Cubs' Ricketts possibly botches GM search already


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By Matt Snyder

Having fired Jim Hendry, the Cubs have a vacancy at general manager and chairman Tom Ricketts reportedly has his eye on a number of high-profile candidates. Well, he can kiss any chance of getting one goodbye now. Over the weekend, news broke that the Cubs had "quietly" extended the contract of personnel director Oneri Fleita (ChicagoTribune.com), who oversees the minor-league operations and international scouting.

In and of itself, this wouldn't be a bad move. Many within the organization are said to respect Fleita's work and the farm system has improved under his watch, according to most outlets that rank such things. Then again, it's not like the Cubs have a Royals-like farm system at this point and Fleita's been on the job for four years. One report indicated Ricketts' hand may have been forced, as the Tigers were courting Fleita (ESPN Chicago).

Still, Ricketts has no general manager and that has to be a higher priority than retaining Fleita and possibly turning away potential general managers. The director of player personnel is one of the spots some of the high profile GMs would likely want to fill themselves. If nothing else, don't you at least leave the spot open and recommend Fleita to the new general manager? Instead, Ricketts is going to have to convince potential GMs that his guy is better than theirs. That's a good way to get high-profile GMs to walk away. Even if they like Fleita, there would be the question of having complete control over the organization.

Not that the Cubs had the ability to land them, but for the sake of argument, try to imagine Theo Epstein or Brian Cashman leaving his current situation in order to take over a team that already has a player personnel director firmly in place. It's pretty difficult to envision that happening.

The best guess is Ricketts has taken the possibility of a home-run hire off the table, which only makes the 100-plus years of futility more likely to continue.

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Cubs' Ricketts possibly botches GM search already

Ahh Cubs fans. The real ones who actually know all the names of the players lament how the team is run. The other Cubs fans who will show up to party in the bleachers could care less as to the product on the field. Here lies the dilemma. The Cubs, historically in the last 20 years, only do well when they bring up home-grown talent (players who have spent at least part of their career in the Cubs farm system) and match that with young LOW COST talent they bring from other teams. Unfortunately, the coaches and GM's of the Cubs have always gone after the over-the-hill or tragically over-priced free agents to try and boost attendance. Until the Cubs figure out that an $80 million dollar payroll does not mean the end of the world, they will continue to languish in the basement of the central. In reality, what helps attendance more at Wrigley? A 84 degree cloudless summer's day or Carlos Pena batting .226? Start with the talent you have on the farm and stick with it!

Cubs' Ricketts possibly botches GM search already

hotmeuly Since: Dec 2, 2011	Posted on: December 20, 2011 4:50 pm This comment has been removed. Post Deleted by Administrator
peulouy Since: Dec 2, 2011	Posted on: December 18, 2011 9:33 am This comment has been removed. Post Deleted by Administrator
Since: Dec 2, 2011	Posted on: December 7, 2011 11:47 pm Cubs' Ricketts possibly botches GM search already I think it's time oftimes be certain incredibly mundane out-of-date page, but it also you can do highly given for my own time.
Since: Dec 4, 2006	Posted on: September 7, 2011 5:09 pm Cubs' Ricketts possibly botches GM search already Ahh Cubs fans. The real ones who actually know all the names of the players lament how the team is run. The other Cubs fans who will show up to party in the bleachers could care less as to the product on the field. Here lies the dilemma. The Cubs, historically in the last 20 years, only do well when they bring up home-grown talent (players who have spent at least part of their career in the Cubs farm system) and match that with young LOW COST talent they bring from other teams. Unfortunately, the coaches and GM's of the Cubs have always gone after the over-the-hill or tragically over-priced free agents to try and boost attendance. Until the Cubs figure out that an $80 million dollar payroll does not mean the end of the world, they will continue to languish in the basement of the central. In reality, what helps attendance more at Wrigley? A 84 degree cloudless summer's day or Carlos Pena batting .226? Start with the talent you have on the farm and stick with it!
Since: Dec 14, 2007	Posted on: September 7, 2011 4:02 pm Cubs' Ricketts possibly botches GM search already Have we not noticed that Tommy Boy Ricketts has been screwing up since the day him and Daddy bought the Cubs? First huge mistake was not firing Hendry on day one and getting a basball man with a brain immediately. Then the termination or at least announcement of his exit known to Hendry before the trading deadline, hence no moves are made. Now we sit with no one steering the ship except the dummy Ricketts himself. Many within the organization are said to respect Fleita's work and the farm system has improved under his watch, according to most outlets that rank such things. Now that's and endorsement with no meaning, the farm system is in shambles look for nothing meaningful to come up fron the farm any time soon except for maybe a catcher. The best guess is Ricketts has taken the possibility of a home-run hire off the table, which only makes the 100-plus years of futility more likely to continue. This statement is accurate and not a difficutl leap in logic, nothing will improve for the Cubs until the Ricketts clan is run out of town, like Sonny told Daddy the fans are suckers they sell out every game. Ricketts is a big problem.
Since: Mar 15, 2008	Posted on: September 7, 2011 12:04 pm Cubs' Ricketts possibly botches GM search already The Cubs need to replace all management positions. If a couple of quality people go with the 90% who are garbage....so be it. The Cubs are the definition of a losing culture and that must change from top to bottom.
Since: Mar 15, 2008	Posted on: September 7, 2011 11:58 am Cubs' Ricketts possibly botches GM search already The Cubs need to change ALL management top to bottom.
Since: Sep 6, 2011	Posted on: September 6, 2011 9:54 pm What impact is a "homerun hire" GM going to have? Forget about the "home run hire", that guy won't come to the Cubs, regardless of Fleita's extension. The Cubs have 72 million committed in 2012 (of which 62 million is tied up with Zambrano, Soriano, Dempster, Marmol and Marshall). 2012 is a lost year. There's also going to be considerable pressure to reduce payroll with attendance numbers dropping @ Wrigley. So, 2013 will be a tough year too. 2014 might be the first year that the Cubs could assemble a decent team. With most GM's getting 3-5 year deals, what available, quality GM is going to throw away the first half of his contract term and potentially sully his name. Fleita has done a nice job with the farm system and deserves to stay. The best thing Ricketts could do is sign a second tier GM for two years and sign a "home run hire" GM in 2014 once they have a full payroll and two more years of farm system development. ;
Since: Jun 21, 2010	Posted on: September 6, 2011 8:38 pm Cubs' Ricketts possibly botches GM search already I am just curious as to how many baseball teams these nay sayers have owned. It is his money and he can do what he wants. He made the first move by releasing Hendry. Let Ricketts show he has the savy to hire the right man. It is his 800 million dollars on the line not mine or yours
Since: Aug 22, 2006	Posted on: September 6, 2011 5:13 pm Cubs' Ricketts possibly botches GM search already thats what they did with Hendry,a loyal zombie who had been under Cubs employ in one area or another for 18 years,what Ricketts should do,and this is coming from a Sox fan mind u,is hire someone who's actually worn the god damn uniform and instill some pride back into the team,and make free agents want to play for the Cubs,regardless of the fact Wrigley's turned into an almost 100-year old s-hithole thats going to collapse and kill fans in the lower stands sooner rather than later unless they find a suitable place in the suburbs to build a new ballpark,but we know Emmanuel will never allow that to happen,so the team will wallow in purgatory until they find someone who's competant enough to know what the HELL theyre doing

Have we not noticed that Tommy Boy Ricketts has been screwing up since the day him and Daddy bought the Cubs? First huge mistake was not firing Hendry on day one and getting a basball man with a brain immediately. Then the termination or at least announcement of his exit known to Hendry before the trading deadline, hence no moves are made. Now we sit with no one steering the ship except the dummy Ricketts himself.

Many within the organization are said to respect Fleita's work and the farm system has improved under his watch, according to most outlets that rank such things.

Now that's and endorsement with no meaning, the farm system is in shambles look for nothing meaningful to come up fron the farm any time soon except for maybe a catcher.

The best guess is Ricketts has taken the possibility of a home-run hire off the table, which only makes the 100-plus years of futility more likely to continue.

This statement is accurate and not a difficutl leap in logic, nothing will improve for the Cubs until the Ricketts clan is run out of town, like Sonny told Daddy the fans are suckers they sell out every game.

Ricketts is a big problem.

What impact is a "homerun hire" GM going to have?

Forget about the "home run hire", that guy won't come to the Cubs, regardless of Fleita's extension. The Cubs have 72 million committed in 2012 (of which 62 million is tied up with Zambrano, Soriano, Dempster, Marmol and Marshall). 2012 is a lost year. There's also going to be considerable pressure to reduce payroll with attendance numbers dropping @ Wrigley. So, 2013 will be a tough year too. 2014 might be the first year that the Cubs could assemble a decent team. With most GM's getting 3-5 year deals, what available, quality GM is going to throw away the first half of his contract term and potentially sully his name. Fleita has done a nice job with the farm system and deserves to stay. The best thing Ricketts could do is sign a second tier GM for two years and sign a "home run hire" GM in 2014 once they have a full payroll and two more years of farm system development.
;

Cubs' Ricketts possibly botches GM search already

thats what they did with Hendry,a loyal zombie who had been under Cubs employ in one area or another for 18 years,what Ricketts should do,and this is coming from a Sox fan mind u,is hire someone who's actually worn the god damn uniform and instill some pride back into the team,and make free agents want to play for the Cubs,regardless of the fact Wrigley's turned into an almost 100-year old s-hithole thats going to collapse and kill fans in the lower stands sooner rather than later unless they find a suitable place in the suburbs to build a new ballpark,but we know Emmanuel will never allow that to happen,so the team will wallow in purgatory until they find someone who's competant enough to know what the HELL theyre doing

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