tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-250683060520895629.post6763973056995998838..comments2023-12-30T17:22:47.650-06:00Comments on Tales from Aisle 424 - A Cubs Blog: Day at Wrigley Was Nice, But Probably Not Worth Another $3,500SixRowBrewCohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15384682912021974745noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-250683060520895629.post-14004768056731233142010-07-10T12:01:59.964-05:002010-07-10T12:01:59.964-05:00I think we all hoped a family ownership would be a...I think we all hoped a family ownership would be able to make some decisions that were not all focused on the short-term bottom line and would have long term objectives. Unfortunately, the Ricketts are in a position that has gotten so bad where they can't totally ignore the bottom line without risking their ownership.<br /><br />My guess is they will continue walking that line where they aren't spending enough to keep up with the Yankees, but never fully stripping down the parts and starting over. That means a lot of years of mediocrity are coming.Aisle 424http://424tales.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-250683060520895629.post-25137302676632922362010-07-10T10:11:24.753-05:002010-07-10T10:11:24.753-05:00i wonder if the cubs dropped payroll to around the...i wonder if the cubs dropped payroll to around the $100 million mark next season and even lower the next season if that would actually cancel out any decrease in attendance they might see. <br /><br />i actually think a few of us fans would be happier with an approach along these lines than they would the approach being taken right now. at least with an approach like that they can aim towartd being good in 2013 or 2014. with the approach they are taking now there seems to be no aim as far as what's happening on the field.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-250683060520895629.post-37525122809852320932010-07-10T08:13:23.626-05:002010-07-10T08:13:23.626-05:00points are all well taken tim. i've been preac...points are all well taken tim. i've been preaching the debt issues for over a couple of years now and that doesn't change with any of this. here's what i would like to see happen. <br /><br />ricketts takes a low profile and ignores that attendence drops in the short term and does whats best for this team. allow the young nucleus to playt for a few years with cheap parts around them and when you are ready add a few free agents and take anoither shot. it really is what's best and the time for the cubs to do this is now. the tribsters nevers had the balls to do this. i would like to see ricketts and the cubs put in place a plan for three years down the road and beyond. not more short term fixes that involve alot of pain on the back end of contracts. the cubs tried that route and it almost worked in 08. but it didn't.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-250683060520895629.post-59089412048594398472010-07-10T02:31:36.595-05:002010-07-10T02:31:36.595-05:00See Heat, Miami as Exhibit A. Season ticket sales...See Heat, Miami as Exhibit A. Season ticket sales sold out less than one day after the douchecision.<br /><br />Seriously though, the problem for the Ricketts is that a young prospect-laden team (starting from where they are where the ML-ready talent is already pretty much on the ML roster), is going to take a couple of years to show the tangible promise (win games) that fans need to see. <br /><br />With the debt the Ricketts have, they have to maintain a certain level of revenue generation just to cover their debt payments and an empty stadium, even for a relatively short period, is not really possible without putting their ownership in jeopardy.<br /><br />This is why I worry they are not capable of doing it right, even if they wanted to. Thus my investment in my tickets would be pissing away my own money on a fools' errand.Aisle 424http://424tales.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-250683060520895629.post-26407776446926511072010-07-09T23:37:11.021-05:002010-07-09T23:37:11.021-05:00Love the perspective, Tim. While I think you'r...Love the perspective, Tim. While I think you're right that the bulk of fans would stop coming to games if a major fire sale leaves the team in prospect purgatory, we also know pretty well that it won't be permanent. No matter how bad the on-the-field product gets, and no matter how low attendance might drop in response, the moment the Cubs look like they have a prayer again, ticket sales will explode.Adamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04795756912910835287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-250683060520895629.post-67489459457584309572010-07-09T23:29:43.521-05:002010-07-09T23:29:43.521-05:00LOL -- no, not really. i phone in 65 wins most yea...LOL -- no, not really. i phone in 65 wins most years, just on principle. sadly, it's correct more than you'd wish.gaius mariushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10618655639631695070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-250683060520895629.post-18703355576624740642010-07-09T21:57:32.025-05:002010-07-09T21:57:32.025-05:00Wow, GM. Good call.Wow, GM. Good call.Aisle 424http://424tales.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-250683060520895629.post-56414605011648624582010-07-09T20:40:40.527-05:002010-07-09T20:40:40.527-05:00I could care less about baseball but I love readin...I could care less about baseball but I love reading your thoughts about it. What a fun day for you and Kris. Glad you enjoyed it!<br /><br />FitzAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-250683060520895629.post-84724592496801537942010-07-09T20:33:03.307-05:002010-07-09T20:33:03.307-05:00I don't think anyone realistically believed th...I don't think anyone realistically believed this team would be performing at a 65 win level.<br /><br /><a href="http://waxpaperbeercup.com/2010/03/26/gorzelanny-and-silva-expected-to-named-to-starting-rotation/#comment-3199" rel="nofollow">ahem</a>.gaius mariushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10618655639631695070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-250683060520895629.post-68398158581859653632010-07-09T20:01:13.975-05:002010-07-09T20:01:13.975-05:00wpbc,
I think he gets it to a point, but I think ...wpbc,<br /><br />I think he gets it to a point, but I think all of their forecasts and models did not take into account the toll the economy would take coupled with a complete collapse of the product on the field. <br /><br />Hell, we couldn't believe all the shit that happened last year and I don't think anyone realistically believed this team would be performing at a 65 win level. If they modeled out the expected revenues based on a team that would keep the interest of the fans, there is no way they could have seen what is happening except in the very worst of worst case scenarios, and you don't make plans based on everything going to hell beyond all logic and reason.<br /><br />So, they have been dealt a bad hand and it turns out its even worse than anyone could have possibly thought. Now they have this huge debt staring at them, and their revenues have to be down pretty significantly with all of the lost concessions from no-shows, and much higher percentage of unsold seats than they have dealt with in years.<br /><br />I don't think they have a choice but to pimp the ballpark because that is the easiest fix. The problem is they could go lean and mean the next couple of years by building up their farm system through trades, keeping payroll at a minimum, and building it correctly. The problem is the stupid lemmings will abandon the team faster if that is how they do it. They HAVE to do it half-assed and make stupid-ass moves to placate a fanbase that doesn't get it. (Re-signing Ted Lilly, not trading Marmol, etc.)<br /><br />Cub fans are hurting the team by being stupid.Aisle 424http://424tales.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-250683060520895629.post-85768612654681143992010-07-09T19:26:05.843-05:002010-07-09T19:26:05.843-05:00There wasn't much cynicism over the future of ...<i>There wasn't much cynicism over the future of the team that I heard. It was mostly discussing great memories in the ballpark and lifelong love affairs with the Cubs. These are the people that don't get the ironic nature of the "It's a Way of Life" campaign.</i><br /><br />i guess this is how they get away with it. a bunch of people talking about memories of division winning teams that fall apart in the playoffs. now that's FUN!<br /><br />ricketts and his family better get used to taking alot of shit from the fans because he's going to be very unpopular in chicago for a long long time to come. the honeymoon for this guy is over. if he had any brains, he'd have fired hendry and kenney the first day he took over the club. but he didn't. the man apparently worked on the purchase for two years and had no idea that he was inheriting a team with a high payroll, most of it committed to players in massive decline. how he didn't notice is beyond me...or maybe he did and he just doesn't give a shit. he knows 3,000,000 butts will come through those turnstiles. <br /><br />it looks to me like ricketts is more concerned with the ballpark then he is the team on the field. tim, you're old enough to remember when the wrigleys owned the club. it's that same formula. if that's what ricketts is doing, i'm happy to sit on the sidelines and wait for the team to win. i sat on the sidelines 15 years ago with the hawks, and i didn't enjoy their run of the last two years any less because of my decision.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-250683060520895629.post-66727888591773280772010-07-09T17:06:38.138-05:002010-07-09T17:06:38.138-05:00I probably should have made an effort to get down ...I probably should have made an effort to get down there yesterday...sounds like an entertaining time. <br /><br />I really need to move back to Chicago.Doc Blumehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15912106752281493012noreply@blogger.com