03-19-2009, 04:55 PM
I edited out some stuff:
<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec--><b>Cubs building a superpower on and off the field</b>
Thursday, March 19, 2009
MESA, Ariz. -- The sale of the Chicago Cubs to Tom Ricketts still is more than two months away. But the team that won the most regular-season games in the National League in 2008 and the organizational operation that long has been a financial sleeper eagerly await the in-season transition as they try to end the club's 101-year itch and move forward as one of the sport's economic superpowers.
This season's Cubs again should be the favorites in the NL Central. They subtracted Mark DeRosa, closer Kerry Wood and the innings of Jason Marquis while adding American League OPS leader Milton Bradley, Aaron Heilman and Aaron Miles.
They hope Alfonso Soriano can remain healthy (109 games, 29 homers in 2008). They know Derrek Lee is capable of more than 20 homers.
And in manager Lou Piniella's mind, there is a lesson to be learned from a great regular season followed by a first-round playoff elimination. "We peaked in August," Piniella said. "No doubt about it. A big key to this team is going to be depth, because I have to keep them fresh. Playing in Wrigley takes its toll, with all the day games. Heck, we start the season with a one-week road trip, finish with a Sunday night game [on ESPN] in Milwaukee, then the next day have our home opener, an afternoon game. That takes its toll, and I'm going to make sure we stay fresh."
Which, as the season unfurls, might mean adding another infielder and outfielder to fill roles.
The Cubs believe Bradley brings fire, power, plate discipline and balance to what was a right-hand-dominated batting order; but he also has played 100 games in the field just once in his career because of a set of freak and nagging injuries. Pineilla has Bradley and Soriano at the corners, with Kosuke Fukudome and Reed Johnson platooning in center.
He has Lee and Aramis Ramirez at the infield corners, with Ryan Theriot and Mike Fontenot -- who have been double-play partners for LSU, the Wareham Gatemen and the Cubs -- in the middle and All-Star Geovany Soto at catcher. There is thunder -- Theriot is a really good player, and everyone on this team believes Fontenot will hit.
One of the things that hurt the Cubs in the playoffs this past season was that the pitching was out of sync, but Carlos Zambrano has had a very good spring, Ryan Dempster is being Ryan Dempster and both Rich Harden and Sean Marshall have been very good.
"Harden has been very encouraging," pitching coach Larry Rothschild said. Harden also has averaged 14 starts a year the past four seasons, not from lack of heart, but from various shoulder issues. Ted Lilly is a 17-game winner, although his World Baseball Classic schedule might mean he won't be ready to open the season in the rotation.
Meanwhile, Cubs CEO Crane Kenney pushes ahead to try to bring the team into the 21st century. The Cubs have taken control of the rooftop viewers. They are opening their first restaurant, with plans for a hotel and other businesses in the Wrigley neighborhood. Their regional sports network soon will be up and running. <b>The Cubs have been a $200 million business that should be closer to $300 million, especially considering the fact that they, the Yankees and the Red Sox are the sport's three national franchises; the eight largest crowds in the Cactus League this spring have been with the Cubs playing.</b>
So when Ricketts takes over -- likely before Memorial Day -- it will be interesting to see whether the Cubs can take on a couple of contracts from one of the teams expected to be affected by the recession. There still seems to be a feeling they will be able to take on Jake Peavy's $63 million obligation if they can satisfy Padres GM Kevin Towers with a gaggle of prospects.
They are the Cubs, and we all know about the 101. But they should be a baseball perennial, and that's what they are building with this sale.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec--><b>Cubs building a superpower on and off the field</b>
Thursday, March 19, 2009
MESA, Ariz. -- The sale of the Chicago Cubs to Tom Ricketts still is more than two months away. But the team that won the most regular-season games in the National League in 2008 and the organizational operation that long has been a financial sleeper eagerly await the in-season transition as they try to end the club's 101-year itch and move forward as one of the sport's economic superpowers.
This season's Cubs again should be the favorites in the NL Central. They subtracted Mark DeRosa, closer Kerry Wood and the innings of Jason Marquis while adding American League OPS leader Milton Bradley, Aaron Heilman and Aaron Miles.
They hope Alfonso Soriano can remain healthy (109 games, 29 homers in 2008). They know Derrek Lee is capable of more than 20 homers.
And in manager Lou Piniella's mind, there is a lesson to be learned from a great regular season followed by a first-round playoff elimination. "We peaked in August," Piniella said. "No doubt about it. A big key to this team is going to be depth, because I have to keep them fresh. Playing in Wrigley takes its toll, with all the day games. Heck, we start the season with a one-week road trip, finish with a Sunday night game [on ESPN] in Milwaukee, then the next day have our home opener, an afternoon game. That takes its toll, and I'm going to make sure we stay fresh."
Which, as the season unfurls, might mean adding another infielder and outfielder to fill roles.
The Cubs believe Bradley brings fire, power, plate discipline and balance to what was a right-hand-dominated batting order; but he also has played 100 games in the field just once in his career because of a set of freak and nagging injuries. Pineilla has Bradley and Soriano at the corners, with Kosuke Fukudome and Reed Johnson platooning in center.
He has Lee and Aramis Ramirez at the infield corners, with Ryan Theriot and Mike Fontenot -- who have been double-play partners for LSU, the Wareham Gatemen and the Cubs -- in the middle and All-Star Geovany Soto at catcher. There is thunder -- Theriot is a really good player, and everyone on this team believes Fontenot will hit.
One of the things that hurt the Cubs in the playoffs this past season was that the pitching was out of sync, but Carlos Zambrano has had a very good spring, Ryan Dempster is being Ryan Dempster and both Rich Harden and Sean Marshall have been very good.
"Harden has been very encouraging," pitching coach Larry Rothschild said. Harden also has averaged 14 starts a year the past four seasons, not from lack of heart, but from various shoulder issues. Ted Lilly is a 17-game winner, although his World Baseball Classic schedule might mean he won't be ready to open the season in the rotation.
Meanwhile, Cubs CEO Crane Kenney pushes ahead to try to bring the team into the 21st century. The Cubs have taken control of the rooftop viewers. They are opening their first restaurant, with plans for a hotel and other businesses in the Wrigley neighborhood. Their regional sports network soon will be up and running. <b>The Cubs have been a $200 million business that should be closer to $300 million, especially considering the fact that they, the Yankees and the Red Sox are the sport's three national franchises; the eight largest crowds in the Cactus League this spring have been with the Cubs playing.</b>
So when Ricketts takes over -- likely before Memorial Day -- it will be interesting to see whether the Cubs can take on a couple of contracts from one of the teams expected to be affected by the recession. There still seems to be a feeling they will be able to take on Jake Peavy's $63 million obligation if they can satisfy Padres GM Kevin Towers with a gaggle of prospects.
They are the Cubs, and we all know about the 101. But they should be a baseball perennial, and that's what they are building with this sale.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
There's nothing better than to realize that the good things about youth don't end with youth itself. It's a matter of realizing that life can be renewed every day you get out of bed without baggage. It's tough to get there, but it's better than the dark thoughts. -Lance
