Cubs @ Braves, 27 April

[1060Ivy]

Sorry but Ricketts with all the real estate and other investments in the neighborhood cannot not agree to tanking for years to rebuild the club via draft.  The family has too much to lose and the new CBA is expected to make tanking / rebuild tactics more difficult.  Unfortunately, I don't trust the Rickett family to allow front office to pay market rates for free agents or retain club's existing talent.  Fans should expect that front office will try to be remain "competitive in the NL Central" so fans will continue to pay for Marquee and eventually return to Wrigleyville en masse. 

 

Losing this season doesn't provide a big upside vs winning this season given those expectations.