Cubs for sale?

[badger1679666666]

Mark Cuban, please.

 

Couldn't agree more..He would put a winner on the field...

 

Yeah, the Mavs sure have racked up the NBA championships since he bought them...

 

Mark Cuban is entertaining but until Dallas wins an NBA title they're just another team. And they'll still be just another team next spring.

 

He's committed to putting a winner out there. He's as competetive as they come. He won't be satisfied in just selling out Wrigley. He has turned them from a crappy team into a very competetive team. He cares about winning. Regardless of results, he's committed to winning. Whether he's won it all, or not is irrelevant - it isn't easy to do so. It's his attitude towards competetive sports that's attractive.

 

Sometimes I have absolutely no idea where you come from.

[Wilson A2000]

I think it's funny how whenever someone's team goes up for sale no matter the sport everybody immediately clamors for Cube's. When the Blues were for sale I practiacally praying for the man to buy them. What a guy.

 

I rememebr this summer when Cuban said he'd like to own the Cubs....I about fell out of my chair.

 

Big time payroll does NOT equal a good team ala this year's Cubs. I wouldnt mind Cuban being the owner, but you need quality playes, not just big time money players.

[USSoccer]

Comparing the Mavs Success to a baseball team is tough to do. During the Mavs best years they were in a conference with San Antonio, Sacramento at their peak, and the Lakers at their peak. I think they went to 2 game seven's in that time frame. I think they were the victim of circumstance as much as anything. Cuban's money and comittment to the team helped a ton.

[cubbieinexile]

Comparing the Mavs Success to a baseball team is tough to do. During the Mavs best years they were in a conference with San Antonio, Sacramento at their peak, and the Lakers at their peak. I think they went to 2 game seven's in that time frame. I think they were the victim of circumstance as much as anything. Cuban's money and comittment to the team helped a ton.

 

Well his money and the fact that everybody and their mother get into the playoffs in the NBA

[frostwyrm]

Too bad Bill Gates is a nerd. If I had his money I would certainly buy an MLB team and give the GM a fat payroll every year.

[NorthsideAvenger]

With this "rumor sale" of the Cubs out there, I believe you can put those "hot rumor mills" on simmer, cause, the Cubs ain't spending money, without a stable owner. And this "situation" may hurt the Cubs chances of improving.

[RynoRules]

Too bad Bill Gates is a nerd. If I had his money I would certainly buy an MLB team and give the GM a fat payroll every year.

 

A fatter payroll, sweet lounge chairs, and personal entertainment systems in every locker is not what we need.

[TB_11]

Too bad Bill Gates is a nerd. If I had his money I would certainly buy an MLB team and give the GM a fat payroll every year.

 

Bill Gates's former Microsoft colleague, Paul Allen, is the owner of the Portland Trailblazers and the Seattle Seahawks. Given the state of the Trailblazers alone, maybe having a Microsoft billionaire as your owner isn't always the best thing. :D

[CubbieRich]

Selling the Cubs could be a good or bad move for the Trib. While the Cubs are a nice asset and the Trib is able to get a less than market-value deal to broadcast games on WGN, selling the team would produce an enormous influx of cash. Baseball teams rarely make anyone money until you sell them.

 

The Cubs would likely sell for 500-750 million dollars. That amount of cash flowing immediately into the Trib cofers likely helps raise stock prices instantly.

 

If the Cubs are sold, a broadcast arrangement could be negotiated into the sale. This would keep some Cubs games on WGN, but only for as long as the agreement. Eventually, those games would be subject to open bidding.

 

The ownership of the TRIB would likely seek to retain the broadcast rights for a period of time, as part of any deal. As much as I like Wrigley Field, there will come a time when it must be replaced. I can see the TRIB doing all this rehab to make everything more attractive for a prospective owner.

 

Last night I heard David Kaplan on WGN offer up some lame denial from a TRIB spin master. Kaplan should know the difference between line and staff responsiblity. Staff people seldom are close to negotiations and certainly are in no position to comment on this subject. Kaplan's newest wife is a pr hack with a local pizza joint and she's given a script to talk to the media.

[LoneStarCubFan]

Mark Cuban, please.

 

Couldn't agree more..He would put a winner on the field...

 

Yeah, the Mavs sure have racked up the NBA championships since he bought them...

 

Mark Cuban is entertaining but until Dallas wins an NBA title they're just another team. And they'll still be just another team next spring.

 

He's committed to putting a winner out there. He's as competetive as they come. He won't be satisfied in just selling out Wrigley. He has turned them from a crappy team into a very competetive team. He cares about winning. Regardless of results, he's committed to winning. Whether he's won it all, or not is irrelevant - it isn't easy to do so. It's his attitude towards competetive sports that's attractive.

 

Sometimes I have absolutely no idea where you come from.

 

I'm coming from a position much closer to the Dallas area. I see what Cuban's done and much of it is good. My point is, don't equate brashness with success. The guy is a meddler. As good as the Mavs are, they could be a heck of a lot better if he'd just stay out of the way.

[TheDude]

I think it's funny how whenever someone's team goes up for sale no matter the sport everybody immediately clamors for Cube's. When the Blues were for sale I practiacally praying for the man to buy them. What a guy.

 

I rememebr this summer when Cuban said he'd like to own the Cubs....I about fell out of my chair.

 

Big time payroll does NOT equal a good team ala this year's Cubs. I wouldnt mind Cuban being the owner, but you need quality playes, not just big time money players.

I think the prevailing thought is that Cuban would be more apt to put pressure on his GM to go after amrquee players.

 

If Cuban had been the owner over the last few years, the Cubs may have been more active players in talent like Tejada, Guerrero, or Beltran.

[SAMMYWHO]

badger wrote:

LoneStarCubFan wrote:

Wascolian26 wrote:

vance_the_cubs_fan wrote:

Mark Cuban, please.

 

 

Couldn't agree more..He would put a winner on the field...

 

 

Yeah, the Mavs sure have racked up the NBA championships since he bought them...

 

Mark Cuban is entertaining but until Dallas wins an NBA title they're just another team. And they'll still be just another team next spring.

 

 

He's committed to putting a winner out there. He's as competetive as they come. He won't be satisfied in just selling out Wrigley. He has turned them from a crappy team into a very competetive team. He cares about winning. Regardless of results, he's committed to winning. Whether he's won it all, or not is irrelevant - it isn't easy to do so. It's his attitude towards competetive sports that's attractive.

 

Sometimes I have absolutely no idea where you come from.

 

 

I'm coming from a position much closer to the Dallas area. I see what Cuban's done and much of it is good. My point is, don't equate brashness with success. The guy is a meddler. As good as the Mavs are, they could be a heck of a lot better if he'd just stay out of the way.

 

 

I agree with Lonestar. Having lived in the Dallas area for awhile Cuban seems to be a distraction to the team. To me, he is the best salesman in pro sports as far as owners. He gets people's attention and they come to the games. Whether it's bad mouthing the ref's in the paper or buying a high octane player. He sells tickets. My opinion is the Cubs sell enough tickets, they just need to buy the right mold of players. What that mold is, nobody knows.

[jtownie]

badger wrote:

LoneStarCubFan wrote:

Wascolian26 wrote:

vance_the_cubs_fan wrote:

Mark Cuban, please.

 

 

Couldn't agree more..He would put a winner on the field...

 

 

Yeah, the Mavs sure have racked up the NBA championships since he bought them...

 

Mark Cuban is entertaining but until Dallas wins an NBA title they're just another team. And they'll still be just another team next spring.

 

 

He's committed to putting a winner out there. He's as competetive as they come. He won't be satisfied in just selling out Wrigley. He has turned them from a crappy team into a very competetive team. He cares about winning. Regardless of results, he's committed to winning. Whether he's won it all, or not is irrelevant - it isn't easy to do so. It's his attitude towards competetive sports that's attractive.

 

Sometimes I have absolutely no idea where you come from.

 

 

I'm coming from a position much closer to the Dallas area. I see what Cuban's done and much of it is good. My point is, don't equate brashness with success. The guy is a meddler. As good as the Mavs are, they could be a heck of a lot better if he'd just stay out of the way.

 

 

I agree with Lonestar. Having lived in the Dallas area for awhile Cuban seems to be a distraction to the team. To me, he is the best salesman in pro sports as far as owners. He gets people's attention and they come to the games. Whether it's bad mouthing the ref's in the paper or buying a high octane player. He sells tickets. My opinion is the Cubs sell enough tickets, they just need to buy the right mold of players. What that mold is, nobody knows.

 

Hmm, so an owner that would probably increase payroll to buy whatever marquee FA he wants, meddles in the teams business, and seems to be in the news constantly. Can't think of any Baseball Owners that are like that at all....especially ones that have had consistent winners. J/K! :D

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

As a Mavericks fan, I'd love to have Cuban as owner. While he is a bit of meddler, I believe that he would look to see what successful teams are doing and try to emulate that success with the Cubs. I don't know whether we would take an entirely sabermetric approach or follow a Braves model, but if Cuban were in charge, there would be accountability and change.

 

Secondly, he would definitely try to acquire difference makers through free agency.

 

All in all, I think he would be a great person to have a around.

 

On the other hand, he's likely to piss off traditionalists, because if he's anything, it's not traditional.

[NorthsideAvenger]

As a Mavericks fan, I'd love to have Cuban as owner. While he is a bit of meddler, I believe that he would look to see what successful teams are doing and try to emulate that success with the Cubs. I don't know whether we would take an entirely sabermetric approach or follow a Braves model, but if Cuban were in charge, there would be accountability and change.

 

Secondly, he would definitely try to acquire difference makers through free agency.

 

All in all, I think he would be a great person to have a around.

 

On the other hand, he's likely to piss off traditionalists, because if he's anything, it's not traditional.

 

Cuban and baseball go together, like peanut butter and jelly. Without an salary cap (I believe the luxury cap is what....$120 mill) Cuban would salivate at the thought of not having restrictions on FA he wants. He sees a FA, he wants, he gets (if the player choses), unlike the NBA.

 

With that said....I would think it would be hard as heck to run TWO different franchise in two different sports, in two different cities. Maybe if he could buy the Bulls off Reinsdorf (after selling the Mavs :wink: ) and then the Cubs off the Trib, then maybe, maybe we got something. But I don't think Cuban will be a viable option. Now, it wouldn't surprise me is Steve Stone puts together another "ownership group" to spearhead a chance to buy the Cubs. Cause we know, Stone has tried to buy the Cubs once already, and he tried to buy the A's. So we know, he'd be interested.

[shnsajax]

Too bad Bill Gates is a nerd. If I had his money I would certainly buy an MLB team and give the GM a fat payroll every year.

 

A fatter payroll, sweet lounge chairs, and personal entertainment systems in every locker is not what we need.

 

what about the google guys.

[Soul]

You can crucify me if you want, but this is how I really feel.

 

Two things must happen for the Cubs to win a World Series:

 

1) Ownership must change to someone who knows & loves baseball.

 

2) Wrigley Field must be abandoned and a new ballpark built, so that money can not be made unless a winner is put on the field. Yes, I really did just say that.

[Jazz]

i dont think its as much the ownership needing a change, as it is a certain CEO needing the oust.

 

The cubs regime needs a complete change. The philosohpy over the last 2 decades is not wat produces championship teams, and we will continue to see dysfunctional teams until something is done. The resources are there, i think 100+ mil and growing is MORE than enough to get the job done, but with the cubs front office the way it is, im worried the tribune will get fed up with the inability to make the jump to a consistent playoff team, and lower payroll.

[cubbieinexile]

Over the last two decades?

 

Well let see the tribune company brought in Dallas Green who philosophy and organization did win a World Series and build a great team.

 

He comes to Chicago builds a great farm team, build a good team comes one game away from going to the World Series. After that injuries sidetrack the team for awhile but they are back again with a great core that just doesn't get it done in the end.

 

Then along comes MacPhail who philosphy and organization happened to win 2 world series. He comes along and happens to build a great farm team and a good major league team. His team comes within 5 outs of making the world series.

 

So far to me it looks like in the last two decades the Tribune has brought in the people to get it down. It hasn't but that doesn't mean they didn't try or that they failed.

[Soul]

i dont think its as much the ownership needing a change, as it is a certain CEO needing the oust.

 

The cubs regime needs a complete change. The philosohpy over the last 2 decades is not wat produces championship teams, and we will continue to see dysfunctional teams until something is done. The resources are there, i think 100+ mil and growing is MORE than enough to get the job done, but with the cubs front office the way it is, im worried the tribune will get fed up with the inability to make the jump to a consistent playoff team, and lower payroll.

 

I'm worried about the same thing, and the underlying cause seems pretty clear.

 

The Tribune doesn't have a true commitment to winning because they're making money regardless of the Cubs' record. For a team like the Cubs, winning is a nice little extra boost. It's the proverbial cherry on top of the ice cream sundae.

 

For a team like the Astros, it's win or else. It's make the playoffs or face an empty stadium in a few years (ala the Colorado Rockies). Other teams like the Cards and BoSox have owners who wouldn't be able to sleep at night if their teams were truly bad.

 

So: [little financial incentive] + [no burning desire to win] = [mired in mediocrity]

 

Given the situation we are in, it's probably a small miracle the Cubs have been as good as they have over the past 3 seasons.

[cubbieinexile]

It's a silly argument. IF the Tribune doesn't truly care about winning then why do they spend so much money? Why do they shell out all that money to the prospects? Why don't they act like Minnesota and pass on Prior, or like the Sox and pass on Hill, instead of shelling out the big bucks for them? They spend money for major league talent and they spend money on minor league talent. If they didn't care about winning they wouldn't be shelling money to prospects.

[Soul]

It's a matter of relative value. The Tribune has much more money than many owners. For them to spend $100 million on a team per year, compared to what they make on the team and compared to their financial ability to pay, is not nearly as painful as it would be for another team.

[J.R.]

It's a silly argument. IF the Tribune doesn't truly care about winning then why do they spend so much money? Why do they shell out all that money to the prospects? Why don't they act like Minnesota and pass on Prior, or like the Sox and pass on Hill, instead of shelling out the big bucks for them? They spend money for major league talent and they spend money on minor league talent. If they didn't care about winning they wouldn't be shelling money to prospects.

 

This makes too much sense, man.

[Soul]

It's a silly argument. IF the Tribune doesn't truly care about winning then why do they spend so much money? Why do they shell out all that money to the prospects? Why don't they act like Minnesota and pass on Prior, or like the Sox and pass on Hill, instead of shelling out the big bucks for them? They spend money for major league talent and they spend money on minor league talent. If they didn't care about winning they wouldn't be shelling money to prospects.

 

This makes too much sense, man.

 

....except that it doesn't. If I have $10,000 and someone else has $1,000, it's going to hurt the other guy much more to shell out $500. Same deal with the Tribune. Spending money is easy for them. Putting together an actual winning organization? Hard. Too hard for an ownership team without the true drive to make it happen.

 

BTW, nice sig pic. Makes me want to be an Astros fan.

[cubbieinexile]

5 outs, 5 outs is all that makes your point seem valid. They spend money and lots of it on players and players that might never see time in the bigs. They spend more money that some teams probably even take in. But because they don't spend 200 million dollars you think you have a point.

The cubs with Sosa contract have probably the 4th highest payroll in the game, and they will probably retain that spot next year

 

So who should they have spent all that money on?

Jim Thome?

JD Drew?

Randy Johnson?

Kevin Brown?

Jason Giambi?

Jeff Weaver?

Javier Vazquez?

 

Secondly you are also ignoring the economic reality of the payroll structure.

 

The Cubs have players with starting jobs that are youngsters and not paid their fullest worth, guys like Prior and Zambrano. Should they then overypay for a guy sitting on the bench? This is a team with a starting pitching staff that many thought was the best in the NL. Should they go out and sign Randy and Javier so Zambrano and Prior can sit on the bench? This is a team that many believe had one of the best third basemens in the game. Should they trade Aramis so they can spend millions more on Glaus or Beltre? This is a team that many believed picked up the best SS available in the market, should they have gotten Eckstein instead? This is a team that traded away a young prospect that they picked up cheap for a first basemen who was going to get rapidly epxpensive. What should they have done?