April is done. The Cubs played 26 games so far, with a record of 10-16. In these games (minus two rainouts to be made up later in the season), the Cubs scored 92 runs and allowed 111, so their actual record is in line with their Pythagorean predicted record of 11-15. Most of these games could have gone either way, but coulda-shoulda-woulda-didn’t and we can’t go back in time. By the way, that’s 3.5 runs per game for those scoring at home, showing that in most cases, even the shittiest of offenses can put up a crooked number on the board.
In a similar number of games (actually, three less) the 2012 Cubs went 8-15. One of the cooler stats is that in April 2013, the Cubs hit 35 (!!!) home runs, while in April 2012, they only hit 9. Not sure if that’s sustainable or indicative of anything, because it is just April, but still quite cool. And that’s really the only small-sample size stuff I wanted to get into today. Unlike many folks, I still hold out some hope for Edwin Jackson reverting back to the Edwin Jackson we know and love…meh, but not as crappy as he was last night.
And then we have Wrigley Field, which has unsurprisingly been empty most of this early season due to bad weather and fan apathy. Despite Anno’s best efforts, he and his family are but one season ticket holder and the Cubs honestly don’t have a product worth watching right now, as much as we get excited about the progress of guys like Starlin Castro and Anthony Rizzo. But the more pressing, long-term issue besides the attendance is the state of Wrigley Field and the ongoing fight with the neighborhood over the renovations.
The Cubs did release some pictures to the media prior to Tom Ricketts’ meeting with the City Club of Chicago, tweeted by David Kaplan almost real-time. The Jumbotron (or big screen, if they aren’t buying from Sony or whoever trademarked the name) rendering isn’t actually that bad, and much smaller and less intrusive than the original 6000 square-foot proposal they had a while back that probably would have put the rooftops in even more of a tizzy. The point here is to generate additional revenue for the club, while at the same time making sure that the wheels keep on turning so they can make plans for the coming offseason so the players can come home to a better clubhouse for 2014.
The Wrigley restoration plan is being unveiled to a sold out crowd at the City Club of Chicago.campl.us/oN2t
— David Kaplan (@thekapman) May 1, 2013
Ricketts says that the new Wrigley will generate 94 million in additional revenue for the community and city.
— David Kaplan (@thekapman) May 1, 2013
Says the Cubs spend 15 million in deferred maintenance on an aging baseball stadium. Says only Yankees pay more amusement taxes than Cubs.
— David Kaplan (@thekapman) May 1, 2013
Says “I knew the problems when we bought the team. That doesn’t matter. The problems still have to be addressed.”
— David Kaplan (@thekapman) May 1, 2013
Hey guys, check it out! Tom Ricketts actually bothered to care despite all the obstacles he was going to face! Imagine that.
“If we cannot get approval for this plan and our signage plans are blocked we will then consider moving out of Wrigley Field”.
— David Kaplan (@thekapman) May 1, 2013
Oooh, the gauntlet has been thrown down. The Cubs are very unlikely to move anyway and the city of Chicago will make sure this goes through, but you can just imagine the entire Wrigleyville neighborhood collectively shitting their pants when Ricketts finally said those magic words.
I think Tom Ricketts and friends still want to be good neighbors, which is why the Jumbotron (or whatever) rendering looks so much tamer than the behemoth 6000 square-foot screen they started with. The money they estimate will be brought into the city of Chicago is much more than the rooftops can generate, which is probably all the leverage they need to fizzle their lame contract with said rooftops with the support of the city. Now it’s just a matter of when they can finally do this. At the very least, the players do need the new clubhouse. That place is a disgrace. Once the funds roll in, Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer don’t have to do as much PR. They’ll actually be able to pick up any good free agents that are available. Wouldn’t that be nice?
In summary–2013 MLB Cubs meh, but future not so meh after all if Tom Ricketts gets his way.