Tom Ricketts Isn’t Crazy for Saying Cubs World Series Prediction Isn’t Crazy and Other Bullets

tom ricketts wrigleyIt’s one of those days, man.

By which I mean one of those days when you’ve got “Let It Go” stuck in your head on an interminable loop, and only about twelve words of the song.

  • Cubs Chairman and Owner Tom Ricketts said this week that the Sporting News’ Cubs World Series prediction is not “completely crazy,” according to the Daily Herald. That’s just about how I’d phrase it, too. I think predicting *any* team to win it all is a little crazy, because it’s inherently unpredictable with any kind of certainty (it’s one of the beauties of baseball). The best we can predict is that the Cubs look like a team that could be very competitive this year, and, if they make the playoffs – which is plausible – anything can happen. So, predicting a World Series for the Cubs this year, if you’re into that kind of thing, isn’t completely crazy. It’s a nice change from the last few years when folks started brandishing straight jackets when Ricketts suggested the Cubs could make the playoffs. (Which, candidly, I didn’t think was all that crazy either, because the various projection systems were giving the Cubs something like a 5% to 10% playoff shot back then, and, also, what do you expect the owner to say? … but I digress.)
  • Keith Law ranked the Cubs as the top farm system in baseball yesterday, and Jesse Rogers followed up with his colleague on a couple items, which you can read here. One bit that sticks out is Law’s guess, based on everyone he’s spoken with, that Kyle Schwarber has only a 10% chance of sticking behind the plate long term. That’s probably not unfair, given that very few have seen Schwarber working behind the plate after the 2014 season ended (and accounts at that time indicated that, yes, he was really rough back there). There is a lot of optimism, privately, that Schwarber made significant strides during his post-season work in Arizona, but we won’t really know until it is put into practice regularly this year at AA. With MiLB.tv and such a high profile name, there will be plenty of eyes on Schwarber’s catching mechanics right out of the gate this year. By midseason, I think we’re going to know which way this thing is going, not only because of the eyes, but also because the Cubs aren’t going to hold his bat back any longer than necessary if it’s clear that a life behind the plate simply isn’t for him. But, since having a catcher with his bat is the dream scenario, we’ll keep our fingers crossed.
  • The memorial for Ernie Banks at Daley Plaza featuring his statue opened up yesterday, and you can read the accounts of some who were in attendance here, here, and here. Sports Illustrated celebrated Banks this week, too:
  • I was pretty disappointed to read that Sammy Sosa – who was very close to Ernie Banks – will not be attending Banks’ funeral, and hasn’t yet visited with the Banks family in large part because he doesn’t want his presence in Chicago to take away attention from memorializing Banks (Tribune). I’m frustrated to think that Sosa can’t even come to pay his respects because of whatever is going on behind the scenes between he and the Cubs, especially when Banks, himself, was a proponent of the sides reconciling. Whether that’s Sosa’s own fault, the Cubs’ fault, or other individuals’ fault, I really don’t know. It just makes you shake your head.
  • Speaking of Sosa, many folks anecdotally point to the Salomon Torres fastball he took to the helmet in 2003 (this one) as the turning point in his career, but Bradley Woodrum actually looked into the data associated with that anecdote. There may have been something there – an undiagnosed concussion, for example? – that changed the course of his career. Or maybe it was the alleged positive PED test that year. Or maybe it was the corked bat incident that year. Or maybe it was just the fact that Sammy was 34 at that point, and he naturally declined from there. It’s a very interesting read.
  • written by

    Brett Taylor is the Lead Cubs Writer at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at @BleacherNation and on LinkedIn here. Brett is also the founder of Bleacher Nation, which opened up shop in 2008 as an independent blog about the Chicago Cubs. Later growing to incorporate coverage of other Chicago sports, Bleacher Nation is now one of the largest regional sports blogs on the web.

    more cubs news

    Justin Steele Could Be Back Sooner Than (I) Expected

    And here I was thinking the only silver lining about Justin Steele's Opening Day hamstring injury was the path it cleared for Javier Assad and Ben Brown to step into the rotation. Turns out there's another positive with respect to...

    Enhanced Box Score: Cubs 7, Red Sox 1 – April 26, 2024

    Cubs win again! And it was a breezy 7-1 road victory over the Red Sox ... perfect for a relaxing Friday night. I don't think it'll be this easy forever, but the Cubs are really buying themselves some breathing room...

    Pre-Gamin’: Cubs at Red Sox (6:10 CT) – Lineups, Pitching Matchup, Broadcast Info, Game Thread

    CUBS LINEUP — The Chicago Cubs are starting a new series tonight against the Red Sox, with Shota Imanaga going up against Boston's righty Kutter Crawford. Here's a look at the Cubs lineup for game one at Fenway. Chicago Cubs...

    Cubs Farm Report | April 26, 2024: South Bend Shutout the Lone Victory on Thursday

    Brody McCullough, Sam Armstrong and Chase Watkins teamed up to throw a shutout for the South Bend Cubs in the only victory of the day for the system on Thursday. That and more in today's Cubs Farm Report. Cubs Farm...

    Hayden Wesnasty Is Back and Looking Sharper Than Ever

    Hayden Wenseski is not the only scoreless member of the Cubs bullpen right now. In fact, both Mark Leiter Jr. (12.1 IP, 0ER) and Keegan Thompson (7.0 IP, 0ER) technically have Wesneski beat (6.1 IP, 0ER). Heck, even Yency Almonte...

    Chicago Cubs Sign Righty Pitching Prospect Nico Zeglin

    The Chicago Cubs keep adding to the farm system, signing 24-year-old righty Nico Zeglin out of Mexico. Formerly at Gonzaga and then Long Beach State, Zeglin was not drafted in 2023, despite ranking as the 408th best prospect in the...

    Javier Assad Has Kinda Been the Best Pitcher in Baseball Since June of Last Year

    It's become so routine at this point that you almost accept it as a given each time he takes the ball: Javier Assad was really dang solid once again yesterday. Facing a struggling Astros team that nevertheless still has a...

    Heading East: Cubs vs Red Sox Series Preview

    Cubs vs Red Sox — The Brewers keep winning, but the Chicago Cubs are on a roll. Even without Seiya Suzuki, Justin Steele, Cody Bellinger, and Julian Merryweather (among others), the Cubs have won three games in a row, 7...

    Players Weekend Is Coming Back … But Without the Best Part

    I remember a time when Ben Zobrist — of all players — received a formal warning and faced a fine from Major League Baseball, all because he wore ... gasp! All black cleats (a violation of MLB's uniform regulations). Fortunately,...

    Brewers Keep Winning, Cubs Bullpen Turning Way Up (But They Still Need a Closer), and Other Cubs Bullets

    The Brewers are so annoying. Even though the Cubs (16-9) are seven games over .500 and winners in 9 of their last 12 games, including a three-game sweep of the Astros, there's Milwaukee (16-8) ... just quietly sitting there a...

    Latest News

    Justin Steele Could Be Back Sooner Than (I) Expected

    And here I was thinking the only silver lining about Justin Steele's Opening Day hamstring injury was the path it cleared for Javier Assad and Ben Brown to step into the rotation. Turns out there's another positive with respect to...

    Yankees vs. Brewers Probable Starting Pitchers – April 27

    The Milwaukee Brewers (17-8) host the New York Yankees (17-10) on Saturday at 7:10 PM ET and look to build on a three-game winning streak.This contest's pitching matchup is set, as the Yankees will send Carlos Rodon (1-1) to the...

    Rays vs. White Sox Probable Starting Pitchers – April 27

    The Chicago White Sox (4-22) face off against the Tampa Bay Rays (13-14) at home on Saturday starting at 7:10 PM ET.The Rays will look to Aaron Civale (2-2) versus the White Sox and Jonathan Cannon (0-1).Rays vs. White Sox...

    Braves vs. Guardians Probable Starting Pitchers – April 27

    The Atlanta Braves (18-6) have an opportunity to extend their four-game winning streak as they host the Cleveland Guardians (18-8) at Truist Park on Saturday at 7:20 PM ET.The Braves will call on Charlie Morton (2-0) versus the Guardians and...

    Astros vs. Rockies Probable Starting Pitchers – April 27

    The Colorado Rockies (7-19) start a two-game series against the Houston Astros (7-19) on Saturday at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helu. First pitch is at 6:05 PM.The Astros will give the nod to Ronel Blanco (2-0) versus the Rockies and Cal...

    Tigers vs. Royals Probable Starting Pitchers – April 27

    The Kansas City Royals (17-10) match up against the Detroit Tigers (14-12) on the road at Comerica Park on Saturday, with first pitch at 6:10 PM ET. The Royals enter the game with a four-game winning streak.The probable starters are...

    Celtics vs. Heat: Free Live Stream, TV Channel, How to Watch

    The Boston Celtics will take on the Miami Heat in Game 3 of the opening round of the NBA Playoffs.These squads match up for the second straight game after the Heat took down the Celtics 111-101 on Wednesday. Tyler Herro...

    Orioles vs. Athletics Probable Starting Pitchers – April 27

    The Baltimore Orioles (16-9) have a home game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards against the Oakland Athletics (11-16) at 4:05 PM ET on Saturday.The Orioles will give the nod to Cole Irvin (1-1) versus the Athletics and JP Sears...

    Rangers vs. Reds Probable Starting Pitchers – April 27

    The Texas Rangers (14-13) face the Cincinnati Reds (14-12) in Arlington at 4:05 PM ET on Saturday.The Rangers will give the nod to Michael Lorenzen (2-0, 2.45 ERA), who is eyeing win No. 3 on the season, and the Reds...

    Cardinals vs. Mets Probable Starting Pitchers – April 27

    The St. Louis Cardinals (12-14) visit the New York Mets (13-12) for an away game at 4:05 PM ET on Saturday.The probable pitchers are Sonny Gray (2-1) for the Cardinals and Adrian Houser (0-2) for the Mets.Cardinals vs. Mets Pitcher...

    more cubs news