Archive for the ‘Team Ownership’ Category

Took me out to the ballgame

I made my first visit to Wrigley Field so far in Year One of the Ricketts regime this week. Overall, the initial changes made by the new ownership are subtle but I found none of them objectionable. Note the new illuminated Cardinal-red Toyota sign in the left field bleachers has not yet been erected. Here are [...]

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May 1, 2010 Tags: Ambassadors, bison dog, Consessions, food, Jahaan Blake, marketing, Murphy's Bleachers, pizza, restrooms, scoreboard, tips, Tom Ricketts, Toyota sign, troughs, Year One Posted in: Chicago, Ricketts family, Team Ownership, Wrigley Field, biz of baseball, game day, observations, photo of the day No Comments

Curse? There Ain’t No Stinking Cubs Curse

Inevitably, talk of whether there is a curse on the Chicago Cubs comes up each season, usually from outsiders or someone looking to stir the pot a bit. Let me go on record as believing the only curse that affects the Cubs is that of a history of bad decisions. No supernatural hexes, no goats, just the natural [...]

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March 27, 2010 Tags: billygoat, Chicago Cubs, Curse, James Wolfe, Mary Ann Pressman, There Ain't No Stinking Chicago Cub Curse Posted in: Chicago, Team Ownership, book, controversy, curse/superstition One Comment

Ricketts should keep eye on the ball

Tom Ricketts is a smart, likeable guy. He talks a good game for the most part, but most of what I hear lately has very little to do with winning baseball in 2010.
I heard a Lou soundbite from the Cubs Convention: ‘We have a good team up here in Chicago’ he said. And Lou is [...]

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January 20, 2010 Tags: 2010 Chicago Cubs, Aaron Miles, Andy MacPhail, Carlos Zambrano, Crane Kenney, Cubs Convention, Jim Hendry, Kevin Gregg, L flag, Milton Bradley, Ted Lilly, Tom Ricketts Posted in: Hot Stove, Jim Hendry, Lou Piniella, Ricketts family, Team Ownership, lineup, observations, players, playoffs No Comments

Dawson the big draw at Cubs Convention

With the 25th annual Cubs Convention next week, I am struck by who the most exciting, most anticipated player in attendance will be. No, it won’t be a big star from last season or a high profile acquisition for this coming season. No, the biggest player appearance will be from a guy who hasn’t played for [...]

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January 10, 2010 Tags: Andre Dawson, Cubs Convention, Hall of Fame Posted in: Team Ownership, awards, observations, players, roster No Comments

Ryne Sandberg is being groomed

Cubs Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg is certainly being groomed for the big chair. Question is, whether he will get a shot to manage in the major leagues in a Cubs uniform. At first glance timing may appear ideal with Lou Piniella in his final year as manager and Ryno now being assigned [...]

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December 8, 2009 Tags: Ernie Banks, Hall of Fame, Iowa Cubs, Lou Piniella, manager, Ryne Sandberg Posted in: Lou Piniella, Minor League Baseball, Team Ownership, biz of baseball, game of baseball, observations No Comments

Hendry Compares Notes With Other MLB GMs

With the Ricketts family firmly in control, Cubs GM Jim Hendry is attending the annual GM meeting in Chicago. He has a lot on his plate and is no doubt discussing who needs what, or more accurately, who needs to dump what.
For many MLB teams, the economic climate is forcing clubs to cut payroll and [...]

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November 10, 2009 Tags: Aaron Rowand, Jim Hendry, Milton Bradley, Pat Burrell Posted in: Hot Stove, Jim Hendry, Team Ownership, biz of baseball, controversy, players One Comment

First Signing for 2010 Cubs Must Be Owner

The 2009 Cubs were a major disappointment by nearly any measure. They didn’t hit, they didn’t field, even the Cubs vaunted pitching staff faltered. The team sustained major injuries, fought on and off the field, and was generally unlikeable. One of the main causes of this (that is controllable) is the lack of leadership at [...]

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October 19, 2009 Tags: 2009 Chicago Cubs, Crane Kenney, Jim Hendry, Lou Piniella, Tom Ricketts Posted in: Team Ownership, biz of baseball, observations One Comment

Guest Post: Philosophy 101

Here is another Guest Post sent in by AJ.
Back in the day, as a first year student at Illinois State University, I recall registering late in the process and as a result got stuck with a couple of courses I otherwise would never consider taking to complete my general studies. One of them, Philosophy 101 [...]

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April 19, 2009 Tags: Adrian Gonzales, AJ, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Blackhawks, Derrek Lee, Jake Peavy, Manny Ramirez, Mark Cuban, Micah Hoffpauir, New York Yankees, Sean Marshall, Tom Ricketts, World Series Posted in: Hot Stove, Team Ownership, fan comments, guest post, lineup, observations, players, roster One Comment

Cubs Off-Season Review

If you don’t already monitor Tim Dierkes’ MLBtradeRumors.com, you should. He does a great job running down the leads, suggestions, rumors, and wishful thinking on roster moves for all 30 major league teams.
Just posted is their Cubs Off-Season Review, which takes a fair look at the changes made from last year to this and offers [...]

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April 7, 2009 Tags: Jake Peavy, Jim Hendry, MLBtradeRumors, Tim Dierkes Posted in: Hot Stove, Jim Hendry, Team Ownership, biz of baseball, players, playoffs, roster, stats No Comments

Mark Cuban comments on Cubs sale process

Mark Cuban, on his personal blog commented today on his experience in the bidding process to buy the Cubs. He reveals and answers some obvious questions but it seems his tactics may still be unfolding. Cuban requested an extension to continue working on valuation and funding possibilities to close this deal in his favor. He says [...]

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