our chances?

 

Or do you not think the short-term outlook of our chances changes how the front office behaves in any given offseason?

 

I'm not sure where the hang-up is here.

[TruffleShuffle]

it's pretty damn annoying that when the team was spending like one of the wealthiest franchises it happened to have a dunderheads throughout the organization, and now there's smart management at all levels and scrooge mcduck owns the club. why couldn't theo and co have all that sweet sweet cash, and hendry and co be the ones who are broke? granted, they would've become God-awful under hendry but at least they probably would've hauled in a title under theo.

[NOLA]

Yes, and I don't care for it either, but it's been clear since Day One that this FO has taken the longview to rebuilding the franchise, and the fruits of the farm are now getting close enough to A) be evaluated to see if they can help the club or B) be extremely valuable chips to obtain big league talent. If we had won on Tanaka and he was as advertised, then this conversation wouldn't be taking place. I just don't see how losing out on him changes the entire narrative on how we do business for the next 13 months.

 

You don't see how the presence of absence of an MLB pitcher better than any one in our organization, in the heart of his prime, changes the short-term outlook of our chances?

 

Or do you not think the short-term outlook of our chances changes how the front office behaves in any given offseason?

 

I'm not sure where the hang-up is here.

First of all, I don't think any of us know with certainty that he would be better than anyone in our organization, not by a long shot. We had hoped so, but there are plenty of red flags.

I didn't say that it had no effect on our short term chances. I just think that 2015 is the stated breakthrough year, and Tanaka would have probably made us better next year but not changed the FO mindset for when we are "going for it".

[Hairyducked Idiot]

2015 is the stated breakthrough year?

 

The only report we've had recently about breakthrough years was Mooney's report that the team has decided it will be 2016:

 

http://www.csnchicago.com/cubs/starting-samardzija-cubs-will-be-position-make-deals

[abuck1220]

hilarious/pathetic that the cubs are apparently the only team in all of professional sports that think you are required to be terrible for five seasons before you can even dream of being competitive.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

hilarious/pathetic that the cubs are apparently the only team in all of professional sports that think you are required to be terrible for five seasons before you can even dream of being competitive.

 

It's not required, but if you try sooner than that you might not be able to sustain the success and instead you'll be terrible for five years. In order to avoid risking five terrible years, we must have five terrible years.

[Derwood]

hilarious/pathetic that the cubs are apparently the only team in all of professional sports that think you are required to be terrible for five seasons before you can even dream of being competitive.

 

Tampa, Pittsburgh, Minnesota....

[jersey cubs fan]

hilarious/pathetic that the cubs are apparently the only team in all of professional sports that think you are required to be terrible for five seasons before you can even dream of being competitive.

 

It's not required, but if you try sooner than that you might not be able to sustain the success and instead you'll be terrible for five years. In order to avoid risking five terrible years, we must have five terrible years.

 

I think a minimal definition for consistent success should be no consecutive sub .500 seasons. But we can only start counting after consecutive .500 seasons so these years don't count.

[jersey cubs fan]

David Haugh ‏@DavidHaugh 13h

Cubs' Tanaka pursuit always was a bit puzzling but Japanese ace accepting Yankees' $155M bid predictable.

 

Somebody please explain* to me how anybody could view the Cubs pursuit of Tanaka as anything resembling "puzzling".

 

(*please don't actually explain, the entire concept is stupid and any explanation would be doubly so).

[Banedon]

David Haugh ‏@DavidHaugh 13h

Cubs' Tanaka pursuit always was a bit puzzling but Japanese ace accepting Yankees' $155M bid predictable.

 

Somebody please explain* to me how anybody could view the Cubs pursuit of Tanaka as anything resembling "puzzling".

 

(*please don't actually explain, the entire concept is stupid and any explanation would be doubly so).

 

Haugh has proven time and time again that when he took that "In The Wake Of The News" promotion, he took idiot pills as required by all that write that column.

[jersey cubs fan]

David Haugh ‏@DavidHaugh 13h

Cubs' Tanaka pursuit always was a bit puzzling but Japanese ace accepting Yankees' $155M bid predictable.

 

Somebody please explain* to me how anybody could view the Cubs pursuit of Tanaka as anything resembling "puzzling".

 

(*please don't actually explain, the entire concept is stupid and any explanation would be doubly so).

 

Haugh has proven time and time again that when he took that "In The Wake Of The News" promotion, he took idiot pills as required by all that write that column.

 

I mean, if they did sign him he's writing about how they had no choice and really had to do it, right?

[SouthSideRyan]

 

Which is weird because the MLB supposedly goes through such a vigorous process of scrubbing the candidates to make sure they are worthy of owning a team.

 

The intense vetting process basically consists of is this guy going to spend a lot of money on payroll? No? Approved.

Edited January 23, 2014 by SouthSideRyan

[Guest]

it's pretty damn annoying that when the team was spending like one of the wealthiest franchises it happened to have a dunderheads throughout the organization, and now there's smart management at all levels and scrooge mcduck owns the club. why couldn't theo and co have all that sweet sweet cash, and hendry and co be the ones who are broke? granted, they would've become God-awful under hendry but at least they probably would've hauled in a title under theo.

I actually think Hendry would have been a better GM with tight fiscal restraints. He did a good job building up the farm system when that was his focus. If he didn't have the money and the mandate to spend big at the major league level, he may have continued to focus on building through the farm.

 

It's all guesswork now, though.

[jersey cubs fan]

it's pretty damn annoying that when the team was spending like one of the wealthiest franchises it happened to have a dunderheads throughout the organization, and now there's smart management at all levels and scrooge mcduck owns the club. why couldn't theo and co have all that sweet sweet cash, and hendry and co be the ones who are broke? granted, they would've become God-awful under hendry but at least they probably would've hauled in a title under theo.

I actually think Hendry would have been a better GM with tight fiscal restraints. He did a good job building up the farm system when that was his focus. If he didn't have the money and the mandate to spend big at the major league level, he may have continued to focus on building through the farm.

 

It's all guesswork now, though.

 

He could have built a solid pitching staff, but without money the team wouldn't have scored a run a game.

 

 

Although he or his staff was responsible for drafting/acquiring our #1 rated prospect, plus 3 other top tens, 2 more guys from the best 25 and under list and the guy who was used to acquire another top ten under 25.

[cubbyvirus00]

Buster Olney went on air with info that the Ricketts ownership was blindsided and overwhelmed by the cost and obstacles of running the franchise.

 

Did anyone else hear that on the radio yesterday?

Was a station or program specified?

 

Assuming it would have been on ESPN 1000 given Olney works for them, or maybe it was said on ESPN TV. It was in an article by that Loxas dude.

I heard it, too. You can listen to it on the ESPN 1000 daily podcast for yesterday (Wednesday 1/22). Olney spoke in vague, broad terms, but said that he's heard from other owners around MLB that the Cubs' ownership has been "surprised" by how much more difficult and expensive taking over the Cubs has been and how much the Cubs' ownership underestimated all of the money they'd have to put into various "expenses" and how much of a pain in the arse the rooftop situation would be with respect to the renovations.

 

Not incredibly profound, nor is it particularly surprising. It would also be consistent with Theo and Jed not being fully aware of all the financial limitations they'd have; put simply, it's possible that the Ricketts weren't aware, either.

 

They have a very simple way to remedy the financial situation if it were truly hard and unbearable for the family. You move to a new ballpark where you own everything and increase the profits 10 fold. Staying in Wrigley is increasingly becoming a losing proposition.