Muskat Ramblings

2/9/10 Geaux Saints

2010-02-09T20:42:32Z

GM Jim Hendry had a great time at the Super Bowl in Miami even though his team, the Colts, lost to the Saints, who are the favorite team of assistant GM Randy Bush.

"We didn't really bet anything," Hendry said. "I bought a coat with 'Super Bowl' and both [teams'] helmets on it. I bought it Saturday. If I won, I was going to keep the coat. If the Colts lost, I was going to give it to Randy. I dropped it off on his desk this morning."

-- Carrie Muskat

2/9/10 Cubs & Cactus League update

2010-02-09T15:24:07Z

Mesa city manager Chris Brady said Monday he's hoping Cactus League teams opposed to a ticket surcharge on their spring games will meet with legislators to understand the plan. The White Sox and Diamondbacks were among the teams who voiced opposition to the ticket surcharge, which will be used to help pay for the Cubs' new spring facility in Mesa.

"This is just the beginning of the process," Brady told MLB.com on Monday. "The Cubs are too important to all those teams [in the Cactus League] that are complaining. If the Cubs go to Florida, I can assure you their [remaining Arizona teams] revenue will be dramatically less than it is today. They'll be hit significantly if the Cubs aren't in the Cactus League. We are concerned about the other teams. If the state of Arizona loses the Cubs, it's a $130 million impact to the state. I don't know if legislators want to give up that revenue stream in these difficult times."

The opposition emerged as a bill to address funding was introduced at the Arizona Legislature Monday. The bill would likely create a surcharge of less than $1 on all 15 Cactus League tickets and a rental car tax. The new revenue would fund $59 million of the $84 million complex. The details of the bill are still being worked out.

The Cubs will be paying for the land for the stadium as well as paying the operating and maintainance costs for the stadium. The city of Mesa has been paying for the operating costs at HoHoKam Stadium and Fitch Park.

"There aren't a lot of teams out there who pick up the cost 100 percent like the Cubs are proposing to do," Brady said. "The Cubs have committed to doing additional development around the stadium. I don't know of any other team in the Cactus League that does that."

The proposed ticket surcharge hasn't been well received. Last Friday, the other 14 Cactus League teams had a conference call to voice opposition of the plan.

"If it's a choice between this surcharge and the Cubs leaving for Florida, I would gladly put on my work gloves and help them pack up the truck," one Cactus League team official said.

What the city of Mesa will remind the other teams is that the Cubs drew 251,275 fans to their road Spring Training games in 2009, an average of 13,225 per game. The next-biggest draw was the Red Sox, who drew 208,550 fans total fans and an average of 10,976 to road contests.

-- Carrie Muskat

2/5/10 Prickly issue in Cactus League

2010-02-05T23:40:40Z

Cactus League teams want the Cubs to stay in Arizona. They just don't want to pay for the Cubs' new facility.

According to a story in the Phoenix Business Journal, the White Sox and Diamondbacks oppose a plan to have the entire Cactus League bankroll the $84 million stadium being built in Mesa for the Cubs. Arizona lawmakers are considering a plan to impose new ticket charges on all Cactus League games and raise rental car taxes in the Valley to help pay for the new complex.

Ticket surcharges have been used by specific cities to fund baseball stadiums within their jurisdictions, according to Cactus League president Robert Brinton. However, the latest proposal would mark the first time a league-wide fee would be imposed for one project.

White Sox president Jerry Reinsdorf told the Journal that other teams and their fans did not finance development of his team's stadium in Glendale. D-backs President Derrick Hall also is opposed to the idea of league-wide ticket surcharges to benefit the Cubs.

"We want the Cubs to stay here badly, but not at the expense of our fans," Hall told the Journal. "I've heard the argument that the other teams should be willing to because of the visiting crowds that the Cubs bring to their games. They do draw well, as do we, yet we were creative in our search for a new site to identify a partner willing to finance the entire project without public dollars."

The D-Backs and Rockies will move into a new facility in 2011 that the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community is building east of Scottsdale. The tribe is taking a $23 million loan backed by federal stimulus money to help fund the $100 million project. The tribe, which operates two casinos, is paying for the remainder of the new complex.

Arizona House Majority Leader John McComish is formulating a financing bill for the Cubs. He has said he's looking at options to pay for the new stadium, including ticket surcharges and increased taxes on hotels and car rentals. It has not been determined how much the surcharge would be. The Phoenix area already has high car rental taxes, with current rates totaling 18.53 percent.

Legislators may face criticism if they fast-track taxes for the Cubs as they cut education and social welfare programs in the face of a multibillion-dollar deficit.

Mesa City Manager Chris Brady said in addition to ticket surcharges and higher car rental taxes, Mesa voters will be asked to approve bond money as well as infrastructure and services spending for the new complex. Brady said tentative plans call for two-thirds of the $84 million to come from regional sources and one-third from the city. That translates into a split of $56 million to $28 million.

-- Carrie Muskat

2/5/10 Spring send off

2010-02-05T19:54:00Z

The Cubs will get a sendoff for the 2010 season from some hopeful Chicago-area students. On Tuesday, the truck carrying equipment more than 1,800 miles from Wrigley Field to the Cubs' facility in Mesa, Ariz., will depart. Besides luggage, workout equipment and a few sets of golf clubs, the load will include letters written by children at the Inter-American Magnet School in Chicago. The letters are addressed to the Cubs players.

GM Jim Hendry, who is attending the Super Bowl in Miami this weekend to cheer on the Indianapolis Colts, will be on hand for the festivities, presented by Mastercard.

This will be the Cubs' 32nd consecutive Spring Training in Mesa, and 13th at the current HoHoKam Park and Fitch Park facilities. The team had been considering a move to Naples, Fla., but recently gave the city of Mesa exclusive negotiating rights to complete a proposal for a new facility.

Pitchers and catchers will have their first workout Feb. 18, and the first spring game is March 4 against Oakland.

-- Carrie Muskat

2/5/10 Ryan & Riley Dempster update

2010-02-05T17:10:52Z

Nice article in NY Times about Ryan Dempster and how he's dealing with 10-month-old daughter Riley, who has a rare disease that makes it difficult to swallow.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/05/sports/baseball/05cncsports.html

Dempster and his wife have created the Ryan and Jenny Dempster Family Foundation dedicated to raising awareness of DiGeorge Syndrome, which Riley has, and reach out to families with children who have this, and help them deal with difficult situations they face. Go to his website for more info:

http://www.dempsterfamilyfoundation.org/

-- Carrie Muskat

2/4/10 Marmol signs

2010-02-04T16:44:25Z

One down, one to go. The Cubs signed Carlos Marmol to a one-year, $2.125 million contract Thursday, avoiding arbitration with their closer. Marmol, 27, who made $575,000 last year, was asking for $2.5 million while the Cubs offered $1.75 million.

Only shortstop Ryan Theriot remains unsigned of the team's arbitration eligible players. Theriot, 30, who made $500,000 last season, his third as the starting shortstop, is seeking $3.4 million while the Cubs offered $2.6 million.

-- Carrie Muskat

2/4 Cubs TV sked

2010-02-04T16:06:46Z

Get your remote ready. The Cubs released their 2010 TV schedule Thursday. The season opener April 5 will be carried on WCIU from Atlanta. WGN will handle at least 58 games, starting with the home opener April 12 against Milwaukee. There could be more on WGN, depending on whether ESPN or FOX pick up a game.

The Cubs will be on ESPN back-to-back Sunday night broadcasts on July 11 from Los Angeles, which is the last game before the All-Star break, and July 18 at home against Philadelphia.

The Cubs are scheduled to air on FOX eight times in 2010, including May 22 at Texas; May 29 vs. St. Louis; June 12 vs. White Sox; June 26 at White Sox; July 10 at Los Angeles; Aug. 14 at St. Louis; Aug. 21 vs. Atlanta; and Sept. 4 vs. the New York Mets.

Stay tuned.

-- Carrie Muskat

2/1/10 Numbers game

2010-02-02T04:02:10Z

The Cubs head into February with two key players unsigned. Ryan Theriot and Carlos Marmol have yet to reach an agreement with the team. Last month, the players, who are arbitration eligible, and the Cubs exchanged figures. Theriot and the Cubs have the biggest gap. The shortstop, who made $500,000 last season, his third as the starting shortstop, is seeking $3.4 million while the Cubs offered $2.6 million. Marmol, who made $575,000 last year and heads into this season as the closer, is asking for $2.5 million. The Cubs offered $1.75 million.

Arbitration hearings are held from now until Feb. 21. No word on whether a date has been set for the Cubs players. The two sides could come to an agreement at any point before the actual hearing. Arbitrators listen to arguments from both sides about the player's value and then pick either the player's figure or the team's figure. This is the first year Theriot and Marmol are arbitration eligible.

The Cubs have not gone to arbitration since 1993. The team has a 3-2 record in such cases. The last hearing was in 1993 when Mark Grace filed for $4.1 million and the Cubs offered $3.1 million. The Cubs won that case.

-- Carrie Muskat

1/21/10 Mesa delivers proposal

2010-01-21T22:44:22Z

The Cubs board of directors received a proposal Thursday outlining the city of Mesa's plans to keep the team there for Spring Training for the next 25 years.

Cubs officials had yet to review the memorandum of understanding (MOU), which details that the team and city will sign a 25-year agreement, build a 15,000-seat stadium as well as a state of the art year-round facility.

"The Cubs are interested in reading through Mesa's proposal and having our board take it under review," a team spokesman said Thursday.

The Mesa city council will vote on the MOU on Monday, and if approved, the team could announce as early as Wednesday that it has agreed to the terms. A group in Naples, Fla., also had been competing for the Cubs in hopes of luring the team to Florida, but such a move would be unlikely if the proposal is approved by both the city and team.

How important are the Cubs? A recent study showed they contribute $52 million to the state's economy.

The proposal released Thursday by Mesa city manager Chris Brady, establishes a period for exclusive negotiations between the city of Mesa and the Cubs.

According to the MOU, the Cubs would acquire the land to handle the stadium, parking and public access roads. The site has not been officially identified, but was believed to be located in northeast Mesa off the Loop 202. The team would maintain and operate the stadium and ancillary facilities year-round and handle construction costs over the agreed amount of $84 million.

The city of Mesa will provide adequate land for the construction of the ancillary facilities and a Major League-dimensioned, shared-use four-diamond baseball complex. The city also would meet milestones related to passage of state legislation required to fund a portion of the construction of the facility and approval by Mesa voters.

In exchange for the exclusivity, the city would amend the current lease with the team and eliminate the penalty for early termination. The Cubs, who have trained at the current site in Mesa since 1979, had the ability to buyout of the contract after 2012.

-- Carrie Muskat

1/21/10 Looking for some relief

2010-01-21T15:34:37Z

There are reports that the Cubs are talking to reliever Kiko Calero, who posted an impressive 1.95 ERA last season in 67 games with the Marlins. Calero did have a torn rotator cuff that limited him in 2008 and '09. With the Marlins, he struck out 69 over 60 innings. The Cubs have committed to Carlos Marmol as their closer but are looking for an experienced right-hander in the pen. According to reports, Calero wants a two-year deal, and the Cubs are balking because of his past shoulder problems.

-- Carrie Muskat

1/19/10 Exchanging numbers

2010-01-19T22:50:16Z

Ryan Theriot, Carlos Marmol and Sean Marshall exchanged salary figures with the Cubs on Tuesday. Theriot and the Cubs are $800,000 apart. The shortstop, who made $500,000 last season, his third as a starter, is seeking $3.4 million while the Cubs offered $2.6 million.

Marmol, who made $575,000 last year and heads into the 2010 season as the team's closer, is asking for $2.5 million. The Cubs offered him $1.75 million.

Marshall, who will be competing for a spot in the rotation or could be a swingman again, asked for $1.175 million while the Cubs offered $800,000. The left-hander made $450,000 last season.

The Cubs and Theriot, Marmol and Marshall can come to an agreement at any point before the actual hearing. Hearings will be held Feb. 1-21. Arbitrators listen to arguments from both sides about the player's value and then pick either the player's figure or the team's figure.

-- Carrie Muskat

1/19/10 Cubs sign five arb-eligible

2010-01-19T18:18:26Z

The Cubs Tuesday signed five of their arbitration-eligible players: Jeff Baker, Mike Fontenot, Koyie Hill, Angel Guzman and Tom Gorzelanny. The three other arb eligible players are Ryan Theriot, Carlos Marmol and Sean Marshall. Tuesday was the deadline for players and teams to exchange figures. The Cubs have not gone to an arbitration hearing since 1993.

Baker signed for $975,000; Fontenot signed for $1 million; Hill $700,000; Guzman $825,000; and Gorzelanny $800,000.

The Cubs and Theriot, Marmol and Marshall can all continue to negotiate before the hearings, which are scheduled for Feb. 1-21.

-- Carrie Muskat

1/17/10 Deadline for arb players

2010-01-18T00:27:32Z

The Cubs could reach contract agreements with half of their eight arbitration-eligible players before the two sides exchange salary figures on Tuesday. The players who filed include Ryan Theriot, Jeff Baker, Mike Fontenot, Koyie Hill, Carlos Marmol, Tom Gorzelanny, Angel Guzman, and Sean Marshall. A club official said he expected at least four of the players to have their deals done on Monday. Hearings will be held Feb. 1-21. The Cubs have not gone to arbitration since 1993.

-- Carrie Muskat

1/17/10 Cubs Convention highlights

2010-01-17T23:11:54Z

Some of the highlights of the weekend at the 25th annual fan fest:

* Watching the Ricketts family patiently and honestly answer questions on a variety of topics. They defended GM Jim Hendry, listened to someone offer his services as a mascot, and outlined plans to preserve Wrigley Field. They emphasized that they're committed to the Cubs for the next 95 years, not five. Players who met the Ricketts for the first time came away impressed as well. "I hope next year everyone is as happy as they are today," Laura Ricketts said.

* Seeing the rousing ovation new Hall of Famer Andre Dawson received at the opening ceremonies. No matter what cap Dawson wears into Cooperstown, he'll always be linked to the Cubs.

* A fan asked Lou if the relievers needed something other than metal folding chairs to sit on in the bullpen. "We'll get 'em some lounge chairs and some pina coladas," Piniella quipped.

* Good to know no plans for selling naming rights to Wrigley.

* Marlon Byrd was asked if he'll do better than Milton Bradley did. "That's the plan," Byrd said. "My goal is to stay here longer than he did."

* Seeing a slim and trim Geovany Soto, now 40 pounds lighter and looking more like a "jockey," according to Lou.

* Watching fans stop by the Mesa, Ariz., booth to show their support. Byrd and Ted Lilly, who have trained in both Arizona and Florida, picked Arizona as their preferred Spring Training site.

* Brett Jackson, the 2009 No. 1 Draft pick, was attending his first Convention and commented on how "insance" Cubs fans are. He said the weekend had him so pumped, he wanted to start Spring Training this week, not one month from now.

* During the "Kids Only" session, someone asked Sam Fuld what goes through his head when he dives into a wall while trying to make a catch. "Absolutely nothing," Fuld said. His goal is to one day be able to dunk a basketball.

* Mark your calendar: The 26th annual convention will be Jan. 14-16, 2011.

-- Carrie Muskat

1/17/10 Dominican trip

2010-01-17T20:27:42Z

Tom and Todd Ricketts were to visit the Cubs' academy in the Dominican Republic this week. Player development director Oneri Fleita said he will travel with the two Ricketts brothers, part of the family ownership group that took control of the team in late October, on Monday. Todd Ricketts will attend at least one Winter League game. The team's training facility is located near Boca Chica.

-- Carrie Muskat