Comments on: Cardinals-based Cubs commentary

By: Brian Walton

Brian Walton — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 14:02:25 +0000

The realistic view of how Chicagoans will greet McGwire, from the Chicago Tribune:

” Sounds like Piniella’s offseason lobotomy took”

By: Brian Walton

Brian Walton — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 16:40:48 +0000

Three concerts to be held at Wrigley this summer. Don't miss the story about the concert bus and the tour boat. It is a must-read classic! Link to Chicago Sun-Times

By: Brian Walton

Brian Walton — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 22:03:37 +0000

More Wrigley changes

By: blingboy

blingboy — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:47:50 +0000

Since the early 80’s the value of MLB teams has shot straight up. You could overpay and it didn’t matter much. The value would literaly double in just a few years, then double again in a few more. A giant pile of equity would materialze, making banks and bondholders happy and making financing anything easy. Nothing can go up like that forever. Bdw got in early enough, his investment has tripled. Ricketts got in right at the top.

By: JumboShrimp

JumboShrimp — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:18:41 +0000

After selling the parking garage, what did the Cards cost? $125MM? So the Cubs cost about 7 times as much, despite being a two team city. The ballpark is old and smallish. If I had $845MM just burning a hole in my pocket and it had to be spent, the Flubs would be about the last toy on earth I would want to buy.

By: blingboy

blingboy — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 05:01:19 +0000

They got Wrigley Field and a 25% stake in SportsNet Chicago along with 95% of the Cubs for $845M according to Cot’s. They’ve got a lot of money invested in something that won’t go up in value anytime soon. It’s probably gone down a bit since they made the purchase.

By: JumboShrimp

JumboShrimp — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 04:28:23 +0000

Players make agents famous, more than the other way around.

I enjoy these rumors Ricketts and the Cubs are in debt. Spending $900MM on the Cubs does not seem like a clever idea.

By: blingboy

blingboy — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 04:22:30 +0000

So I guess Mo will be sitting on a beach somewhere for a couple weeks. He will be working on Albert’s re-up between mai-tais of course. Skip’s deal seems like a good one for both sides.

By: CariocaCardinal

CariocaCardinal — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 03:31:39 +0000

Smart move by Skippy to not risk getting DFA’d next year.

By: Brian Walton

Brian Walton — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 03:18:35 +0000

Boras unsigned players include Damon, Garret Anderson, Hank Blalock, Jarrod Washburn, Lopez, Joe Crede…

By: Brian Walton

Brian Walton — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 01:57:01 +0000

That’ll be up to TLR…

By: blingboy

blingboy — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 01:52:15 +0000

Mo’s comment about Skip’s contract suggested that Skip has settled the question of a leadoff man. That’s against righties I assume.

By: Nutlaw

Nutlaw — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:25:38 +0000

The Cubs gave up on Jake Fox far too early, especially if they were going to go out and pick up both Chad Tracy and Xavier Nady. Fox had some sparkling minor league numbers. Oakland should be thrilled.

Milton Bradley is a jerk, but Carlos Silva should not be a starting pitcher in major league baseball, much less for that kind of money.

By: blingboy

blingboy — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 23:36:33 +0000

Westy, I hadn’t realized you fell for Scotty’s excuse for MH’s poor showing in Oakland. Those darn mechanics, that darn McGwire. Waa waaa.

The part about the Cubs on May 1st was a good one.

Agree about Looper. He’s a hoss. Too bad he doesn’t have better stuff.

By: WestCoastbirdWatcher

WestCoastbirdWatcher — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:56:53 +0000

I like Looper. His gifts aren’t substantial, but he competes hard.
I pick the Cubs for 1st as of May 1st. They don’t have the life to take the division me thinks. Lew’s caution against changing hitters mechanics at this level is provocative indeed. He is seeing what I’m seeing. He recognizes a coming “impediment” to MM’s Rolodex concept..

By: blingboy

blingboy — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:03:47 +0000

Looper’s agent also doesn’t seem to realize that just being 35 makes you small these days. He’s making noise about how Looper won’t take this and that. Being 35 and leading the league in homers and having off-season arthroscopy.

By: Brian Walton

Brian Walton — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:36:08 +0000

Haven’t read the report, bb, but the answer for Damon at least is “yes”. Boras’ heavy-handed tactics work for the big fish but no so well for the smaller fry.

By: blingboy

blingboy — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 20:19:30 +0000

MLB rumors site has an editorial type piece on whether Damon and Lopez are getting screwed by Boras. It is critical of his practice of making outrageous demands in November, then holding out. But admits it worked in some cases this year despite the economy.

The continuing lack of any noise about Lopez is baffling, unless Scotty really turned off everyone who enquired earllier. Or unless Lopez’s inability to stick with anybody is due to some issue that nobody will mention to us peons.

By: blingboy

blingboy — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:04:09 +0000

Thanks Brian. I feel better about the Cards now. The Cubs are truly fubar, but not so much as the Mets (I read where Wellemeyer said no thanks Omar). Still, nothing takes the edge off a snowy winter day like contemplating the fiery wreckage on Chicago’s north side. Lou is so perfect for that job. Perhaps the Dodgers and Phillies will burst into flames as well.