I headed down to the first of four Season Ticket Holder events that the Cubs are putting on today and tomorrow at the Bank of America Theatre downtown. I met up with Ivy Chat Chuck (who I hope will also write his perspective) and we bumped into Tom Ricketts before the show started. As I shook his hand, I realized I was wearing my Cubbie Facepalm hat and I'm 99% sure he noticed it. So the snowball's chance in hell I ever had of being employed by the Cubs one day just melted. He was very nice and it turned out he and Chuck had some common acquaintances so that saved me from potentially having an awkward conversation about copyright infringement and what constitutes parody.
As far as the event went, I kind of figured that we would be treated to some very tightly orchestrated talking points, since that has historically been one of the few things the Cubs do well, but I have to say that Crane and Theo brought their A Games.
I'll put it this way: If we had played a drinking game involving any variations of the following words – loyalty, patience, progress, or committed – I would probably be dead of alcohol poisoning before Crane Kenney even finished his part.
Crane did his best to come off warm and genial, but you can't ever really spend any amount of time near Crane without getting the distinct idea that he would rather be involved in a ripping game of squash or seeing his prize horse performing dressage than talking about the Cubs with the unwashed sea of humanity dressed in Cubs paraphernalia. Not that I completely blame him. I'd rather do almost anything than discuss the Cubs with the vast majority of people who claim to be the teams' best fans.
Crane came out swinging with lots of COMMITTED talk. COMMITTED to winning a World Series. COMMITTED to renovating and preserving Wrigley. COMMITTED to being better neighbors in the community. Things we have all heard from them many times before because, as season ticket holders, we are so LOYAL and PATIENT and our LOYALTY and PATIENCE will be rewarded eventually due to the PROGRESS the COMMITTED Cubs have made and they are thankful for our continuing PATIENCE and LOYALTY as the PROGRESS is made. COMMITTED!
He quickly brushed past mentioning the negatives to the PROGRESS like a hurricane in the Dominican, Chicago politics, litigious rooftop owners and losses on the field. He moved swiftly towards tangible signs of PROGRESS like Baez, Bryant, and Almora and how they are now ranked the 2nd best farm system by Baseball Prospectus.
He claims no team has spent more than the Cubs in the last 4 years (under the Ricketts) on the draft and international spending. Some quick dirty calculations in my head make that seem plausible, but someone can feel free to fact check that statement if they feel so inclined.
He said that since the Ricketts have owned the team, they have hired 69 people on the business operations side and 64 people on the baseball operations side. This truly is PROGRESS, in my opinion, as they did inherit what has widely been acknowledged as the smallest front office in the major leagues.
They interspersed the live talking points with some slick promotional videos. One of them was narrated by someone who either is the movie voiceover guy ("In a world where fans are PATIENT and LOYAL, the LOYALTY and PATIENCE leads to PROGRESS because of the Cubs' COMMITMENT… ") or someone who does a hell of an impression.
Another one was narrated by Gary Sinise. Spare no expense.
There was a nice montage that inexplicably showed Starlin Castro fielding and Darwin Barney hitting. There also appears to be only one highlight of Junior Lake because we saw the same footage of him connecting and watching an apparent homerun at least three times in the course of all the videos. PROGRESS!
Crane continued to pound home that PROGRESS can only continue if they remain COMMITTED to the renovation process that has been slower than they'd like, but stressed that PATIENCE is required and they were already so thankful for our LOYALTY through the process.
One point he made about the Cubs' competitive disadvantage while Wrigley is in the unrenovated state is that they start each year in a $40 million hole each year. I missed all the reasons he gave for that as I tried to get my notes on my phone, but the two big ones were maintenance costs to keep Wrigley from falling apart (my words) and lost revenue to the rooftops (Crane's). This last statement raised some eyebrows as Crane has apparently taken the gloves off when discussing the Cubs' rooftop "partners." LOYALTY!
That provided a nice segue to a video hosted by Len Kasper that highlighted the features of the renovated ballpark. It was a virtual tour around a model they've built. I'll say that if they ever get the damn renovations completed, Wrigley and the surrounding amenities will be pretty sweet. PATIENCE!
Crane then started talking up the exciting things they have planned for the 100 year anniversary season of Wrigley. They are calling it the Party of the Century and since Crane says he likely won't live to see the next 100 year anniversary, he's planning on having an extended celebration all season. My Crane-to-English decoder ring indicates to me that they plan to milk the ever-loving shit out of this anniversary. COMMITTED!
They'll have regular bobblehead giveaway Fridays as well as Throwback Sundays where they'll wear uniforms from various periods in Cubs history and go so far as to have themed food from the specific periods they represent. So I think that means that when they pay homage to the 1940s uniforms, they'll serve hot dogs that were manufactured in the 1940s. I'm not sure. I could be wrong about that. PROGRESS?
Crane wrapped up his bit by announcing that as a thank you for our LOYALTY and PATIENCE, everyone in attendance will receive a free hat with the Wrigley 100th Anniversary logo. FREE HAT! COMMITTED!
Then it was time for Theo. Thank God.
Theo opened by saying that when he first took the job, a friend told him, "It takes great courage to be PATIENT." He then told us how true that has turned out to be and that we are the ones who are truly courageous for sitting through the last two years and he thanked us for our LOYALTY and PATIENCE. He went on to say that we inspire him and his team to "work day and night to put a team on the field worthy of your support." COMMITTED!
Now, I don't know what it is, but when Theo says stuff like that, there is an air of believability that Crane simply doesn't have. Maybe it's because we know Crane was a part of the old bullshit they used to feed us about being only "a few good moves away from contention." Maybe it's just because I WANT to believe Theo. I don't know, but that's how it comes off. PROGRESS!
He talked about the recent World Series and said that 35 of the 50 guys on the final World Series rosters were either developed by the team or acquired in trades involving guys who were homegrown. He praised both teams, but then cut it short because he loved it "took an oath to Tom Ricketts to hate the Cardinals." Theo knows how to play to this audience. COMMITTED!
He then talked about how he thought the Cubs of the 60s were so beloved because so many of that "core" came up together and grew together and won (sort of) together. He wants to have that same situation happen soon where fans can start seeing the young core play together and begin to win together over many seasons. LOYALTY!
So far, I wasn't getting a real big vibe that they're going to make any big name free agent signings. He went on to explain the importance of homegrown talent from a different angle when he said that the average peak of a player is around 27 years old. He said the average age of a free agent is 32 years old, so obtaining impact talent at or near the peak of production is extremely rare. PATIENCE!
He also said that from 2002 to 2011, the Cubs are dead last in major league production from those drafts, which segued him into why they have traded so many veterans in the first 2 years as they try to gather younger, cost controlled talent. At this point, they have traded 8 veterans with 4 years of control combined for 14 players with 78 years of control. PROGRESS!
He conceded that there is a cost to their methods in reference to losses on the field in August and September. So, he concluded, "[The strategy] better serve a higher purpose and it better work." COMMITTED!
There was a video highlighting the young potential future stars Bryant, Baez, Almora, Soler, and CJ Edwards (who Theo called the centerpiece of the Garza trade, rather than Olt, who never got mentioned in this session). I have to say, the video did a good job of building up the hopes and dreams of seeing those guys punish baseballs and strike out opponents at Wrigley. PATIENCE!
There was also, what I can only assume was a very hastily produced video introducing Rick Renteria to fans as the new manager where he discussed what a positive person he is and how he looks for teaching opportunities when players make errors or lose focus or whatever. He seemed like a person who would be very good at working with young players and someone who will not satisfy the meatballs who will want him to scream and curse and threaten to murder Starlin Castro when he commits the grave sin of dropping a ground ball. PROGRESS!
He also talked about how he had not done a good job in providing an atmosphere at the major league level for players to continue to develop into winners, and that was the key reason for the managerial change. PATIENCE!
There were then some questions from Dave Kaplan and the fans themselves who, despite's Kap's repeated pleas to keep questions "concise," the fans still managed to tell rambling stories before eventually getting around to asking a question.
My phone was dying by that point, so I don't have further notes, but I can assure you that the answers given by both Crane and Theo almost universally pivoted back to at least one of the major themes: LOYALTY! PATIENCE! PROGRESS! COMMITTED!
It was a good show and I don't know how it is going to play with the general group of season ticket holders, but they were COMMITTED to pounding the message of LOYALTY and PROGRESS into their brains. By the way, the 10% deposit for season ticket accounts is due in a week. Somehow I have a feeling they won't show quite as much PATIENCE if that deadline is missed.
Other coverage of the event:
Comments
It may be impossible to fact check that since there hasn’t been a full accounting of international dollars spent until this past year. It seems reasonable and it’s probably true. It’s doubtful the Cubs would say that if it wasn’t true.
They did go pretty cheap in the 2010 draft from what I recall (Hayden Simpson!), but went all out in 2011. That was easily the most excited I’d been after the draft since I closely followed it. The loophole that long allowed that kind of spending has been closed, but the Cubs had high picks each of the last two years. I’d assume they spent more than anyone other than the Astros the last two drafts. Add in 2011 and a relatively cheap 2010.
It would be interesting to see if the Cubs threw Kyuji Fujikawa in those calculations while ignoring someone like Yu Darvish. I think it would be close and maybe the Cubs said fuck it, let’s try some trickery and add Fujikawa. If they did, they’re lying. Otherwise, I’d just say it’s probably true, but no way to really check.
dmick89Quote Reply
I hate it when people talk about trades like that. I know the Cubs are trying to make a point and are much too smart to think that’s what matters, but others may hear that and not know that. Give me an mlb team and tomorrow I’ll trade one veteran for 300 years of club control. I won’t get shit in return.
Last thing I want to start reading nonstop is how the Cubs traded so and so for 4 players and 24 years of control as if that makes it a good trade.
dmick89Quote Reply
@ dmick89:
It was presented in the context of turning short term assets into long term assets as a way of increasing the overall system’s talent. Not as a way of saying they were all good trades because they increased years of team control.
Aisle424Quote Reply
@ Aisle424:
Oh yeah, I figured that. This organization is far too smart to not know that. It’s just one of those things that I think the masses could end up running with and that’s a bad thing for my mental health. (dying laughing)
dmick89Quote Reply
Aside http://obstructedview.net/minor-leagues/stars-of-tomorrow-cubs-minor-league-recap-11-9-13.html
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89 wrote:
This.
As far as I’m concerned, club control year accounting is the fangraphs version of Phil Rogers’ plus/minus rule.
GWQuote Reply
@ dmick89:
Goodness Kris Bryant strikes out a lot.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
@ GW:
That’s funny. It reminds me of Phil Rogers +/-.
dmick89Quote Reply
@ Rice Cube:
Yeah, the Cubs look to be trying to set strikeout records on an annual basis. They may have to keep Barney around just to avoid that.
dmick89Quote Reply
Is there a single power prospect in the minors that doesn’t strike out a ton though?
sitrickQuote Reply
http://cubbiescrib.com/2013/11/09/chicago-cubs-contact-free-agent-mike-napoli/
This guy wants to sign Mike Napoli as a catcher, even under the mistaken impression that the Cubs would forfeit the #6 overall draft pick in doing so.
GBTSQuote Reply
@ GBTS:
Isn’t the Cubs’ pick protected? I mean, not that that is a reason to sign Napoli.
Aisle424Quote Reply
@ Aisle424:
They have the #4 pick which is protected, so if they signed a QO-rejector, they lose second-rounder.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
If you’re going to forfeit a pick you may as well go after McCann. He’s the only catcher I’d consider. I figured the Cubs would have signed Navarro by now.
dmick89Quote Reply
Navarro may be wanting to see if there are any starting opportunities out there after the season he had. I bet he can find someone willing to give him a 2-3 year deal to be a starter.
Aisle424Quote Reply
@ Aisle424:
I guess that makes sense.
dmick89Quote Reply
Good to keep the money in house to your Republican friends.
SVBQuote Reply
If the Cubs sign two QO free agents, do they give up 2nd and 3rd round draft picks? I know this was discussed ad nauseum last year while people were salivating over Michael Bourn (dodged a bullet there), but I’ve been drinking too much whiskey to remember back that far.
Also, rumors persist that the Tigers would trade Max Scherzerererererz. One year left of club control. I think that would be a trade worth pursuing…thoughts?
SVBQuote Reply
@ SVB:
Yes.
Didn’t even know Sinise was a Republican. Probably because I didn’t care. (dying laughing)
dmick89Quote Reply
Say extension talks break down for Kershaw and it’s suddenly mid january or something and he’s available. What kind of package does it take to get him? Could you do a package built around Baez and Samardzija? Bryant’s not tradeable, and they seem set at outfield, so I think that’d be the best realistic package the Cubs could offer…someone probably beats that though…
sitrickQuote Reply
424 posts always crack me up.
SVBQuote Reply
@ dmick89:
Me neither, just thought I’d connect the dots so 424 didn’t think this was just a random occurrence.
“Hey, let’s get a celebrity narrator for our video montage” was probably followed more by a comment like, “OK, I’ll ask Sinise next week when I see him at Pete Coors’ fundraiser for whatever he’s running for this cycle” rather than, “I wonder who we could get that’ll do it cheap?”
Because the obvious answer for the latter is Norm McDonald or Philip Michael Thomas or Randy Quaid or maybe even Pete Rose.
SVBQuote Reply
@ sitrick:
As awesome as Kershaw in a Cubs uniform would be, I really can’t see any package that would even be acceptable to me. I wouldn’t be reluctant to trade any Cubs prospect in the right deal, but when you consider what you’d end up paying Kersaw, which would include a contract extension worth about $7 trillion, I don’t think it’s workable.
The Dodgers are considering trading some of their high priced players. More than likely, you’d have to also take Carl Crawford to get a deal done. So not only are you paying $13 trillion for Kershaw, you’re paying that massive contract too. And you’re giving up Baez and at least one of Almora/Soler. Probably all 3 plus others.
dmick89Quote Reply
@ dmick89:
welp, back to hoping Kershaw hits free agency.
sitrickQuote Reply
With Kemp/Crawford/Ethier/Puig on the roster, they have to move one of the big contracts. I hate all of them for the Cubs though. If they’re willing to give away Ethier or CrawfordI might not even take them. Kemp is overpaid, even if healthy. A Schierholtz/somebody platoon can’t be much worse and will cost next to nothing.
JQuote Reply
@ SVB:
I thought the joke was knowing that Sinise is a sappy Cubs fan, he’d do it for nuthin.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
J wrote:
BerseliusQuote Reply
Tough losses, GB and CHI fans, but SF’s loss keeps things looking good for you…especially since SF gets NO this weekend. CAR and ARI are securely in playoff discussion now, but ARI sucks.
WC race is now:
CAR – NE, @MIA, NO (x2), NYJ
SF – @NO, @WAS, SEA
GB – @DET, @DAL, @CHI
CHI – @STL, DAL, @CLE, @PHI, GB
ARI – doesn’t matter
My prediction, which I know is so important to you, is that SF and GB earn the WCs with 10-11 wins each. CAR and CHI just miss with 9 wins.
Omar LittleQuote Reply
New Shit
http://obstructedview.net/aside/on-the-lack-of-bears-coverage.html
MylesQuote Reply