Sammys Boombox

For a team that I cared zero about 16 months ago, I really dislike the Seahawks.

Rawdog, How much money does SiriusXM pay you to use your name for their comedy station?

He also won't be Poor Tom Ricketts anymore.

So, does this mean they're buying out CSN, or can we assume they are getting that much for the 70 WGN games through 2019 and in 2020 that will be getting that amount for the full slate of games (about 150)? If it's not a buy out we're looking at $159-179M through 2019 and $255-277M after 2019. Should note here, MLB is only letting the Dodgers keep $6B of their $8.5B. The rest is going to the rest of the league. PS: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

Only thing is Kyle alluded to a large range of figures but said the actual figure was quite specific. I'd like to hear that figure.

I know I'm in the minority, but I like the Cuba jerseys. It's probably because that jersey is what they were wearing the first time I saw them.

Some of the throwbacks we'll see this season.

Brett says Jed is going to be on the Score right now.

Podcast of Passan's interview is up Waddle and Silvy's website. http://espn.go.com/espnradio/chicago/play?id=10300042 Starts around 56:00 or 57:00 mark. Actual quotes from Passan: "Jed and Theo are trying to work on baseball ops. The question is whether the Ricketts and Crane Kenney are letting them work on baseball ops." He said Ricketts is withholding money from baseball ops budgets, not just MLB roster, but research, etc. "So, there will be money to spend. But, unless Tom Ricketts changes his tone which is that 'we're not going to spend until we win.'" I take this much more as, "We're not going to spend on the baseball ops just to have an ok team. We're going to spend on baseball ops when we plan on competing." However, I question his sources and think it is more like "We're not going to spend on the MLB roster just to have an ok team. We're going to spend on the MLB roster when we plan on competing." Industry sources and people within the organization (not Theo and assuming not Jed) have told Passan they (Theo and Jed) thought they would have more money to spend on baseball ops. I honestly feel like Passan is just stretching facts that we already know and making Ricketts sound like he is cheap. Theo and Jed thought they would have more money by now. Ricketts is using money to do other things like build academies, improve facilities, etc. They are not going to spend money on the MLB roster just to win 75 games instead of 70 games. He then goes on to talk about how the Cubs will have tons of TV money coming soon and really talks up the Big Four.

As has been for the last year or so, I am thoroughly confused as to whether or not I should be excited about the future of this franchise. Even though I find the "We won't spend until we're winning" stance hard to believe, I think there is probably a lot of truth to the rest of the claims made by Passan.

I find that hard to believe.

I think the middle of the road expectation would be that with a good offseason(likely adding a strong outfielder, maybe SP and/or RP help), that team would be a playoff contender. I do remember the 2012-13 season ticket holder conference call when Theo alluded to a huge offseason spending-wise when the first wave of prospects is hitting. I'm still hoping that this supposed news is a huge windfall of money (has to be a TV deal) that leads to moves this trade deadline and next offseason to fill the holes you've mentioned.

What is the general consensus of the board on Cubs competitiveness in 2015 if Tanaka is signed and Shark is extended?

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/01/watch-two-nhl-players-mercilessly-punch-each-other-in-the-face-until-one-bleeds/ These guys really went at it.

That's how I read it, too.

How long before we have a girl mascot named Addison?

At least it looks like he'll only be on the concourse... But they'll show him on the video board. Ricketts. Pure evil.

Nevermind.

Doesn't NSBB have some sort of Cubs press pass? Lets send a rep with a list of questions and rebuttals during the convention for Ricketts. Anyone here have journalism experience? (Other than Bruce Miles) I went to Mizzou's J-school for one semester.

They're not throwing flags on anything. Pipe down.

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.

Reading this thread and comparing it to the texts one of my fellow Mizzou alum friends is sendin me is making this even more entertaining. Both sides convinced they're getting hosed.

Weather at both places actually looks extremely good for this time of year. Cutler would be interesting because the game will not mean anything for the Eagles if the Cowboys win.

QB (1) +/- 0.5 points per completion/incompletion Stafford (NYG)/Rodgers (PIT)/Cousins (DAL) RB (3) PPR League Lacy (PIT)/Peterson (CIN)/Jennings (SD)/Vereen (BAL)/Todman (TEN) TE (1) Gates (OAK)/Walker (TEN)

HOLLLLY COW!