I don’t think anyone could have predicted how the 2011 season played out for the Cubs. Sure, we all knew they would suck, but I don’t think anybody could have seen the dominoes falling in such a manner to lead to the Age of the Superfriends in Wrigleyville. How the hell did we end up with Theo freaking Epstein and his ward, Jed Hoyer? Well, let’s go back and take a look:
January 2011: Exactly Like 2010, Except Nobody Cares Anymore
January 1 – Carrie Muskat set the tone of optimism for the new year as she told us all to not be surprised if the Cubs were back to contending in 2011, citing the 19-10 record the Cubs posted in the last month of the 2010 season and the recent signings of Kerry Wood and Carlos Pena. This may have been the most optimistic day of the season for me.
January 2 – Rumors were swirling about the Cubs trading for Matt Garza and we all laughed because Tom Ricketts had just gotten done telling the season ticket holders and anybody else within earshot that a strong farm system is necessary for sustained success.
Janury 4 – Baseball America named Chris Archer as the Cubs’ #1 top prospect and mentioned that a scout had said that the Cubs “had more future big leaguers than any other organization.” Way to go, Team Ricketts! They sure do get how to build from within! Go Cubs Go!
January 5 – Kerry Wood is officially added to the Cubs’ 40 man roster, freeing them to begin the process of pre-filling out the paperwork so they can eventually add him to the disabled list.
January 5 – Former Cubs, Lee Smith and Rafael Palmeiro, honor the memory of recently deceased Ron Santo by not getting elected to the Hall of Fame by the BBWAA.
January 7 – Carrie Muskat writes about some dude named Mark Riggins, who is really excited for the season to start. He’s the new pitching coach? Really? Where was I when that was announced? Oh right, not giving a damn.
January 8 – The Cubs trade #1 prospect Chris Archer, as well as #4 Hak-Ju Lee and #10 Brandon Guyer, plus Robinson Chirinos and Sam Fuld for Matt Garza and two minor leaguers who never see the light of day on the Cubs roster, immediately bolstering the teams’ ability to win 75 games.
January 10 – On the heels of the exciting Matt Garza trade, the Cubs announce the debut of their Pick 13 ticket plans that allow people to purchase tickets in a bundle that includes the Yankees series and other high profile match-ups. Wally Hayward, the Cubs’ marketing guru, was certain these would be a big hit. Especially since they used the Cubs most marketable player, Derek Jeter, in the ads for this promotion.
“We expect most of the tickets for these games to move through the Pick 13 Plan,” Hayward said. “By the time we get to on-sale [in February], there will be limited availability for the high-demand games.”
Cubs fans everywhere rushed to find their wallets and then spent their money on things other than Pick 13 plans.
January 10 – The Cubs claim catcher Max Ramirez off waivers from the Boston Red Sox. Adding him to a team that already had Welington Castillo waiting in the wings to take over as back-up catcher, it is widely regarded as a sign that the Koyie Hill Era would finally end in Chicago.
January 12 – The Cubs sign Koyie Hill to a one-year $850,000 contract. They also bought a solar-powered flashlight, some ocean-front property in Kansas, and an elevator pass.
January 14 – The Cubs open the 26th Cubs Convention to a much less enthusiastic crowd than normal. Tickets were still available for sale on-site after selling out within minutes in previous years. I bought my $60 pass from a scalper outside for $20.
“We feel we have the right mix of players, we feel we have the right manager and we feel 2011 will be special for us,” Tom Ricketts said.
They then spent the weekend pretending that Lou Piniella had never existed like it was all somehow his fault.
January 15 – Tom Ricketts addresses Ryne Sandberg leaving the Cubs organization by saying:
“Obviously, Ryne Sandberg is a highly valued treasured member of the Cubs,” Ricketts said. “He was always welcome here, he will always be welcome here. He’s one of us.”
He went on to add, “Unless, of course, we fire Mike Quade at the end of the year, then we still don’t want him back. But in a purely hypothetical situation, we would always love to have him back.”
January 16 – The Cubs reveal that 60% of fans polled would like to have a video scoreboard at Wrigley. But they want it outside the ballpark on one of the rooftops, have it covered in ivy, with no advertising, and it should be manually operated with a cast of actors re-creating plays in slow motion.
January 17 – The Cubs trade starting pitcher, Tom Gorzelanny, because of the organizational depth the team had at starting pitcher like Casey Coleman and Jeff Russell. This also marked the last date that anyone ever mentioned the prospects names A.J. Morris, Graham Hicks, and Michael Burgess that they got in return.
January 20 – The Cubs pay Matt Szczur $1.5 million to stop playing football and start focusing on how much it would take to pay Alfonso Soriano to stop playing baseball.
January 24 – We all laughed at an article about how Jeff Samardzija was so optimistic about his ability to contribute at the major league level, not knowing we would be crying a few months later when it turned out he was one of the best things about the Cubs’ bullpen.
January 25 – The Cubs sign Todd Wellemeyer to a minor league deal hoping this would make us feel better about the Koyie Hill signing, but it doesn’t.
January 26 – The State of Illinois unveils a plan to sell Cubs-themed license plates. They are just like regular license plates, but they cost more and always fall off in September.
January 30 – The Cubs sign Rubi Silva and Yaniel Cabeza from the Cuban National team and they are never heard from again, and neither is the $1.5 million the Cubs paid for them.
Things will turn around when pitchers and catchers report next month, right? RIGHT?
Comments
http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2011/12/26/2657568/bcb-interview-tom-ricketts-part-1
ITS HERE! The best part of the off season has arrived in the form of Yellon’s annual Misting Station interview with Da Boss.
dylanjQuote Reply
BCB: So what is your position now? They report to you ultimately, so what is your position now because you had been overseeing a lot of this…. Does it take some of your work?
A year later Al still isnt really sure who runs the team
dylanjQuote Reply
[quote name=dylanj]http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2011/12/26/2657568/bcb-interview-tom-ricketts-part-1
ITS HERE! The best part of the off season has arrived in the form of Yellon’s annual Misting Station interview with Da Boss.[/quote]
haha beat me to the punch dylan. Although Ricketts answer to the first question is kinda interesting.
Recalcitrant Blogger NateQuote Reply
It was worth waiting an additional day to get the xmas present i’ve been waiting for- Another Addition of the Yellon Files. He’ll be replacing Charlie Rose in no time.
Recalcitrant Blogger NateQuote Reply
(dying laughing) I wish they only had to pay Soriano $1.5 million.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=dylanj]BCB: So what is your position now? They report to you ultimately, so what is your position now because you had been overseeing a lot of this…. Does it take some of your work?
A year later Al still isnt really sure who runs the team[/quote]Exactly why I have no interest in reading the interview. He’s a fucking idiot.
mb21Quote Reply
The bit about the license plate was a nice touch. In terms of reality and aesthetics I always thought they were way too blue. Would’ve preferred a pinstripe background. Hell if I’m going to pay for the one they offered.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2011/12/22/facebook-photos-lead-police-to-suspects-in-burglary/
The stupidity, it burns…
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Cubs plate:
Indiana plate:
The wife also says the Cubs plate is bland and she’d sooner buy a decorative plate or a license plate holder than the one offered by IL.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Still laughing about the license plate bit
Gregg TomlinsonQuote Reply
The Cubs have signed Jason Jaramillo who will supposedly battle for back-up catcher. I doubt that. I’m thinking he’s just spring training roster filler. They also signed Andy Sonnanstine.
mb21Quote Reply
Unobstructed View: http://obstructedview.net/unobstructed-views/cubs/cubs-sign-jason-jaramillo-and-andy-sonnanstine.html
mb21Quote Reply
Rice CubeQuote Reply
I don’t remember if you guys are doing the unOV thread, but here:
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]
[/quote]Rickey stands out.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]
[/quote]Merry Rickmas!
ACTQuote Reply
I don’t think I like how position player is abbreviated “POS” in that graphic. Can’t really call Rickey a POS.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Glad I found you guys again. I was really upset at some of the things Ricketts said/did when he first bought the team, but with the Epstein et al. hirings, my optimism is-probably foolishly-renewed. I was searching for a fun place to talk about the Cubs again and couldn’t find one.
Am I welcome here? Should I leave your little world? I can, if it is so desired.
tygerQuote Reply
Drew Brees —> single season passing yards record
Dan Marino —> shut right up
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Bleacher Nation hearing that Dempster may be willing to waive his 10/5 rights and accept trade. Not sure why he wouldn’t if they can get him to a contender. He has strong ties to the Cubs but he could return next year and no reason, at his age, to stick around for a rebuild.
JManQuote Reply
[quote name=tyger]Glad I found you guys again. I was really upset at some of the things Ricketts said/did when he first bought the team, but with the Epstein et al. hirings, my optimism is-probably foolishly-renewed. I was searching for a fun place to talk about the Cubs again and couldn’t find one.
Am I welcome here? Should I leave your little world? I can, if it is so desired.[/quote]
We’re happy you found us, tyger. I’m not sure how this came up as a place for fun places to talk about the Cubs, but welcome!
Aisle424Quote Reply
More shit from last year: http://obstructedview.net/chicago-cubs/articles/cubs-2011-in-review-february.html
Aisle424Quote Reply