Give Theo time

[Chris J]

One that wanted to make more money.

That wasn't hard to figure out.

Alright so let me get this straight.

Youre saying Ricketts just wants to make money. But he is spending $500 million on renovation. Am i missing something here? Is your brain dead?

Listen, he is fucking billionaire and his family still makes money from whatever they do. He doesnt need that much profit off the Cubs you idiot.

He's talking about having better facilities. The Cubs by far have the worst clubhouses and player facilities. You want some more high caliber players wanting to play here, get updated.

 

[The Bandit]

More over the thinking behind doing it this was is, if you make the accommodations to the platers better they are more likely to come here. Wrigley isn't a good chip to play when talking to free agents ATM. But soon it can be.

sent from mars home of Ian Stewarts baseball skills using tapatalk

 

[SilenceS]

Alright so let me get this straight.

Youre saying Ricketts just wants to make money. But he is spending $500 million on renovation. Am i missing something here? Is your brain dead?

Listen, he is fucking billionaire and his family still makes money from whatever they do. He doesnt need that much profit off the Cubs you idiot.

He's talking about having better facilities. The Cubs by far have the worst clubhouses and player facilities. You want some more high caliber players wanting to play here, get updated.

The whole point of the renovations is to create more revenue. Rciketts and Theo have said this. Ricketts is a buisnessman first. Dont ever get that fooled. Now, will he spend. We dont know, but the whole fight over the jumbotron is because of revenue being lost for not having one. He will make hands over fist more then the money he is spending on renovations.

 

[Willrust]

But Ricketts has yet to SHOW that he won't continue to go cheap for dozens of years.

Little detail you are forgetting there.

You BELIEVE he won't.

I will believe it when I see it, not because some idiot on a message board believes it to be true.

Every action Ricketts has done since buying the team has been to increase profits. Very few moves have been to win more games.

Yup, willing to put up 500M of his own money is showing his desire is to be cheap! Clown Shoes, is that you?

Spending over 100M on payroll every year isn't going cheap. If you want cheap, look at the Marlins; that is going cheap (free stadium, free payroll & sells off all but 1 contract of substance).

The Cubs have shown that they are willing to spend to extend quality young players with Castro. They have proven their willingness to spend on a high dollar free agent, even if it was a questionable move, in regards to Jackson. However, the proof will be in the pudding this coming offseason as the Cubs currently have 55M on the books with Garza, Feldman, Marmol & Baker along with their 32M in salaries coming off the books. When the Cubs decide to drop to an 80-90M payroll, don't go after any 50+M free agents, or refuse to trade for 10M+/year players, then I will concede that they are going cheap.

As to your OPINION that Ricketts has done nothing to improve the team, but only to increase profits; how do you explain the money he spent on increasing the number of employees the Cubs have? It is widely known that the Cubs staff was one of the lowest, if not the lowest, employed in baseball. How does spending money on more employees tie directly to this profit grab you suggest? How about the increase in money spent on the draft, increase in money spent on international scouting and building brand new facilities in the Domincan? That last one has ZERO to do with profits.

And all of this bullshit about revenues. Revenues do not equal profit. Expecially in baseball. If you are one of the highest revenue teams in baseball, all that means is that you have to put more into the revenue sharing pot. Then you have to include the yearly upkeep cost of Wrigley (one report has it at about 10M per year http://reason.com/archives/2010/11/18/time-to-tear-down-wrigley-fiel).

 

[Boobaby1]

Alright so let me get this straight.

Youre saying Ricketts just wants to make money. But he is spending $500 million on renovation. Am i missing something here? Is your brain dead?

Listen, he is fucking billionaire and his family still makes money from whatever they do. He doesnt need that much profit off the Cubs you idiot.

He's talking about having better facilities. The Cubs by far have the worst clubhouses and player facilities. You want some more high caliber players wanting to play here, get updated.

Did Rickett's invest over 800 million into a team that hasn't won a WS in 105 years and counting because he wants to obtain that ultimate goal?
No! That is not smart business.

Did he buy one of the most profitable teams in the history of the sport that hasn't won a WS in 105 years but continues to have some of, if not the largest fan support across the country regardless of their record?

Yes! That is smart business.

Millionaires want to make more money, because that is their priority. Winning is always secondary, even for owners like Mark Cuban and the late George Steinbrenner.

As far as the renovations, that is all about making more money too. It ain't to just make the place look pretty.

 

[Willrust]

The whole point of the renovations is to create more revenue. Rciketts and Theo have said this. Ricketts is a buisnessman first. Dont ever get that fooled. Now, will he spend. We dont know, but the whole fight over the jumbotron is because of revenue being lost for not having one. He will make hands over fist more then the money he is spending on renovations.

Lemme get this right. The guy is willing to spend 500M to increase his future profits. But you don't see him spending money on the actual team on the field of which will be the sole reason those profits will be coming? Example Time!!!

Ricketts spends 500M on a lavish hotel in downtown Chicago, then goes out and hires nothing but minimum wage employees and employees with little business acumen (little actual talent in baseball terms). This is how I see your thought process going here based upon all of your comments.

Yup, that is a fucking asinine though process you have there.

 

[SilenceS]

Lemme get this right. The guy is willing to spend 500M to increase his future profits. But you don't see him spending money on the actual team on the field of which will be the sole reason those profits will be coming? Example Time!!!

Ricketts spends 500M on a lavish hotel in downtown Chicago, then goes out and hires nothing but minimum wage employees and employees with little business acumen (little actual talent in baseball terms). This is how I see your thought process going here based upon all of your comments.

Yup, that is a fucking asinine though process you have there.

Where the **** did you get that out of my comments? You just made a ridiculous scenario that has nothing to do with what I said. I said he is doing renovations to increase revenue? Is that wrong? Do you think he is doing because gosh darnit he likes you? If so, look in the mirror and punch yourself right in the face. I dont know if you could do it without the mirror. O and yes, payroll has decreased every year under Ricketts. Until he spends, I have every right to say I dont know. I didnt say he wasnt. I didnt he say he will. He said I dont know. Congrats on going off your meds for a minute. Biggest over reaction I have seen to post. Ill give you a scenario. Shit in one hand and wish in the other. See which one fills up first.

 

[KBisBack!]

Alright so let me get this straight.

Youre saying Ricketts just wants to make money. But he is spending $500 million on renovation. Am i missing something here? Is your brain dead?

Wow. Yes you are missing quite a bit actually.

Is he spending this $500M on the renovations knowing he won't make a dime of it back or is he spending it knowing that he will make BILLIONS off the money spent??

Can't wait to hear this answer as you are obviously oblivious to the phrase "You have to spend money to make money".

Listen, he is fucking billionaire and his family still makes money from whatever they do. He doesnt need that much profit off the Cubs you idiot.

Once you actually grow up, you will learn that the thing that billionaires like to do the most is make more money.

He's talking about having better facilities. The Cubs by far have the worst clubhouses and player facilities. You want some more high caliber players wanting to play here, get updated.

And the Jumbotron Scoreboard helps the clubhouse and player facilities how??

How does a luxury hotel across the street help with the clubhouse and player facilities?

How does a game day street fair help with the clubhouse and player facilities?

The want to renovate the luxury suites and add a fancy restaurant, and that helps the clubhouse and player facilities how??

The clubhouse and player facility upgrades are maybe at the most $10M out of the $500M being spent, and if it was such a crucial thing that needed to be done in order to win, wouldn't you think an owner who is completely dedicated to winning at all costs would have done that first thing after buying the team and not waiting three full seasons before starting??

But Ricketts is smarter than you. He knows he can put that little cherry on top of the package and the morons will eat it up and mistakenly think that the entire renovations is about helping the club when it really is all about making more money.

 

[DewsSox79]

We all know the Cubs havent won in forever. Obviously there' been numerous general managers/presidents that have worked for the organization and try to bring them a championship. Some have come close but never achieved the ultimate goal.

Theo and Jed have been here for a year and a half, why is everyone bashing them already? If you really think anyone was going to walk into the position and build a contending team right away is crazy. Ive never heard such crazy things on here before such as rebuilding an entire farm system while contending.

Look at what Jim Hendry did. He signed free agents or traded for players. Sometimes they were contenders but they never had sustained success for over a long period of time. Theo and Jed believe the key to long term success is by building a farm system with great player development and scouting.

I don't know about anyone else but I don't want to contend for 2 years and then be average again. I want the Cubs to be consistent contenders for a long period of time. There is a reason Theo and Jed are working for one of the most historic franchises in baseball and all of sports and you're sitting at home. You can judge their plan in two years.

awesome opinion. thanks for the share.

 

[DewsSox79]

Wow. Yes you are missing quite a bit actually.

Is he spending this $500M on the renovations knowing he won't make a dime of it back or is he spending it knowing that he will make BILLIONS off the money spent??

Can't wait to hear this answer as you are obviously oblivious to the phrase "You have to spend money to make money".



Once you actually grow up, you will learn that the thing that billionaires like to do the most is make more money.



And the Jumbotron Scoreboard helps the clubhouse and player facilities how??

How does a luxury hotel across the street help with the clubhouse and player facilities?

How does a game day street fair help with the clubhouse and player facilities?

The want to renovate the luxury suites and add a fancy restaurant, and that helps the clubhouse and player facilities how??

The clubhouse and player facility upgrades are maybe at the most $10M out of the $500M being spent, and if it was such a crucial thing that needed to be done in order to win, wouldn't you think an owner who is completely dedicated to winning at all costs would have done that first thing after buying the team and not waiting three full seasons before starting??

But Ricketts is smarter than you. He knows he can put that little cherry on top of the package and the morons will eat it up and mistakenly think that the entire renovations is about helping the club when it really is all about making more money.

:clap:

 

[KBisBack!]

Yup, willing to put up 500M of his own money is showing his desire is to be cheap! Clown Shoes, is that you?

Nope. He is putting up $500M of his own money to make more money. Not win more games.

Spending over 100M on payroll every year isn't going cheap. If you want cheap, look at the Marlins; that is going cheap (free stadium, free payroll & sells off all but 1 contract of substance).

It is when you can easily afford $150-160M in payroll.

The Cubs have shown that they are willing to spend to extend quality young players with Castro. They have proven their willingness to spend on a high dollar free agent, even if it was a questionable move, in regards to Jackson. However, the proof will be in the pudding this coming offseason as the Cubs currently have 55M on the books with Garza, Feldman, Marmol & Baker along with their 32M in salaries coming off the books. When the Cubs decide to drop to an 80-90M payroll, don't go after any 50+M free agents, or refuse to trade for 10M+/year players, then I will concede that they are going cheap.

And extended Castro and signing Jackson to his deal increased the payroll from last year, decreased it, or pretty much left it the same?

Left it the same, which is still down about $35M from what it was when they bought the team.

As to your OPINION that Ricketts has done nothing to improve the team, but only to increase profits; how do you explain the money he spent on increasing the number of employees the Cubs have? It is widely known that the Cubs staff was one of the lowest, if not the lowest, employed in baseball. How does spending money on more employees tie directly to this profit grab you suggest? How about the increase in money spent on the draft, increase in money spent on international scouting and building brand new facilities in the Domincan? That last one has ZERO to do with profits.

You really think all of that makes up for the $35M a year being saved from payroll??? LOL!!!

Actually you probably do.

And all of this bullshit about revenues. Revenues do not equal profit. Expecially in baseball. If you are one of the highest revenue teams in baseball, all that means is that you have to put more into the revenue sharing pot. Then you have to include the yearly upkeep cost of Wrigley (one report has it at about 10M per year http://reason.com/archives/2010/11/18/time-to-tear-down-wrigley-fiel).

Seriously is there someone dumb enough to think the Cubs are making a killing in profit?

I mean really??

Every team is making money. Why do you think they don't let anyone see the books??

You really think that if teams were really losing money they wouldn't be going door to door showing the books to everyone??

Get a clue.

 

[Anno Catuli]

Yes, it is all about making more money. But you are missing part of the point of making more money.

Money will pay for the renovations. Money will pay for having a bigger payroll.

It isn't too hard to figure out, at least not for those who actually have brains.

 

[KBisBack!]

Lemme get this right. The guy is willing to spend 500M to increase his future profits. But you don't see him spending money on the actual team on the field of which will be the sole reason those profits will be coming? Example Time!!!

Ricketts spends 500M on a lavish hotel in downtown Chicago, then goes out and hires nothing but minimum wage employees and employees with little business acumen (little actual talent in baseball terms). This is how I see your thought process going here based upon all of your comments.

Yup, that is a fucking asinine though process you have there.

You clearly have no concept what is going on and are really dumb enough to believe that the win/loss record has much to do with profits, even after the Cubs lost 101 games last year and were still named the most profitable team in the majors. Not after all the other examples I have provided such as the Royals, who are making huge profits despite being one of the worst run teams in the sport the last 20-25 years.

No wonder politicians get to run free when there are people this dumb out there voting them back in office.

 

[KBisBack!]

Yes, it is all about making more money. But you are missing part of the point of making more money.

Money will pay for the renovations. Money will pay for having a bigger payroll.

It isn't too hard to figure out, at least not for those who actually have brains.

The Cubs have more revenue now then when Ricketts bought the team and the payroll is about $35M less.

So how come the more money isn't paying for the bigger payroll now??

So more money now, isn't paying for a bigger payroll but we are supposed to believe that suddenly Ricketts will do the exact opposite of what he has done the last three years??

Um ok.

You are one of those guys who keep playing 3 card monte on the train because you are just sure it is a fair game and one of these times you will pick the right one arent you?

 

[Anno Catuli]

The Cubs have more revenue now then when Ricketts bought the team and the payroll is about $35M less.

So how come the more money isn't paying for the bigger payroll now??

So more money now, isn't paying for a bigger payroll but we are supposed to believe that suddenly Ricketts will do the exact opposite of what he has done the last three years??

Um ok.

You are one of those guys who keep playing 3 card monte on the train because you are just sure it is a fair game and one of these times you will pick the right one arent you?

Because there is large debt that still needs to be paid off. They took out massive loans to finance the purchase. Not too hard to figure out.

 

[KBisBack!]

Because there is large debt that still needs to be paid off. They took out massive loans to finance the purchase. Not too hard to figure out.

And if you looked at the published numbers, the amount of the debt is exactly the same as it was the day they bought the team. The only reason the debt to value ratio has changed is because the franchise has increased in value.

So if the large debt is such a crippling factor, why havent they paid any of it off in three full years??

Or is that too hard to figure out?

 

[Anno Catuli]

And if you looked at the published numbers, the amount of the debt is exactly the same as it was the day they bought the team. The only reason the debt to value ratio has changed is because the franchise has increased in value.

So if the large debt is such a crippling factor, why havent they paid any of it off in three full years??

Or is that too hard to figure out?

Because that is not the terms of the loan. There is a massive balloon payment that is coming due later this year.

It does not take long to look up facts and figures. Perhaps you should try that before talking as though you know something you clearly do not.

 

[KBisBack!]

Because that is not the terms of the loan. There is a massive balloon payment that is coming due later this year.

It does not take long to look up facts and figures. Perhaps you should try that before talking as though you know something you clearly do not.

Gotcha.

So the Cubs have money to spend $20M on a parking lot, millions on a beer garden, millions on a training complex and now have enough money to do all these renovations, but only when it comes to fielding an actually quality major league team the balloon payment is an issue?

Got it.

Perhaps you can provide a link to this information as well.

I just tried a quick google search for Chicago Cubs balloon loan payment and got most results to some very nice party decorations.

 

[Willrust]

Where the **** did you get that out of my comments? You just made a ridiculous scenario that has nothing to do with what I said. I said he is doing renovations to increase revenue? Is that wrong? Do you think he is doing because gosh darnit he likes you? If so, look in the mirror and punch yourself right in the face. I dont know if you could do it without the mirror. O and yes, payroll has decreased every year under Ricketts. Until he spends, I have every right to say I dont know. I didnt say he wasnt. I didnt he say he will. He said I dont know. Congrats on going off your meds for a minute. Biggest over reaction I have seen to post. Ill give you a scenario. Shit in one hand and wish in the other. See which one fills up first.

Payroll increased every year from when the Tribune put the team up for sale to inflate the perceived value of the team while backloading all of the deals. That also wasn't a sustainable process.

However, to think that the Cubs can just dump 500M in a rebuild and not having to actually put some of the subsequent profits off of that rebuild back into the team is nucking futs. As I said in another thread, the Cubs currently have about 55M in payroll set for 2014. If they do not spend the 40-50M in contracts this offseason to at least equal the payroll from this year, then I will agree that they are just pursuing a money grab until they do spend money on the team.

 

[Willrust]

Nope. He is putting up $500M of his own money to make more money. Not win more games.



It is when you can easily afford $150-160M in payroll.



And extended Castro and signing Jackson to his deal increased the payroll from last year, decreased it, or pretty much left it the same?

Left it the same, which is still down about $35M from what it was when they bought the team.



You really think all of that makes up for the $35M a year being saved from payroll??? LOL!!!

Actually you probably do.



Seriously is there someone dumb enough to think the Cubs are making a killing in profit?

I mean really??

Every team is making money. Why do you think they don't let anyone see the books??

You really think that if teams were really losing money they wouldn't be going door to door showing the books to everyone??

Get a clue.

Why in the **** do you think they can afford a 150-160M payroll when no Cub franchise has ever had a payroll that high?