Lefty

I know it's politically fashionable to let someone else pay for everything, but is an industry that prices out its users (i.e., the fans) really sustainable? Salaries went down in the early 1930s. It is hard to imagine, but absent hyperinflation it will happen again. The vast majority of fans watch their team on TV, which is really inexpensive to do and the source of most of the revenue. Can we imagine that TV contracts will not be so flush in a Depression? Maybe, hear me out here, but maybe, we aren't actually in a depression. You are correct. My argument rests on an assumption.

I know it's politically fashionable to let someone else pay for everything, but is an industry that prices out its users (i.e., the fans) really sustainable? Salaries went down in the early 1930s. It is hard to imagine, but absent hyperinflation it will happen again. The vast majority of fans watch their team on TV, which is really inexpensive to do and the source of most of the revenue. Can we imagine that TV contracts will not be so flush in a Depression?

I know it's politically fashionable to let someone else pay for everything, but is an industry that prices out its users (i.e., the fans) really sustainable? Salaries went down in the early 1930s. It is hard to imagine, but absent hyperinflation it will happen again.

Pro sports is whistling past the graveyard if you are right. We are fighting a depression, and MLB is immune?

No way is he 16.

5 pitches this time. Progress? This is getting ridiculous, I know he's always had decently high K rates in the minors but he's at an insane K rate right nwo. He almost has to be either hurt or working on changing/fixing something in his swing and/or approach. Would you trade him for Aaron Kurcz?

Not to veer this off the tracks, if it was ever on them, but the WSJ really has become a toilet. Take your collectivism to "Rants" please.

Not to veer this off the tracks, if it was ever on them, but the WSJ really has become a toilet. Take your collectivism to "Rants" please.

Well it is about a subject in which this board appears to have an interest. I don't believe in curses, of course, but to the extent that the ballpark prevents them from playing the requisite amount of night games, or if volatile environmental conditions compromise preparation, tear it down and make it a housing project and move the team to Skokie (plan outlined in a previous post).

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304192704577404424241146562.html?mod=WSJ_WSJ_US_News_6

All those who think they have the right to run everybody's lives by their own subjective standards.

If you mean "1%" as in the Occupy Wall Street sense, they don't sit around and do nothing. They do most things in this country and pay the bills. If you meant the 1% that play professional baseball, nevermind.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN197106130.shtml I've told this story before. In 1989 I was at Mickey Mantle's in New York to watch a big Cub-Mets game and I saw Joe Pepitone sitting by himself. I went over to him and shared a few memories of him from my childhood. He started crying. The rest of the night, he would come up to me with various buddies of his who dropped by and he'd say, "hey Chicago, tell him what you told me." It was so sad.

But if at the end of the 2015 season he has had a Fukudome-like career, one will not hear this lament.

Can we cool on the Cespedes worship. It's been 5 games. Where was Fukudome after the first week?

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120315&content_id=27316836&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb

It'll happen whenever he gets here.

That's not the Cubs problem. Maybe this'll help Ricketts buy up more Wrigleyville property. Club 162(Since it's re-opening I've seen a total of roughly 3 people in on non-baseball days.) I'm looking at you. Correct. That blame lies squarely on the shoulders of the City of Chicago. The Cubs have tried to secure funds to renovate Wrigley without any downtime, but have been denied. Maybe this is just a threat, but if it's not, that area is in trouble and have nobody to blame but the city. I tend to think that the blame lies with the tribune more than anybody. Alot of improvements that could have been done in a month or two in the offseason were neglected for years resulting in the mess we have now. Also asking the city for funds in the middle of the recession, which makes sense from a business perspective, is just asking for too much in this climate when teachers and police officers are being laid off. Even if the city did hand them the money the original plan called for the cubs to play else where. they'll get it figured out even if Ricketts has to foot the bill initially with assurances and tax breaks to pay him back Also you have to realize that in a single offseason from oct- march there may only be a month at best two months where construction workers can actually work because of the weather. Concrete for instance just wont cure right when its very cold out. Were that it true. It's not.

My two cents is that Cespedes isn't going to be nearly worth the money that is being reported.

My two cents is that Cespedes isn't going to be nearly worth the money that is being reported.

So you're too young to remember Dave Concepcion? Wow! Were you actually born in 1991?

It doesn't appear he is going to get what he wants. At what price/length point is it worth it for us to add him to our stable of starting pitchers?

I don't think there's any question whether they can afford to resign him, I think they might just not want to resign him. My guess is management might not view him as the elite pitcher he will no doubt be paid to be. There is also the issue of spending $20 million over the next two years for the ace of a 75 win team.

Using the "Garza" standard, wouldn't Soto be a strong candidate to be traded? He'll be on the wrong side of 30 at a demanding position when the Cubs are ready to contend. Shouldn't they try to trade him for a young catcher or a busted prospect and a pitching prospect from a team that fancies themselves in contention?

Great. Another first round exit.