There’s some news about the Tribune Company today, which has long been murmured to be in a little bit of financial trouble. Obviously, we Cub fans are giddy, at the prospect of a private owner or group (i.e. George Steinbrenner, Tom Werner, etc.) somehow buying and assuming control of the team (We conveniently assume that no, uh, David Glass or Don Sterling type will have any interest…).
Intrepid bloggers at Ivy Chat and 1060 West have commented on how this might affect the Cubs , (both are worth reads, incidentally), adding fuel to our giddy hope that the Tribune is for once and for all removed from the stewardship of the franchise. Coincidentally, their takes appear on the same day that Jay Mariotti imagined a conversation with Mark Cuban or some ridiculousness of some sort. Weird, I know.
Does this matter? Sure it does. Read the two links above for comment. Still, though we all agree it would be nice for a change at the top to come, I’ve still never really thought it was solely the Tribune’s fault the Cubs were poorly run. Sure, they have faults, yet I think it’s an easy and convenient target for us fans (seriously, we’re alwaysmystified that the whole ship appears this sinkable year to year) to blame the parent company.
Evil as the Tribune Co. may be (or have been), I scarcely think that a massive corporation is simply content to trot out a loser simply turning a profit each year — when in fact, a winning team and/or any sort of postseason success would create much, much more lucrative and profitable opportunities. 2003 should have and could have proved this for them — and I just can’t believe that the corporate stuffed shirts really downplay or downgrade the marketing, goodwill, merchandising, expansion, and profit opportunities that must exist. I’m a layman, granted, so maybe there’s something I’m not seeing. But opening up the brand, and a brand’s goodwill to more people? Isn’t that the essence of all advertising? Doesn’t a champ sell itself? Maybe I’m wrong….
Blame the Trib. Co. all you want, but a $94 million payroll is $94 million — and Dennis FitzSimons isn’t the one refusing to use that money to overpay for Carlos Beltran, Ivan Rodriguez, or Rafael Furcal, even if totally feasible. He’s also not the one deciding to overpay mediocrity — Neifi Perez, Glendon Rusch, or Dusty Baker. (Whom would you rather have had? Years of these reclamation projects … or Carlos Beltran for 7 years and supporting, cheap players like Matty Murton and Ronny Cedeno? You tell me.)
It still reflects most negatively on Andy MacPhail and Jim Hendry, and the twosome’s failure to have any sort of plan, or even a rudimentary understanding of baseball in the 21st century. Granted, maybe they aren’t stupid, either. But maybe they are lazy. Or content. Or whatever — stubborn or arrogant? And even if the Tribune isn’t wholly responsible — we’ve seen they may be complacent. And new ownership moves us closer to housecleaning. Dare for us to dream, anyway.
Well, regardless, MFG ain’t exactly going to refuse the endorsement of a new owner. Bring on someone new, fresh, and hands-on. We can’t wait. Maybe ownership will actually be traded. Wouldn’t be the first time. This season, even.
