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I could throw nearly every team in the league into the conversation. What team drops from 83 to 75 to 71 wins, hasn't been to the World Series in many fan's lifetimes, and still sells 90% of its tickets? If any fan base has quit their team, it isn't the Cub fan base. I do see the empty seat point but the Cubs did make substantial money of the fans this year and will do so again next year and the next. Epstein seals the deal for at least a couple years.
They bought the tickets in February / March. When they would rather waste that spent money, and not even go to the game they paid for in July, August and September, they quit.No idea how else to describe this you.
Yeah, I do get that point a bit. They quit on the Cubs for just this season after paying money. But we will not see until next year if the decided to completely quit. I doubt it. Most will buy tickets again.
With the TE hire- I see the fans coming back strong to secure their place for the impact that he has been expected to bring. I agree that the fans became hardened and gave up on the season but not the team and it was about time that they did it. I may be a Sox fan but one cannot question the loyalty of a true "blue" Cub fan. There are a load of issues that this organization has to tackle and it may take a few years to just get some breathing room. I would have to think that Soriano (and what to do with his bloated salary if they can do anything) and the minor league system are first and foremost with the actual team while the ballpark renovation will be a hot topic now that Da Mayor can focus on providing a helping hand.
If I ever was going to quit the Cubs, it would have been in that late 80's/early 90's when I was a kid. If I had the complete story of how the organization didn't care much at all about the product on the field, I would have done them like I did the Hawks and their idiot owner.I agree that the TE hire is coming at exactly the right time. Cub fans expected it to be bad with a miracle year every now and then and Wrigley was turned into a national destination by Harry Caray and WGN. The 2003 team, Wood and Prior, and the big time money thrown around to Soriano and other changed everything. Cubs fans began to demand a better product which for the most part they received until the last couple years. Just as the fans might start to protest with their pocketbook, they hire wonder boy. I have been very happy with Ricketts since day one. He is putting his money where is mouth is first with the last draft and then Epstein and his clan. There is little reason to think the Cubs aren't on the upswing when you consider the backwards mentality rampant from the top for decades. As far as a timeline, I suspect Theo will hunt for bargains this offseason, shed the contracts when he can, spend heavily on the draft and internationally, and build around the middle of the diamond depth the Cubs have in their system. The lack of starting pitching in particular will make seriously competing the next two years very difficult unless he truly works wonders. When the team has the pieces in place for a big signing to push them over the top, he will do it.
The only winner that I can see in all of this might be the players with the bloated salaries and possibly the Tribune company having benefited from the "golden" years when sellouts were a common blessing. They simply sold tradition and sprinkled in talent here and there and if a contender emerged- well it was just gravy on the mashers.My thoughts about the pitching staff is to reach out and grab international talent with the hope that the team can land a few prospects. This came from the Theo press conference but it seems to be a viable solution and I would actually like to see the Sox reign in some talent with this strategy. Perhaps a scenario in which the risk is more of an opportunity with a potential talent getting his pay day in the future after demonstrating the ability to perform at the MLB level. The big question now looms- what happens to the manager? The veteran players did not buy into the Quade program but you have to consider that the guy was about as green as it can get and did not really have much to work with between the injuries and the lack of fundamentals. I would think that it would be a huge plus for the team to part with Big "Z" and that would probably benefit the clubhouse and the team morale. Does the team let Quade stay or will they let him go in favor of some good young talent- Sandy Alomar or Davey Martinez? Maybe they bring in a veteran? Perhaps Rhino just to bridge that gap between the fan base and a guy that has been paying his dues (but may or may not be ready) with the younger players? I would think that a disciplined manager that can get this team to buy in on playing fundamental baseball at all costs would be a key aspect to winning and gaining the fan's respect.
...and the hope/disappointment cycle of Cubs fans begins anew
yes he is. His point, like most chirpy Sux fans, is that most teams don't have a 103+ year cycle.
God i hate the Cardinals.
If there's one thing left over from that bout of Cubitis, it's a dislike of the Cardinals. Nowadays I think it has more to do with TLR than anything else, but I really can't stand watching them win.
What's funny, is it's trueI don't own a single thing that has anything negative to say about the White Sox(why would I, I hate the Sox)......but every sox fan I know, owns at least one tee-shirt that says something negative about the Cubs. I'll be you a beer Limpy, that you own at least one yourself
And that crosses every professional sport in America. These will be some dark days ahead for both clubs and things just got a whole lot worse for Cub nation watching the Cards win it all again. In Carbondale on Friday night with a packed house of Cards fans and they were crazy with delight and I can tell you that they were about as happy as they could be with rubbing it into the Cubs. I may sound chippy and it could be a whole lot worse but there is absolutely a complete hate for the Cubs across the board by WS, Cards, Reds and Brewer fans. Two type of Cub fans- hard core fans that have suffered enough and the "fans" that have contributed to the bad ilk that is the majority of the fan base. Theo has a lot more to be concerned with than the team, a sagging infrastructure, sunk costs in the pay roll (just like the WS), an average minor league system and an overall organizational attitude that is a PR nightmare...
Thanks, pal. Knew we could count on you!
Anytime. Congratulations to the Cardinals and their fans.
As hard as that was for you to type, I'll take that. Thanks.
My fingers still hurtAs hard as that was for you to type, I'll take that. Thanks.
