Reaction: “Foul Territory” CALLS OUT the Cubs Ownership and Jed Hoyer

32 comments

1. Watch – Cubs compared to Dodgers: https://youtu.be/NYyGWEalArM

2. Great video! Ricketts has spent too much time fondling the balls of that gutless, dickbag commissioner Rob Manfred.

3. The Ricketts are investment bankers, that's how they made their money, they aren't going to spend on anything that will cut into their bottom line. Unless the fans stop going to Wrigley (which we know will never happen) and stop going to the amenities around Wrigley, he'll continue to do just enough to make it look like they're invested into The Cubs. There is zero excuse to not be in the running for every big name available – they have the money and they are a mega market team, money should never be the reason for anyone not signing.

4. It's very good that so many podcasters and fans are having this financial conversation now…

5. Love your analysis man. You have gotten so good in the last year.

6. Totally fine not going after Soto and especially Burnes. Obviously something in the lineup needs to change

7. ownership has been cheap since 18

8. Just letting you know that at the 9:08 mark, you went double screens talking with us lol…regarding the info, I don't envy Jeds position. After 2016, the selling/trading the future for bullpen, fill in starters, AAAA players, and such…maybe he is hesitant to do the same thing. I was one of those last year that really liked bringing back Cody bug really thought we should build for another year and focus on th3 youth movement

9. Good Show . For the Cubs mediocrity makes money .

10. While I get Juan Soto but not being in on Burnes when we need pitching help. That makes no sense.

11. How can you pass on a future HOFer? They have not had one who has played in this century. If not now, when?

12. Ricketts is cheap!

13. It’s more complex than that. How can you give Jed more money when we can’t beat the brewers who spend way less. Jed has to prove his plan is working where a Soto is final move. I don’t agree with the strategy but that’s what I think is Tom’s perspective. Jed is also super risk averse, so he’s not going to shoot his shot until he knows it all comes together

14. The offense just isn’t talented enough. It’s so simple but they won’t fix it.

15. So they’re not even gonna bother going after free agents like Corbin Burns or Max Fried?

16. The plan is to let the young talent develop! Like what Astros, Braves did. Develop the young prospects.

17. Why you guys only can see one way to improve? Which is adding big money players?? Why? Why can’t PCA be that superstar ? Why can’t Busch be the all star next season? Why can’t Isaac hit 35 HR? He hit 31 two years ago. Why can’t Cody be like his 2023? Why can’t Shaw be like this years’ Jackson Merrill ?? Why have to be a superstar free agent and not other ways ?? Why can’t we trade for some superstar?? Why people like to push Jed and the Cubs be used by Boras as leverage on his players ??

18. So the cubs are after Nathan Eovaldi and Nathan Eovaldi already rejected their offer

19. Burnes has a lot of miles on his arm. That also means he’s been very durable. I think you have to sign Fried and Jansen or d’Arnaud. And then trade for SEA starter and/ or trade for big bat. But only trade for one of those. Bc the stater could be in the form of Burnes & Eovaldi(of course the Cubs low-balled him). Or Manaea? He’s onto something. I was hoping for a Rooker and Mason Miller trad!?! Usually when they say, they’re keeping a guy, they’re upping his value. Bc they should t be competing until their new ballpark. He’d be great to DH and I actually think Ballesteros hit tool is the most valuable part of this minor league system. Maybe you pair soft trade lefty to piggyback with Horton?(Miley). The death of the 4/5/6/7 AAA(AAAA)-MLB pipeline should produce someone enticing for a trade piece, along with a Triantos/Alcantara/ another top 20 and top 30 guy should get a good 1 year rental like Vlade/Alonso or the starting pitcher you need NOT named Max Fried or Corbin Burnes. Paredes to me has the most value (much like Bregman) bc his swing and the Crawford seats?!!!? Like come on! Ballesteros and Cam Smith And/or Caissie should be brought up to hit for Chicago. And Shaw is Up there on everyone’s list(not quite as high, but still high on him)but with him ready? I think he makes Nico/Paredes trade able. Or even Busch and play Belli at 1b and let Caissie play RF some this year. By some, I mean a lot. Or Shaw play a lot somewhere. 1 rookie developing plus a Ballesteros who can catch play first and DH) … PCA should hit behind
    1.Happ
    2. PCA
    3. Suzuki
    4. Bellinger
    5.Guerrero AssadBuschOC
    6.Ballesteros 6. Torres
    7.G. Torres 7Ballesteros
    8. Shaw/Smith
    9. Swanson
    Steele may need to be your closer (gets fatigued)has dawg in him!
    And sign 2/3 SP but good teams keep the right players. Trade ones that help you get better, and can help the other team, but NOT go be the next Top 10 MLB player.

20. I feel The Ricketts feel like they spent in 2016 and won a chip. Since that moment they knew they can milk us fans for years off that and develop around the park to rake in massive amount of profits while producing mediocre teams and have the scapegoat (Jed) speak for their mid level market spending on free agents. Ricketts care about their profits and portfolio.

21. Simple and plain: no one is going to pay for the Marquee network to watch the Cubs win 82 games. Nobody is going to buy jerseys and collect merchandise if they don’t have players that everyone wants to own their jersey and such. Why throw away the millions of dollars they’d make filling wrigley for a playoff game and the ad revenue to play “on the margins.” I don’t want margins, I want records.

22. it's plain and simple. put together an exciting team that I feel like is going to be a fun team to watch, that I think can win the division. I'll sub to marquee. Put together a boring team that can only compete if lucky, I'll tune out. Now it doesn't have to be Soto. But they better have a big time trade brewing.

23. JED is on probation……he's a puppet and not a "THEO" type aura. RICKETTS is 2nd generation of a Dad who had the ONIONS/KAHUNAS/BULL BALLS to roll the dice and start a company that made him a BILLIONAIRE….The kids goal is to PRESERVE….they don't have the EGO or VISION….HOWEVER, we need to thank them for 2016!! I'd probably do the same and keep printing $$$$$$$$$$ with minimal investment on the core asset while investing/owning real estate and operating entities…..Confucious say CHA CHING, and CHA CHING is not my Mama….

24. 100% agreed

25. I don’t care if we’re not in on Soto and Burns. BUT – we need to get (1) a big bat, clutch, true cleanup hitter that doesn’t cost $700M; (2) another strong starter, like Fried; and (3) a true consistent closer (and maybe another bridge guy too). Also, let Shaw play and keep other top prospects for 1-2 years from now. (And I said this before getting to where you said exactly this.).

26. Cubs just got lucky 2016, Except for Schwarberg, all players are either not playing or average hitters

27. I have my disagreements with the guys at FT quite a bit. Largely because they're seemingly biased towards the Cubs. AJ Pierzynski is a known Cubs hater and Kratz leans that way as well due to his time with the Brewers.

    All of that aside I do occasionally agree with them on some things regarding the Cubs. This happens to be one of the times they're correct. I'd also recommend going back a couple weeks and watching a segment they did about MLB teams "Scrooge index". The Cubs to no one's surprise are very high on that list. They're spending a good amount less than 50% of their profits on the teams payroll. Again I recommend going an watching the segment as they go into detail about it much better than I can.

    The Cubs have 2 big issues to me. 1 of which is that Ricketts is not a good owner by essentially giving this team a salary cap at the first luxury tax. 2nd is that Hoyer thus far has shown he doesn't spend the money in his given budget wisely enough to make this team truly competitive.

28. Its pathetic man truly i live in texas and whent to go watch the cubs on opening day when they played the rangers and let me tell you the house was packed and i tought to my self must be nice when your front office actually spends money…new stadium and all star ball players on the field it was nice

29. Sell the cubs, Tom! I’m done. I’ll enjoy Wrigley field, but other than that I’m done. This organization doesn’t have a future.

30. All the other teams that had expensive experiences went to the playoffs.

31. I have a feeling that marquee is losing alot of money and the sports betting (thanks governor tubby) is not the cash cow that ricketts thinks it is.

32. 7:00 i hate how rickettsville evolved out of wrigleyville. The wrigleyville of the pass felt like what is was neighborhood where people lived (wasnt the most flash but had an certain feel to it). Rickettsville feels so corporate, sterile…like a boardroom.