You can't browse the Interwebs nowadays without finding a sports writer or thirty anxious to hand advice out to new Cubs owner Tom Ricketts. The national guys are doing it. The bloggers are doing it. This paper's columnists are doing it.
So I think that means we get to do it too, right? Me first, you guys second.
Like it or not Cubs fans, this awful, horrible, no good team you have this year is the team you're going to have for the next couple of years. Alfonso Soriano is signed through 2014. Carlos Zambrano is signed through 2012. Dumpster is signed through 2012. Kosuke Fukudome, Aramis Ramirez, and Milton Bradley are all signed through 2011.
I just listed six players, all of them at least around for two more seasons. In 2010, those six players will earn $86 million. If those six guys were an entire team, it would have the 14th highest payroll in the majors in 2009.
Do you really think someone is going to take Alfonso Soriano's $18 million for each of the next five seasons off of your hands? Sorry, the Memphis Grizzles are a basketball team, not a baseball team. Hendry couldn't even deal Soriano for a bucket of balls. Not in this economy, not in any economy.
So what's Ricketts to do with this fat mess? I'll tell you what he shouldn't do: tack on a bunch more money to the payroll.
I've been hearing proposed offseason trades from Cubs fan friends all summer. "Randy Wells for Michael Young!" and things of that nature.
Listen: Michael Young will make $16 million in 2010. And in 2011. And in 2012. And in 2013. He is 32 years old. The Cubs don't need more Michael Youngs, the Cubs need more Randy Wellses.
I'm not saying that Ricketts shouldn't spend money, because he should, of course. But forget adding more high priced veterans. Spend it elsewhere in the organization. Primarily in development, scouting, and statistical analysis.
The Cubs are in this mess because they have a hellacious time drafting and developing talent. They've been a bit better lately, sure: Theriot, Soto, and Marmol is a start. You know what all those guys have in common? They're cheap. Basically free, at least in the big picture. With so much money already committed long term on this team, the Cubs need to start developing more good young players. They need to find some talent that doesn't cost them $13 million a year.
It's a tall task, I know. But look at what the Red Sox have done in recent years. Model your franchise after that one. It's a blue print that has two World Series rings in the last 5.5 seasons. It also has them set up for long term success.
Boston has developed Jonathan Papelbon, and Jacoby Ellsbury, and Dustin Pedroia, and Jon Lester. Those last three guys combine to make $3.25 million in 2009. Papelbon got his much deserved arbitration raise after years of free labor, but even he's only making $6.25 million. That's a heck of a lot better than playing Soriano $18 million.
Tom Ricketts' money should go to finding more Ryan Theriots. It should go to someone who can teach Josh Vitters how to take a walk. It should go to someone who knows what VORP stands for.
If the Bulls' problem is that they're cheap, then the Cubs' problem is that they're dumb. Luckily, money can buy you anything. Even a brain.
Ricky O'Donnell is the designated pinch-hitter at FCP. Contact him at richardpodonnell@gmail.com.
By stuckinwisconsin on August 23, 2009 3:37 AM
Last chance for the Cubs before nepotism swoops down and 'Reinsdorfs'
them. I can see it now. The whole family gathering around the only milking cow in Chicago. Diluting our faith with each tug on 'ol Bessie's nipple. This family was not excited enough at the privilege
of owning one of the most prestigious franchises in MLB, to the point
that they waited and waited to see what the Cubs would do this year.
To see how much they would be worth. They left them-they left us-
dangling without hope, while St. Louis went and bought the division.
What else will happen on 'nobody's watch'? Look out Gary,Ind. Here
comes something stinkier than you. Wrigley, on it's last legs, will
not be rebuilt, only left to finish it's decay...among the dreams
of it's fans.The Cubs are about to become as meaningless as the
White Sox.
Wait...... I take it back...the Cubs still spent more
than the Brewers have throughout the course of the year. GO CUBS!!
............................................................................second thought, they spent it on Aaron Miles, Milton Bradley, and a new urinal for the loer level restroom. Dumb Cubs................oh...wait....that urinal seems to 'catch' everything, and it has seen plenty of b☺lls and hasn't swung
at a single one......a natural all-star that urinal.
My advice? ... Sell the team.
Don't sign any injured pitchers who are already on the disabled list to huge long term back loaded contracts.
If I was Tom Ricketts, the first question that I am asking Jim Hendry is to justify all the money he has spent over the last couple of seasons on free agents (future years as well)and take a look at how these acquisitions have worked out. I am then firing him immediately after his response. You give a really good GM's the resources that Jim Hendry has had during his tenure with the Cubs and you would have the Boston Red Sox right now. Tom Ricketts needs to bring in "Baseball People" who know talent (Hendry needs to go back to the College game)and understand the type of players that can win at Wrigley Field (The best home field advantage in the NL) The guy that I would target to run baseball operations for the Cubs would be Steve Stone (He predicted this mess over a year ago when the Cubs were winning). Stone has watched many players come into Wrigley Field over the last 25+ years, he understands the type of players to win the surplus of day games in that ballpark. I would guess Stone would jump at the chance, as he is wasting his talents in the booth right now.
You are right Ricky.
They have committed themselves to a huge chunk of money and have no real future stars waiting in the wings.
I would try dumping as much salary as I can and starting over. If they are going to wait out these contracts then they will suddenly find themselves with none of the players you listed and no young talent to replace them and that would be a death sentence for most teams.
Not the Cubs though. The money will continue to roll in and that is a double-edged sword.
It is this obsession with Wrigley Field that chains them to losing because it has been their number one priority for the last 20 years.
It makes them lots of money yet it ties them down as far as running the team like baseball is the real story.
It is time to wash the dirt of this sorry tradition off of their shoes and build the team for more than one desperate attempt at a title and milking the fans for the next 50 years with nostalgia.
What are they nostalgic for anyway? 1984?
I have heard some Cub fans talking about how cool it is having a “fan” as the owner and how he met his wife at Wrigley and blah blah blah….
It is time to drop that silly nonsense and cuddly goo and make the game the real focus here.
Look at how the Florida Marlins keep dumping salary and getting young talent in return.
Their attendance sucks yet they stay competitive year after year.
If they can do it then why not the Cubs with their fan support?
The Cubs need that kind of transfusion and if their fans are as loyal and patient as they claim then they will understand what the team is trying to accomplish.
Come right out and tell them that this is the plan and start getting them ready for the reality that Wrigley will have to be replaced.
Stop catering to the tourists from Iowa and run this like a MLB team for once.
If you are a real Cub fan and really care about the baseball that they play then you will support this type of philosophy and see their goal is best for the team.
If it is just Wrigley and beer and lovable losers that you seek then go to Oak Street beach.
Things Ricketts should do:
1. Bring back Steve Stone and his spot on, albeit, critical assessment of the Cubs -- then the players will have another excuse for underachieving AND someone at which to point fingers.
2. Raise the price of beer to $10 -- hey, you have to pay for Soriano's contract, right? Or perhaps Ricketts can say the higher beer prices will be paying for Harden's contract.
3. Keep Eddie Vedder in the booth. Most entertaining part of last night's broadcast.
4. Remove the ivy from the outfield walls. Perhaps watching outfielders crash into brick walls will bring a little toughness to a team that desperately needs it.
5. Change the name of Wrigley Field to Wrigley Beer Garden and Entertainment Emporium. The tagline can be -- "With every beer you drink, the Cubs look better and better!"
6. Hire Bob Pulford as GM. A sure bet to turn this franchise around.
7. Open a small, one-room office (but call it a museum) celebrating the Cubs World Series Championships. It can be called -- "The Shortest Story Ever Told."
8. Remind fans that attending Cubs games is more about the fun in the stands than the team on the field.
9. Encourage the Cubs players to smoke, cuss, whore-around, drink, etc. Once they start acting like real baseball players, maybe they will start PLAYING like them.
10. Sell the team to the Commander in Chief of the U.S. Only a White Sox fan would truly know what to do with the Cubs.
Final thought/prediction -- Now that the Cubs are toast, watch Milton Bradley get hot. Same thing happened last year in Texas. He is so good when nothing is on the line.
To Cubs fans everywhere -- Stay thirsty my friends.
PUNT!!!
Being serial this time.
I think you missed a couple major factors here. Before I begin, I would just like to mention that most of the things you wrote about in this dandy article are not really owner suggestions, other than "Model your franchise after that one", rather GM things.
Anyway, unless Ricketts completely restructures his baseball OPS department, which probably is not going to happen, nothing is going to change. Hendry, Fleita and Bush have know each other since college. Guys like Nelson have been there for 20 years. You don't just fire people you have known, traveled with, have shared experiences with (like divorces) for 20 years. It just does not happen. The same goes for the minor league coaches and player development-type guys.
Going into development. It is just not that easy. As someone who works in the baseball development business at the high school level, thing can be changed. A swing (bat path, balance, etc), players footwork in the field, etc. However, most of the guys in the minors have already been coached up on all that crap. They are pretty much done. The development comes in if they mature physically and mentally. A lot of that is simply how hard they work during and after the season.
A good example of that is Geo Soto. He lost 15 pounds last year and was an effing monster behind and at the plate. However, he lost his motivator and workout partner in Hank White and guess what? He put the weight back on, got hurt and has sucked all year. But that is not really the most important factor... SCOUTING AND DRAFTING.
Onto scouting and drafting, the Cubs have the most notorious average major leaguer drafter in the world, Tim Wilken. He literally would rather draft athleticism instead of skill like, you know, power or an ability to take a walk. However, if they played football in high school, lets draft him!!! On a different note, he has done a pretty good job of stacking the Cubs farm system with pitching depth. So Kudos on that, I guess. It is kind of sad how they draft role players instead of STARS. This is where teams like the Red Sox dominate the Cubs and White Sox. Their player analysis is insane and that is why they have such a deep system. They draft like all-stars.
I guess what I am saying is that your overall thesis is correct, but unless the Cubs blowup the baseball OPS department and pretty much start all over again, it is nearly impossible. Oh, also Jim Hendry is a terrible free agent signer. The worst. however good trader. So take the good with the bad i guess. Anywho, chicago baseball is bad.
Cubs need a complete roster enema.
At least this season would dictate so.
Right now, if the Cubs were a stock, the CUBS stock price would be at their 52 week low. As they say, "You buy low, sell high." Thinking about that for a second tells me you can't make rash and sweeping decisions when things are this bad. I have seen enough of Ramirez to know he's better then this year. Same goes for Big Z and even the much maligned, strikeout happy Soriano.
You have to sustain this years depression-like season and hope for a rebound next season. Rickets and co. isn't about to break the bank with a 'stimulus' package that would mean insane spending on top of their existing team salary.
One change that will have to be done is that they get rid of Jim Hendry. Sole fault or not, someone has to be the scapegoat. This may mean the end for Sweet Lou as well. I like Lou, but he's lost his energy, and the Cubs need someone who's young, hungry, and willing to suffer through the losing seasons in order to rise again.
One name that may start surfacing is none other then good ol; number 8, Ryne Sandberg. He'd be cheap, gone through the minor league coaching ranks, and immune to the heavy criticism of estranged Cub fans as the fuzzy feelings of seeing a Cub legend patrol their dugout returns. You know he has the fire and I believe he has the right out look as to how the game should be played. IF you need any proof, just check out this terrific HOF induction speech.
This year will continue to suck. It's inevitable that they are done. But as far as making any significant changes, we need to wait till after the season and let all the information sink in.
Ryne Sandberg's jersey number was not 8. It was 23. And Ramirez is not having a bad year. He's just been hurt. And the only idea worse than hiring Ryno as manager is hiring Steve Stone as GM. They'd be much better off just hanging onto Hendry and Pinella if those two were the other options. The only reason Sandberg is even being discussed is because he was a fan favorite as a player. Maybe if they hire him, he can teach Lee and Ramirez how to bunt. (That's sarcasm.) I thought his Hall of Fame speech was anything but terrific.
And as far as Steve Stone goes, HE WANTED TO TRADE ARAMIS RAMIREZ FOR CESAR IZTURIS!! (You should literally read that as if someone is shouting it at you, maybe through a megaphone, so that it sinks in.) Say what you will about him as an analyst, but as a GM, he'd be an absolute disaster. Come on, the guy has been openly campaigning for a front office position for the better part of a decade. There's a reason he hasn't gotten one.
Also, I couldn't agree more about Wilken. He's 90% of the reason I can't stand Alex Rios. Rios' brief flirtation with success was validation for Wilken's strategy, thus leaving the Cubs with first round picks like Tyler Colvin. Wilken isn't all bad, but his desire to find diamonds in the rough in spots where that's not what he should be.
Really, the Cubs are strapped til 2012 or so. The only thing they can do until then is hope for the best from the players they have, draft well to continue to restore some promise in the minor league system (this year was a good start), and make financially smart moves (such as not signing dime a dozen guys like Aaron Miles to multi-year multi-million-dollar contracts).
Trade the Cubs to the Yankees for the Yankees
The Red Sox will pay for their young talent at some point. They're already talking about moving Papelbon because they might not be able to afford him.
And let's not forget that Boston relied mainly on vets to help them win over the last 5 years, most of whom were not Sox products: Pedro, Wakefield, Schilling, Ortiz, Manny, Damon, Varitek, Drew, Lowell.
Developing prospects is important, and the Cubs are starting to do that, but procuring talent from other teams is even more crucial.
Geez Doyle, always so quick to argue with me.
Yeah, my bad on the Ryno's number. I should have double checked that.
As far as Sandberg as manager, I don't understand the apprehension. There is a proven track manager of former Chicago players who have become pretty darn good managers. Last I checked, Ozzie Guillen has a World Series ring and Joe Girardi is managing one the best teams in baseball in one of the toughest markets in baseball.
What did you not like about Sandberg's HOF speech? He was very respectful and gave credence to the game, it's players, and how he felt the game should be played. Not sure what else you could be looking for.
Yes ,Aramis has been injured. His fault or not he's 40 RBI's below his yearly pace which to me constitutes a bad year, especially when he's relied upon to produce runs.
Stoney as GM? I have to agree with Mark as that's not a bad idea at all. So you're ready to say he is not qualified to be a GM simply because of one trade proposal some years ago? GM's make mistakes all the time. Hindsight is 20/20. You make is sound like being GM involves brain surgery. You pretty much just have to know baseball. Listen to Steve Stone in interviews or in a broadcast and if you can't understand that he knows baseball inside and out, then I don't know what to tell you. He's a freaking baseball encyclopedia. I think the real reason he hasn't been given a GM spot yet is because he's not part of the Baseball owner's 'Good Old Boy's club.
Making Ryne Sandberg the manager is just the kind of cutsie stuff that I am talking about.
Hey! Lets bring back Mark Grace as hitting coach and Greg Maddux as the pitching coach and Ernie Banks can be the manager and then let Jim Bulushi do the play by play with Bill Murray...
Enough of the cute homer stuff.
You get real baseball men who are serious about winning and to hell with what high school they went to or where they met their wife.
I don’t want Ray Rayner’s ghost scouting the minor leagues for talent.
My only advise for the Rickett's is to SELL THIS TEAM. They bought this team at absolutely the worse time. As noted in this article, the Scrubs have so many bad contracts that this team will absolutely STINK for about the next four or five years. The worst organization in the history of sports just got a whole lot worse and that's saying something. I advise the Rickett's to sell NOW. And I advise all Cubs fans to simply stop going to the games for the next four or five years. we as fans are a BIG part of the problem. I've been saying this for the last ten years, as long as Cubs fans keep selling out every game, management WILL NEVER have an incentive to try to win. Look, as much as I hate the White Sox, you have to admit that their fans have it right. Put a good team on the field that has a legitimate chance to win and we'll go to the games. Put a shitty team on the field and we'll save our money for something else. CUBS FANS, STOP BEING IDIOTS AND PLEASE JUST STOP GOING TO THE GAMES.
I do not think a major shake-up is at all necessary.My advice would be to wait and see how this season plays out and how healthy next year's players are likely to be. I like the team the way it is but only if the players who slumped so badly this year can get back on course. The Cubs really have had one injury after another,and I suspect they would have equalled last year's performance if those injuries had not occurred.
Sav-
I think you missed YOUR OWN point completely. Those young players that "The Red Sox will pay for... at some point" will also be used in trades to "[procure] talent from other teams..." You see, a strong farm system will inevitably lead to good talent, either on the field or via trades.
Also, the Cubs biggest problem is that they did procure players in free agency horribly. So, yeah.
But back to the main point, arguing that having a good farm system is bad in some way is ludicrous at best.
AMEN!
"arguing that having a good farm system is bad in some way is ludicrous at best."
What's ludicrous is pretending anyone argued any such point.
Back to Boston, the fact is most of their WS talent was not a result of their farm. Now, some of their recent starters have been but several of those were players not all that highly thought of as prospects.
Prospects are a crapshoot. Last year Soto was terrific, this year he's struggled. Who knows what he'll do next season. Last year Fontenot was very productive, this year not so much. There's no guarantee Wells will continue to be as effective. Free agents really aren't any different. It's not impossible Bradley and Soriano could have big comeback seasons next year.
*There is a proven track *manager* of former Chicago*
Should be...
*There is a proven track *record* of former Chicago*
Bah! That's what I get for doing this on 3 hours sleep.
Well then Phil if the ghost of Ray Rayner can't come here then I guess my request to make Cuddly Duddly the new mascot is just as moot. Man, I was really looking forward to that. Sooo I guess renaming Wrigley Field Gigglesnort Hotel is not going to happen either?
Sav-
I will agree that the majority of prospects are a "crapshoot" to a certain extent, but the one's that should not be are your first round picks. From 2000-20005 every single player the Red Sox have taken in the 1st round (including supplementary: 8 players) have made it to the majors. Where as the Cubs, in that same time, have had two: Mark Prior and Luis Montanez. I know me too, Luis Montanez?
Also, I decided to look at the guys you were talking about winning things and whatnot: "And let's not forget that Boston relied mainly on vets to help them win over the last 5 years, most of whom were not Sox products: Pedro, Wakefield, Schilling, Ortiz, Manny, Damon, Varitek, Drew, Lowell." and to see where they came from:
Pedro- acquired from the Expos for Carl Pavano who the Red Sox drafted in the 13th round.
Wakefield - Scouted and signed to a minor league contract after the Pirates released him.
Schilling - besides the fact they originally drafted him. Was traded from 'Zona to Red Sox for four players...two of them drafted by the red sox... the other two were signed to minor league deals after being released and scouted by Red Sox scouts.
Ortiz - Free agent signing
Manny - Free agent signing
Damon - Free agent
Varitek - traded from Mariners for Heathcliff Slocum who they acquired for three players they drafted. (Sox also got Lowe in that trade. Insane trade.)
Drew - free agent
Lowell - Trades from marlins for bevy of talent.
Basically, I am agreeing that a lot of the talent on most of the successful teams come from somewhere else, but a team needs something other than money to acquire that talent in a lot of cases (in this scenario 5/9 players were traded for or scouted and signed to minor league deals after teams dropped them). That means that their farm or scouting department directly correlated to them being on the Red Sox.
The point is from all this. Something NEEDS to change in the Cubs system. They do not evaluate amateur talent well and it is hurting them. Hendry has done a good job of using his farm system to trade for good players, but at some point you do need to fill roster spots with home grown talent, especially when you are money tied like the Cubs are now. They need to change their approach to drafting to major tools like power and stop drafting "athletes".
"but at some point you do need to fill roster spots with home grown talent, especially when you are money tied like the Cubs are now." -
That's true, and the Cubs have a couple of those in Theriot and Soto. Lee and Ramirez were both procured with prospects. So was Baker who probably isn't a long-term solution but has been really good lately. Zambrano, Marmol, Marshall and Wells are farm products. Harden was acquired using prospects. And while I've had significant issues with Wilken, the fact is there is more talent, on paper, in the lower levels of the system then there has been in at least 5 years.
If Soriano, Bradley, Soto, Gregg, Marmol and Fontenot weren't having subpar or poor years, and Ramirez had been healthy, we probably wouldn't have all this consternation.
I don't hate Milton Bradley.
I love every moment of him in a Cub uniform and I hope he stays.
hey Phildo..and btw..I like you most of the time...just a nickname I gave you....no offense...it's funny....say it...Phildo...
you smiled
N E Way
this cutsie sht you talk about...you actually have something there...but it has to be serious and decisive (ie...Al Davis is decisive..) and the media attention needs to be deflected in a certain sorta way...
and when they're asked by the media why they made 'such a decision'...they don't say stuff like "rex is our QB"
like when Singletary or Rivera take over for the Bears next year...and the defense comes back....and we still have this franchise QB you all talk about...
Chicago is a football town...but
Bring in guys who don't "have to" justify a decision...and the person... 'who asks the question' looks like the chode
I love Lou..have for years...but when you stop being "allowed" to follow your gut...or start second guessing it...I, I , I, I, I, I..dont dont.. know what totellya......
remember last year..I love Sporano...not a yes man
didn't you rip me, Villano?..about that?...and the Dolphins...well?
hey, I love Tony Sporano....for a freakin reason ova theyrrrrr
pretty cryptic, huh?
uncross your eyes everyone.......later
I..dont dont.. know what totellya......
remember last year..I love Sporano...not a yes man
didn't you rip me, Villano?..about that?...and the Dolphins...well?
__________________________
What are you talking about? I don't even know who Sporano is.
Get off the booze pal.
well, well, well....I, I, I, I apologize...yeah..to Mark
anyway, I said I became a little bit of a Dolphins fan the day I saw Sporano's press conference after he was hired......and someone's water broke...
Anyway...would the person who's water broke please stand up...??
and to Ricketts family...thank you for Scatman Crothers...I loved that guy..
I avoided even opening this thread for at least 48HRS and i was getting sad that I relented, until I saw CD\'s first post bullet point about
"Bringing Back Steve Stone!"
Thats the best Idea I have heard in forever.
*PS you shoulda stopped after 1 point Seedy, but ill give you some points on the humor attempts.
Otherwise, I have sort of officially stopped reading Cubs Posts on this Sox Blog!!!