Cuban Leading Pack of Cubs Bidders

[TallTitan34]

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-080802-mark-cuban-chicago-cubs,1,6430716.story

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has gone from being a long shot to one of the favorites in the bidding to buy the Cubs, picking up support from NBA Commissioner David Stern and others as the field of prospective owners narrows.

Crain's Chicago Business recently quoted one of the bidders as saying Cuban is now "the lead guy" in the battle to buy the Cubs, while Boston Red Sox owner John Henry said in an e-mail to the New York Times that he could think of "no one better suited to reverse the fortunes of the Cubs for the long term" than Cuban.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/03/sports/baseball/03cubs.html?_r=1&em&oref=slogin

“The best references I have will come from other N.B.A. owners who know what my contributions as a partner are,” Cuban wrote, adding that “multiple N.B.A. owners have asked if they could participate in our attempts to purchase the Cubs.”

[TallTitan34]

Cuban will also be bowling in Kerry Wood's bowling tournament tonight!

http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports_hardball/2008/08/wood-to-bowl-le.html

[reinko]

As a Brewer fan this kinda scares me.  Cuban would just drop even more money into this already loaded team.  What's the general take of Cubs fans?  Are most excited, indifferent, don't want him?

Egotiscal owners (Jerry Jones, Steinbrenner family...) have always kind of irked me.  I'm curious if the the Chicago faithful would welcome him and his antics. 

I'm trying to imagine him running out on to the field during a fight to try to play "peacemaker" like he did with the Mavs.

[🏀]

Cubs fans, that are fans have to be excited about Cuban. He will spend the money, and he's a personable guy.

Honestly, anything other than the Tribune will be an upgrade.

[TallTitan34]

Cuban said he would let the baseball peopl run things at Kerry Wood's bowling tournament.

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-080806-mitchell-mark-cuban-chicago-cubs,1,703612.column

[reinko]

Well, obvi he is going to say that now.

Have to be pretty nieve if you believe it.

[DegenerateDish]

It'll be interesting to see what happens. Whoever takes ownership of the team will obviously not be in it to make money on the franchise. There's a reason Canning's bid was as low as it was (he was believed to be favored to win if everything else was the same).

The Cubs being owned by the Tribune is a profitable venture for the company, not hugely profitable, but enough. Whoever buys this team will be bleeding money for a while (most likely 2020 will be the turn of a profit once the Cubs Comcast deal expires in '19).

The Cubs payroll jumps to somewhere in the neighborhood of $165 million next year, and that's without adding a single player. That's just on the amount in back loaded contracts the Cubs have coming up. The stadium issue will have to be addressed in some form. Whatever you think of the place, some type of upgrade will be needed for the owner to pay off the purchase price debt.

Cuban would be a great baseball owner I believe, and completely opposite of what Cubs management has been for seemingly ever. If he does buy the team though, he'll do exactly what he did in Dallas with ticket prices. Bleachers will be $100 per and first five rows will be $500 to $1000. I know that doesn't take up too many seats at Wrigley, but the rest of the place is going to go way up. To steal a quote from Cubs fans "It's gonna happen."

[TallTitan34]

The stadium issue will have to be addressed in some form. Whatever you think of the place, some type of upgrade will be needed for the owner to pay off the purchase price debt.

Agreed MUDish.  I think what will eventually end up happening is the tearing down and replacement of the grandstands piece by piece over the course of several offseasons while the newly renovated bleachers, scoreboard, and ivy remain untouched.

I believe they would be able to complete the grandstands in two to four offseasons.  In St. Louis they had to tear down the old Busch Stadium before they could build an entire half of the new stadium all in one off season. 

[🏀]

Agreed MUDish.  I think what will eventually end up happening is the tearing down and replacement of the grandstands piece by piece over the course of several offseasons while the newly renovated bleachers, scoreboard, and ivy remain untouched.

I believe they would be able to complete the grandstands in two to four offseasons.  In St. Louis they had to tear down the old Busch Stadium before they could build an entire half of the new stadium all in one off season. 

Two years of US Cell play is more likely, unless they wait for that Olympic stadium.

[TallTitan34]

See I think Miller Park would actually be more likely.  I just don't know if Jerry Reinsdorf would allow the Cubs to play at the Cell.

And quite frankly the Brewers need all the money they can get so they should welcome a money maker like the Cubs.

[ChicosBailBonds]

As a Brewer fan this kinda scares me.  Cuban would just drop even more money into this already loaded team.  What's the general take of Cubs fans?  Are most excited, indifferent, don't want him?

Egotiscal owners (Jerry Jones, Steinbrenner family...) have always kind of irked me.  I'm curious if the the Chicago faithful would welcome him and his antics. 

I'm trying to imagine him running out on to the field during a fight to try to play "peacemaker" like he did with the Mavs.

The thing about egotistical owners is that everyone hates them except for fans of that team.

As a Cowboys fan, I love Jerry because I know he will spend anything to win. 

I've known Cuban since 1994...if I were a Cubs fan I'd want this to happen like nobody's business.  He will do everything in his power to make them a consistent winner, much to the dislike of fans everywhere else, but Cubs fans won't care...nor should they.

[SaintPaulWarrior]

See I think Miller Park would actually be more likely.  I just don't know if Jerry Reinsdorf would allow the Cubs to play at the Cell.

The state of Illinois or the Illinois Sports Commission? owns Comiskey Park.  I am not sure how much say Reinsdorf would have in the matter.

[TallTitan34]

When they were talking about it eariler this year, Reinsdorf was on the Score and Mike North asked him if the Cubs came to him with their plan for using the Cell. 

Jerry said no plans had been presented to him and he said if they want to use it they have to go through him.  Maybe the White Sox's contract with the ISC gives them the right to veto as the main tennant?  Jerry seemed to think he had deciding vote.

[SaintPaulWarrior]

He does think he has the deciding vote on just about everything.  And I have heard rumors that, through his dealings in the NBA, he is not a fan of Cuban.  JR holds a lot of influence with the other baseball owners as far as ownership approval.  Just saying.

[🏀]

See I think Miller Park would actually be more likely.  I just don't know if Jerry Reinsdorf would allow the Cubs to play at the Cell.

And quite frankly the Brewers need all the money they can get so they should welcome a money maker like the Cubs.

Reinsdorf would have no say. MLB does the scheduling. ISC owns the park.

No way we let our dollars travel over the state border to Wisconsin. Nor would MLB or the Cubs allow that, all Cubs/Brewers games would be at Miller Park.

[TallTitan34]

I hope so.  I have no doubt Cubs fans would fill the Cell, however, taking the 90 miles drive to Milwaukee gets expensive after awhile.  It's ok for 7 times a year but 81 times would just be too much of a hassle.

[🏀]

I hope so.  I have no doubt Cubs fans would fill the Cell, however, taking the 90 miles drive to Milwaukee gets expensive after awhile.  It's ok for 7 times a year but 81 times would just be too much of a hassle.

Maybe we could play at UofI

[DegenerateDish]

As marqptm mentioned, there is absolutely zero chance of the Cubs playing outside of the Chicago city limits if they renovate Wrigley.

Between the taxpayer dollars and the amount of political diming that is going to go on with renovating that place, there's not a chance of them playing anywhere but the Cell.

Legally speaking, the Cubs would lease the Cell from the ISC. The lead tenant is the White Sox, and part of the White Sox lease allows for Reinsdorf to collect revenue on any events at the Cell on concessions and parking.

The Cubs would haven't much of a problem leasing the field, it would be negotiating for the rights for the concessions and parking.

It would be interesting though, because most likely the Cubs would be playing a ton of night games then at the Cell (as opposed to their 30 game limit now at Wrigley).

[RawdogDX]

Agreed MUDish.  I think what will eventually end up happening is the tearing down and replacement of the grandstands piece by piece over the course of several offseasons while the newly renovated bleachers, scoreboard, and ivy remain untouched.

And he will do something that there is 0 reason for not being done already, replace the TV's.  Why do we have 22 inch tv's in random corners, it would take <20k to replace them all with 42 inch hi def ones.

[Tugg Speedman]

Has anyone noticed that virtually everything the media has said about the cubs sale has been wrong?  First their was Opra and Jordan, still waiting on their bid.  Then their was 10 million stories about John Canning buying the team.  He never made it off first base.  Then their was a million stories about how Cuban was a pipe dream, now he's the front runner.

The buyer of the team will be Tom Ricketts.  I cannot wait until for all the crinkled foreheads when this happens. 

[ChicosBailBonds]

Has anyone noticed that virtually everything the media has said about the cubs sale has been wrong?  First their was Opra and Jordan, still waiting on their bid.  Then their was 10 million stories about John Canning buying the team.  He never made it off first base.  Then their was a million stories about how Cuban was a pipe dream, now he's the front runner.

The buyer of the team will be Tom Ricketts.  I cannot wait until for all the crinkled foreheads when this happens. 

I was on Catalina Island a few weeks ago for the Flying Fish festival.  If anyone has been there, you know they have a boat that goes around island at night with two large spotlights and the flying fish jump out and glide toward to boat. It's very cool.

Well, I was there the night they re-christened the Blanche M.  That's the name of the boat....it was named by Wrigley himself for his granddaughter, Blanche.  Blanche was there for the christening, she's probably in her 80's now.  For those that don't know, Wrigley owned more then half of Catalina Island back in the day and he even had his Cubs out there for a number of years for Spring Training on the island.

Well after the festivities I had the pleasure of speaking with Blanche's son...the great grandson of Wrigley.  He was easy to spot, had a Cubs hat on.  We talked for awhile and Cuban / sale of the Cubs came up.  As you can imagine, the Wrigley family still has some considerable ties to the Cubs, even though they are only ceremonial at this point. 

He was hoping and praying Mark would buy the team.  As he said, anything is better then the Tribune.

For what it's worth.

[Tugg Speedman]

Well after the festivities I had the pleasure of speaking with Blanche's son...the great grandson of Wrigley.  He was easy to spot, had a Cubs hat on.  We talked for awhile and Cuban / sale of the Cubs came up.  As you can imagine, the Wrigley family still has some considerable ties to the Cubs, even though they are only ceremonial at this point. 

He was hoping and praying Mark would buy the team.  As he said, anything is better then the Tribune.

For what it's worth.

The Tribune organization is a HUGE uptick over the Wrigleys.  In fact, by many measures, their ownership has been a big sucess.

They bought the team in 1981 for $20.5 million.  The team was averaging about 12,000/game and as Lee Elia famously said in April 1983 "85% of the world works a living, the other 15% come out here and boo."  He also said they were drawing about 3,000 a game after the Cubs lost their first 14 home games.  People under the age of 35 cannot understand how invisible the Cubs were when the Tribune bought them.  They were like the modern day Toronto Blue Jays ... a team that was "just there" never won and no one really gave them five minutes of thought, even in Chicago.

Under the Wrigleys, the Cubs went 36 years without a playoff team (1945 to 1981).

Fast forward to 2008 ....

The Cubs are sold out every game, and expanded to 41,000.  They are among the most storied franchsie in professional sports, they made the playoffs five time in the last 28 years and have the best record in the NL this year.

Further, the team that the Tribune bought for $20.5 million in 1981 is now looking like it will fetch well over $1.3% billion in 2008.  That's a 16% annualized compounded return versus 7.8% for the stock market over the same period.  You will be hard pressed to find a better investment over this period.  And the fact that the Tribune turned to Cubs from a day-only team that no one cared about to what it is today is impressive.  To repeat, the Tribune did not inherit a popular Cubs team, the White Sox were more popular when they bought the Cubs.  The Tribune made the Cubs popular.

Now everyone wants Cuban.  A guy that has won zero championships, and who had the #7 team in the west last year.  Sounds like a perfect fit for the Cubs.  He can never win here either to compliment the Mavs.

Last thought, every argument one would will give about why the Tribune is really a bad owner and Cuban is good would lead to the conclusion that the best owner in the history of sports is Jerry Reinsdorf.  In the last 45 years, he has won 7 championships in Chicago while every one else won one (Bears in 1985).  Reinsdorf basketball record is far more impressive that Cuban and he even had the baseball team with the thrid best record in the 1990s  (tue argument every uses about Cuban, the tird best record int eh NBA over the last eight years).

Everyone loves a cartoon character and that is what Cuban is.  He has never shown an ability to win, but he does put play stations in the locker room.  I think Cuban would be a disaster for the Cubs, after three years and it's apparent he cannot win, you'll then realize he is a young guy and will owner the team for 40 more years.

[TallTitan34]

You can't deny though that Cuban does everything in his power to put a winner on the field.

By giving the players everything in their lockers and everything they could want it shows the players have no excuses for not winning. 

If Cuban's teams don't win it because of the players, not the owner.

[gjreda]

Last thought, every argument one would will give about why the Tribune is really a bad owner and Cuban is good would lead to the conclusion that the best owner in the history of sports is Jerry Reinsdorf.  In the last 45 years, he has won 7 championships in Chicago while every one else won one (Bears in 1985).  Reinsdorf basketball record is far more impressive that Cuban and he even had the baseball team with the thrid best record in the 1990s  (tue argument every uses about Cuban, the tird best record int eh NBA over the last eight years).

Pretty sure Jordan won six of those.  Easy on the Reinsdorf man-love.

[Strokin 3s]

Oh Jordan was there?

[reinko]

Pretty sure the Zen Master, Da Pip, a few lankey white dudes, a man with the ugliest jump shot known to man, and a massive no call against the Jazz had something to do with it too

[TallTitan34]

Only a Wisconsin person could crap on the basketball skills of MJ.

[Tugg Speedman]

Pretty sure Jordan won six of those.  Easy on the Reinsdorf man-love.

Who drafted Jordan?  Who kept him in Chicago for 13 seasons?  Who put the team around him after year seven to allow him to win?  Who let Jordan play for his minor league team?

[Tugg Speedman]

You can't deny though that Cuban does everything in his power to put a winner on the field.

By giving the players everything in their lockers and everything they could want it shows the players have no excuses for not winning. 

If Cuban's teams don't win it because of the players, not the owner.

Fact is Cuban's team do lose.  He has zero championships. 
If Reinsdrof announced he would sell the White Sox in order to buy the Cubs, I'll bet you'll still want Cuban.

Everyone loves the cartoon characters, even if they accomplish nothing.

(P.S. Please tell me you don't actually believe professional athletes that make nearly $100 million do better because the owner put a really cool TV in their locker.)

[TallTitan34]

Would you rather have Mark Attanasio or Mark Cuban?

[🏀]

(P.S. Please tell me you don't actually believe professional athletes that make nearly $100 million do better because the owner put a really cool TV in their locker.)

So our athletes can go back to the Old Gym then right? We don't need the Al at all.

[TallTitan34]

So our athletes can go back to the Old Gym then right? We don't need the Al at all.

Excellent analogy.

[reinko]

Would you rather have Mark Attanasio or Mark Cuban?

Attanasio: Super rich, fan friendly, avoids the spotlight, lets GMs and coaches do their jobs, 0 championships

Cuban: Super rich, fan friendly, loves the spotlight, has history of interfering with coaches and GMs, 0 championships

I guess Cuban is a love or hate him kind of guy.  A lot of new owners will pour millions of dollars into a team and try to create excitement throughout the city.  Thing is about the Cubs, is they already have one of the biggest payrolls in baseball, and probably the largest fan base in the country, maybe only second to the Yankees.

So I guess my question is, what do you expect to change if Cuban comes on board?

[🏀]

So I guess my question is, what do you expect to change if Cuban comes on board?

A decent owner. Jim Hendry's demise. Wrigley upgraded and preserved.

7th in payroll... we can do better...

[TallTitan34]

Jim Hendry's demise.

I'm fine with Jim Hendry. 

• He picked up a seemingly worthless Jim Edmonds for a prorated amount of the league minimum.
• He signed Reed Johnson right after his release.
• He negoiated with Ted Lilly while having a heart procedure done.
• He bolstered the bullpen last season by signing Howry and Eyre (both studs last year).
• I realize the Nomar trade didn't work out for the Cubs in the long run but who didn't love his signing at the time.  We gave up nothing and got Matt Murton thrown in as well.
• In 2003 he picked up Aramis Ramirez and Kenny Lofton in a Pittsburgh money dump for Bobby Hill and Jose Hernandez
• Etc.

EDIT:

• Plus in addition to Rich Harden he was able to get a good reliver in Chad Goudan without giving up too much

[TallTitan34]

So I guess my question is, what do you expect to change if Cuban comes on board?

I hope nothing changes except the winning of a World Series and some upgraded grandstands at Wrigley Field. 

Until recently when they realized they were spending the next owners money the Tribune never put out the money for players.  They now are putting out the money and they are winning because of it.  I don't want this to change which it wouldn't with Cuban.

If Bud Seligs' boy Cannings wins you can fully expect a lower payroll.  Bud doesn't like teams like the Yanks, BoSox, Cubs, Mets, etc spending money all over the place.

Cuban has said he understands the history of Wrigley Field and I believe whatever comes of the stadium he will be sure to preserve everything that makes Wrigley, Wrigley.

[RawdogDX]

I'm fine with Jim Hendry. 

• He picked up a seemingly worthless Jim Edmonds for a prorated amount of the league minimum.
• He signed Reed Johnson right after his release.
• He negoiated with Ted Lilly while having a heart procedure done.
• He bolstered the bullpen last season by signing Howry and Eyre (both studs last year).
• I realize the Nomar trade didn't work out for the Cubs in the long run but who didn't love his signing at the time.  We gave up nothing and got Matt Murton thrown in as well.
• In 2003 he picked up Aramis Ramirez and Kenny Lofton in a Pittsburgh money dump for Bobby Hill and Jose Hernandez
• Etc.

EDIT:

• Plus in addition to Rich Harden he was able to get a good reliver in Chad Goudan without giving up too much

+1
he also found marmol & samzga.  We are the best team in baseball and our payroll is 20 mill behind the tigers (no point in comparing to the yankee's.)

[Ahoya06]

Quick aside- I was looking at the post titles, reading fast, and this definitely jumped out to me as "Cubillan Leading Pack of Cubs Bidders"

Now THAT would be something!

[tdm2410]

has nothin to do with the cubs but thought I'd point it out since it was mentioned that the Tigers payroll is 20 mil higher... the Tigers added more to their payroll today and signed Freddy Garcia today

[jmayer1]

We are the best team in baseball and our payroll is 20 mill behind the tigers (no point in comparing to the yankee's.)

One of the best teams in baseball, tough to say the best until the end of the year. 

I don't know why anybody would think having Cuban as an owner could be anything but a good thing for the Cubs.  An owner can only do so much, the rest is up to the GM, coach, and players.  Cuban has obviously shown he will do whatever he can to win, as illustrated by trading for Kidd last year even though it cost them a ton of money (obviously that was a bad trade, but I would put that more on the GM than the owner).  You know he is going to spend the dollars and keep excitement in the franchise, you can't ask for much more from an owner.  All this is coming from a Cards/Brewers fan as well.  If I had it my way Bud Selig would have become an owner again!!!

[TallTitan34]

If I had it my way Bud Selig would have become an owner again!!!

I agree with everything you said except Bud Selig would be against spending the dollars.

[jmayer1]

I agree with everything you said except Bud Selig would be against spending the dollars.

I know thats why I want him as the owner of the cubs 

[TallTitan34]

Haha gotcha

[Tugg Speedman]

I'm fine with Jim Hendry. 

Plus in addition to Rich Harden he was able to get a good reliver in Chad Goudan without giving up too much[/li][/list]

Be careful here, Billy Beane repeatedly picks GM pockets in trades.  At any moment Harden can (and probably will) go on the DL list and this trade is a disaster.  Goudan is worthless, dime a dozen reliver.  Remember how great Eyre was last year, where is he now?

Let's revisit this statement in 12 months.

[Tugg Speedman]

Quote from: marqptm on August 12, 2008, 11:59:34 AM
So our athletes can go back to the Old Gym then right? We don't need the Al at all.

Excellent analogy.

I disagree.  Cuban took an excellent facility to start with and added flat screen TV and big leather chairs.  He tehn tried to say that this accounted for more wins than the coach drawing up Xs and Os.

Old Gym to AL is night and day.  Dallas' old facility to Cuban's TVs was noon to 12:30.

[gjreda]

Be careful here, Billy Beane repeatedly picks GM pockets in trades.  At any moment Harden can (and probably will) go on the DL list and this trade is a disaster.  Goudan is worthless, dime a dozen reliver.  Remember how great Eyre was last year, where is he now?

Let's revisit this statement in 12 months.

Whether he picks pockets or not, none of those players, except for Gallagher, had any future with the Cubs.  I think Gallagher will be good, but not an ace in any sense of the word.  Right now though, when you can get an ace and it looks like you are going to be in contention for the World Series, you do it.[/list]

[Tugg Speedman]

Let's be honest here.  Cuban knows no more about running a baseball team than any drunk in the bleachers.  Yet, he will drive Hendry or whoever is the GM out by taking over his job (think Al Davis, how are the Raiders doing these days?).  He will drive Lou way just like the meddlesome owners of the Rays drove him away a few years ago.

Question is, can Cuban spent money to keep Lou and a top GM and then STAY OUT OF THE WAY?  I say yes to the first part and no to the second part.  

This is why Cubs fan will grow to hate him, they when they realize he's a young guy in decent shape and will own the team for 40 years, they will absoutely despise him.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

Quick aside- I was looking at the post titles, reading fast, and this definitely jumped out to me as "Cubillan Leading Pack of Cubs Bidders"

Now THAT would be something!

that would probably free up a scholarship for 09 for us.   

Jim hendry is one of the best gm's in baseball.

[🏀]

84, please feel free to look up Gaudin's career stats.

Also, that is a great analogy. Cuban will invest money into Wrigley making it even more attractive to free agents.

[TallTitan34]

I disagree.  Cuban took an excellent facility to start with and added flat screen TV and big leather chairs.  He tehn tried to say that this accounted for more wins than the coach drawing up Xs and Os.

Old Gym to AL is night and day.  Dallas' old facility to Cuban's TVs was noon to 12:30.

Think of it like this.  Say Big Papi is a free agent someday.  Knowing full well that Mark Cuban is the owner of the Cubs and the way he treats his players, he is going to take a real good look at the Cubs?

Jamil Wilson is chosing a college.  Is he going to be more likely to take a hard look at Marquette with it's top notch facilities or a school that practices in the old gym.

I still think it's a great analogy.

[reinko]

Maybe I'm just slow, which is a definite possibility.  But what exactly does Cuban bring to the table?  He traded a great young player in Devin Harris for a geriatric Jason Kidd, he let Steve Nash get away for nothing.  Invested hundreds of millions of his own money in a team and has zero championships.

Is it that Cubs fan just want Cuban to be out in the bleachers a few times year wearing an A-Ram jersey pretending to be like Joe Sixpack?  After every bad call, will you wait in anticipation for the WGN camera to pan to Cuban with either his mouth agape looking stunned, or screaming his head off?

I just don't get it.

Both PTM and TT, the two biggest Cubs on this board say they want infrastrucutre improvements to Wrigely and a bigger payroll from the new owner.  Are you convinced that the other potential buyers won't do this?

[TallTitan34]

Both PTM and TT, the two biggest Cubs on this board say they want infrastrucutre improvements to Wrigely and a bigger payroll from the new owner.  Are you convinced that the other potential buyers won't do this?

The biggest threat I think is Bud Selig's guy and former partial Brewer owner John Canning.  As a Selig guy it is well known he won't increase the payroll and in all likelyhood would cut it.

He didn't get out of the first round of bidding but he isn't out of it because he is Bud's man.

EDIT:

Canning is the very model of the kind of owner Selig has sought to install when teams change hands, particularly baseball's flagship franchises. The commissioner wants no renegades who will break ranks on labor matters or break the bank on player salaries. (The damage might already have been done in the case of the latter, with the Cubs' $100 million payroll.)

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3030144

[🏀]

Honestly, I don't prefer Cuban over anyone but Canning. Canning's group is the only group that I would believe would be detrimental to the continued success of the Chicago Cubs.

Cuban is a character, but he isn't going to be bigger than the franchise. Not too mention I am salivating at the possibility of Cuban and Ozzie going back and forth.

[reinko]

Thanks guys for clarification.  I am now going to support Canning to be the new owner of the Cubs.    

In other news, Cubs looked good yesterday, never easy to blow out any team twice in a double header.

At least we can agree on one thing, the destruction of the St. Louis Cardinals.

[TallTitan34]

In other news, Cubs looked good yesterday, never easy to blow out any team twice in a double header.

I don't know... the Braves looked really bad.

At least we can agree on one thing, the destruction of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Agreed!

[Tugg Speedman]

Think of it like this.  Say Big Papi is a free agent someday.  Knowing full well that Mark Cuban is the owner of the Cubs and the way he treats his players, he is going to take a real good look at the Cubs?

Completely disagree.  Papi will do one of two things, 1) stay with Boston for a home town discount (as many players now do).  2) go to the highest bidder regardless of faciltiies.

Right now the Cubs have arguably the worst facilities (club house, training rooms) in baseball.  They don't even have an owner or a real plan for revonation.  They have nets to prevent fans from being killed by falling concrete.  Given all this, how do they attract any free agents?  Why didn't Soriano pass up on $136 million to play for someone with better facilities?

Please name me one BASEBALL player that ever chose a team based on facilities.  (this is different than picking a team becuase it close to where he lives like Maddox that does not want to leave southern CA)

[🏀]

Please name me one BASEBALL player that ever chose a team based on facilities.  (this is different than picking a team becuase it close to where he lives like Maddox that does not want to leave southern CA)

Andre Dawson.

That wasn't hard.

[TallTitan34]

Andre Dawson.

That wasn't hard.

The turf is very bad for the legs.  Probably took years off his career in Montreal.

[🏀]

The turf is very bad for the legs.  Probably took years off his career in Montreal.

Day games as well.

[🏀]

Mark Buehrle also stated he didn't want to hit the FA market because the White Sox have great amenities.

[Tugg Speedman]

The biggest threat I think is Bud Selig's guy and former partial Brewer owner John Canning.  As a Selig guy it is well known he won't increase the payroll and in all likelyhood would cut it.

He didn't get out of the first round of bidding but he isn't out of it because he is Bud's man.

EDIT:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3030144

Canning is out.  His fanancial popsition is suffering with Nuveen and the BCE LBO.  It's been over a month and he's shown no interest in stepping up and getting back into the game.

Bottom line, he HAD $1.3 billion last year and the credit crisis has crushed him.  He doesn't have the money now.  To get back in, he has to join with other investors and then he's not "the man."  That's why he's not back.

Let me remind you of what I posted early on, almost everyhing written about the sale of the Cubs has ultimately proved to be wrong.  I know Zell and members of his team, it is their opinion that Ricketts will get the team (their opinion doesn't count for much as the team is going to highest bidder and they think that will be Ricketts).  Rickett's group is far more organized than Cuban and his plans on what to do with the team are far more developed.  

I also know Ricketts very well and he is a much better businessman than Cuban, he has even made mroe moeny that Cuban off the internet ($2 billion for Ricketts to $1 billion for Cuban).  Ricketts is low key, refuses to be interviewed and has won at everything he's done.  Cuban is a bafoon and has zero championships.  All his ventures (like HD Net) are losing tons of money.

When Ricketts wins the team, remember, nothing about this process has gone according the way the media has said it would, this would be mroe fot he same.

[TallTitan34]

 Cuban is a bafoon and has zero championships.  All his ventures (like HD Net) are losing tons of money.

The other groups bidding have zero championships as well.

And can you really say anything about Cuban losing money?  He is a self-made billionare.

[Tugg Speedman]

The other groups bidding have zero championships as well.

And can you really say anything about Cuban losing money?  He is a self-made billionare.

The other bidding groups don't own a sports team.  The other bidding groups are also self-made billionaires.  The other bidding groups have made more money than Cuban.  The other bidding groups have made money since 2000, unlike Cuban than goes from one money losing venture to another.

I'm not taking anything away from Cuban, he's done far better than me.  However, the other bidding groups are more impressive businesspeople than Cuban.  Looking at that group, Cuban is probably last place.

[TallTitan34]

The other bidding groups don't own a sports team.

Yet you seem to think that they have a far greater knowledge of baseball than Cuban.

[Tugg Speedman]

Yet you seem to think that they have a far greater knowledge of baseball than Cuban.

Thanks for saying this (I was hoping you would).  This mentality is exactly why Cuban will be a disaster as the Cubs owner.

Cuban biggest decision will be to hire a GM, and the rest of the top personnel to run the team.  He then has to get out of the way and let them do their job.  In other words, he needs to show some business acumen in letting "his people" turn the Cubs into a winner, not him.  To do this effectively, he doesn't need to know beans about baseball, just how to run a billion dollar business.  Ted Turner does know jack about baseball, but he knew that John Schuerholz could run a team and put him in the position to run the Braves and STAYED OUT OF THE WAY!

This is why effective businesspeople can move from CEO of one firm to CEO of another firm in a different industry.  Running a huge organization is a skill set that applies across all indistries.  I don't see that in Cuban.

Basketball is the easiest sport to run as an owner.  You don't have 38th round draft picks winning world series or 85th round draft pick going to the hall of fame.  Simplym outspending the competition doesn't win champiohips See NYC Yankees last 8 years and counting).

In baseball he cannot do that.  These are jobs with speciific skill sets that he doesn't have.  These are jobs that take an organization to do, not one manic billionaire getting drunk in the bleachers.

Cuban has not shown that he can effectively run a multi-billion dollar organization.  He has had some sucess with the Mavs but I beleive his management style will not transfer to a baseball team.  A more traditional business CEO skill set will transfer better than Cuban.  This is why I think he's a disaster waiting to happen.

He's George Steinbrenner circa 1977 to 1996.  Look up how the Yankees did (zero championships) and look at how George made himself bigger than the team.  The Yankees were a train wreck, a place that everyone sent their overpriced talent for good young prospects.  That is what the Cubs will be under Cuban.

Only when Steinbreenner stopped firing managers every hour (including Pinealla) and let Cashman run the team (starting in 1997) did they start winning in the last 1990s.

[RJax55]

The other bidding groups don't own a sports team.  The other bidding groups are also self-made billionaires.  The other bidding groups have made more money than Cuban.  The other bidding groups have made money since 2000, unlike Cuban than goes from one money losing venture to another.

I'm not taking anything away from Cuban, he's done far better than me.  However, the other bidding groups are more impressive businesspeople than Cuban.  Looking at that group, Cuban is probably last place.

I want Cuban to own the Cubs because I know that he will invest his money into the team. The others guys may have more cash, but that doesn't mean that their going to spend it.

Cuban already has a solid track record of showing a financial commitment. Plus, IMO he has done a great job in Dallas. He took a morbid franchise and made them one the top teams in the Western Conference. Impressive feat, considering how bad the Mavs were before Cuban. He may not have a championship yet in Dallas, but its not due to a lack of support or commitment.

AnotherMU84 are you a Cubs fan??

[TallTitan34]

Cuban biggest decision will be to hire a GM, and the rest of the top personnel to run the team.  He then has to get out of the way and let them do their job.  In other words, he needs to show some business acumen in letting "his people" turn the Cubs into a winner, not him.  To do this effectively, he doesn't need to know beans about baseball, just how to run a billion dollar business.  Ted Turner does know jack about baseball, but he knew that John Schuerholz could run a team and put him in the position to run the Braves and STAYED OUT OF THE WAY!

I completely agree.  I don't know if it is in print anywhere (I'm sure it is in a newspaper) but in an audio clip they played of Mark Cuban on the radio, he admitted that he doesn't know everything if anything about running a baseball team and would hire the right people to do just that.

I tend to believe him because despite being a fan, first and foremost Cuban is a businessman.  As a businessman he realizes the money he can make on the Cubs therefore he will hire the right people to get the most out of it. 

Along with being a businessman Cuban is also a fan. I believe this will cause him to put money into the team (payroll, clubhouse goodies, etc.) as well.  I think it's a nice mix of fan and businessman but first and foremost Cuban is a businessman.

[Tugg Speedman]

AnotherMU84 are you a Cubs fan??

Yes, but not a Cuban fan.  I think he's an idiot and want him far away from my team.

[RJax55]

Yes, but not a Cuban fan.  I think he's an idiot and want him far away from my team.

Fair enough.

Whoever purchases the Cubs will have to make tough decisions earlier on in terms of both team payroll and possible Wrigley Field renovations.   

[🏀]

84,

Since you know a lot more than I do. I support whoever your support for the next Cubs owner.

[SaintPaulWarrior]

Report: 'Zero chance' that MLB will accept Cuban's Cubs bid

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3687712

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/deluca/1266088,CST-SPT-deluca07.article

[🏀]

Report: 'Zero chance' that MLB will accept Cuban's Cubs bid

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3687712

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/deluca/1266088,CST-SPT-deluca07.article

Not entirely surprising. JAKE PEAVY

[Henry Sugar]

Canning is out.  His fanancial popsition is suffering with Nuveen and the BCE LBO.  It's been over a month and he's shown no interest in stepping up and getting back into the game.

Bottom line, he HAD $1.3 billion last year and the credit crisis has crushed him.  He doesn't have the money now.  To get back in, he has to join with other investors and then he's not "the man."  That's why he's not back.

Let me remind you of what I posted early on, almost everyhing written about the sale of the Cubs has ultimately proved to be wrong.  I know Zell and members of his team, it is their opinion that Ricketts will get the team (their opinion doesn't count for much as the team is going to highest bidder and they think that will be Ricketts).  Rickett's group is far more organized than Cuban and his plans on what to do with the team are far more developed.  

I also know Ricketts very well and he is a much better businessman than Cuban, he has even made mroe moeny that Cuban off the internet ($2 billion for Ricketts to $1 billion for Cuban).  Ricketts is low key, refuses to be interviewed and has won at everything he's done.  Cuban is a bafoon and has zero championships.  All his ventures (like HD Net) are losing tons of money.

When Ricketts wins the team, remember, nothing about this process has gone according the way the media has said it would, this would be mroe fot he same.

I just wanted to bump this particular quote in light of the following information.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-fri-cubs-jan23,0,5329135.story

[SaintPaulWarrior]

 
You don't have 38th round draft picks winning world series or 85th round draft pick going to the hall of fame. 

Except for Mark Buehrle who was a 38th round draft pick.

[Tugg Speedman]

Except for Mark Buehrle who was a 38th round draft pick.

I was referring to Mark.  He was a 38th round draft pick and instrumental in the 2005 White Sox Championship.

[SaintPaulWarrior]

I was referring to Mark.  He was a 38th round draft pick and instrumental in the 2005 White Sox Championship.

I thought that was too much of a coincidence.  Who is the 85th rounder in the HOF?

[Tugg Speedman]

I thought that was too much of a coincidence.  Who is the 85th rounder in the HOF?

Mike Piazza