While it’s early in the tenure of new Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts and any opinions formed thus far are based on an admittedly small sample size, the only apparent difference between the Chicago Tribune and the Ricketts is a face with the name.
That is important, but it’s even more important to have an owner who wants to win the World Series and isn’t afraid to let everyone who works for him know that is the goal for the organization.
A good start toward reaching that goal would be to put in a true baseball man in between himself and GM Jim Hendry.
As opposed to having Hendry report to Crane Kenny, who can stay on in some capacity, the Cubs should have their GM reporting to a baseball man for several reasons.
One, it would instill some sense in Hendry that he is being challenged. A knowledgeable assessment of his performance is needed to ensure the Cubs remain on point to reach their stated goals.
Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts tells Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times that the team's front office has been a "pleasant surprise" so far.
With all due respect, does Ricketts have the background and expertise to make that determination?
He is a businessman who has thrived in a cut-throat industry, so his focus should be on helping the Cubs achieve new revenue streams. So far, he has been involved in those matters, and that is fine.
But who is minding the store on the baseball front? To leave the scouting, development, contracts, baseball philosophy, and everything that happens on and off the field in the hands of Hendry is not advisable.
Sure, he has hired people to serve around him to help him handle these matters. But Hendry’s fingerprints are all over everything and there needs to be someone in charge who can fairly and effectively gauge his performance.
Second, having a baseball man who has been there, done that, and knows how to build an organization from the bottom up would allow Kenny and Ricketts to focus on things like revenue streams.
Take the example of the Chicago Blackhawks since Rocky Wirtz took charge. He brought in John McDonough and one of the best attributes of the former Cubs Marketing chief and President is he realizes his limitations.
With the Blackhawks, McDonough has surrounded himself with strong hockey people that have ultimate responsibility for the product on the ice.
More importantly, he has implemented a hierarchy that supports accountability at every level.
Joel Quenneville has Stan Bowman. Stan has his father, a long-time hockey guy who knows everything there is to know about the game and then some.
So McDonough can judge the team’s performance based on its one goal. That is what Ricketts should do, but without a baseball guy in charge, he has to rely on Kenny, who doesn’t have a clue.
Ricketts better know that keeping the fan base happy will take more than simply ensuring that Wrigley Field looks good, the ivy is green in summer, and the cold beer is flowing.
Or does he? The common perception is that most Cubs fans don’t care about winning, and to be fair, this perception is supported by the lack of empty seats even during bad seasons.
White Sox fans demanded a winner and they got one. They told Jerry Reinsdorf that they won’t come unless there’s a good product on the field.
Meanwhile, what message are Cubs fans sending Mr. Ricketts?
Look, I am not against having a good time, and I admit Wrigley Field is a great place to watch a ballgame.
But I am sick and tired of being known as the “lovable losers” and as a Cubs fan who cares about winning, I need a commitment from our owner that clearly states that the goal is to deliver a consistent product on the field each year.
And, to be fair, I hear those things coming from the man’s lips. But there has to be actions associated with those words.
The Cubs have to do more than simply increase revenues and fix up the park. The entire front office structure and philosophy has to be evaluated. And that evaluation can’t come from Crane Kenny and Tom Ricketts alone.
Again, I know it’s early, but until I see that happening, I worry. But hey, there’s always next century, right?
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