TCR Donation Drive for $25 Million

I'm not sure if I should be worried about this piece of news, but supposedly soon-to-be new Cubs owner Tom Ricketts is trying to raise $100M in capital from private investors.

According to Crain’s Chicago Business, Tom Ricketts is looking for five to 10 people who could each come up with $25 million.

For that, they’d get front row seats at Wrigley Field, a chance to
rub elbows with players and be on an advisory board that would meet
regularly to discuss the team’s future.

After 15 years, they’d get back their original investment.

Alright, those seats would be kind of sweet and I think close to 100 people donated last time we had a donation drive. You are going to have to raise the ante though this time to about $250,000 each. You can just go ahead and paypal me the money or send a check to Nigeria.

Tags: 
Cubs Sale
Submitted by Rob G. on Mon, 04/20/2009 - 12:22pm
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Comments

Submitted by Rob G.
on Mon, 04/20/2009 - 12:32pm

rotation tweaked...

Harden, Lilly, Z for the Reds and Dempster, Marshall, Harden vs. Cardinals

maybe Lou is trying to blow out Harden's arm as soon as possible so they can just move on? Lilly has been battling a cold though...

Bradley could/should be back in the lineup Tuesday

Soriano and Theriot may sit Thursday...

Submitted by Charlie
on Mon, 04/20/2009 - 12:34pm

Not possible. Ted Lilly is the only known cure for the common cold.

Submitted by Charlie
on Mon, 04/20/2009 - 12:34pm

I'll get back to you after I sort out the contents of my coin purse.

Submitted by Ryno
on Mon, 04/20/2009 - 12:37pm

I think it's time to worry: Crane Kenny just knocked at my door trying to sell me magazines for his "fundraiser". I bought a Sports Illustrated but I told him he'll have to sell a lot of magazines if they want to add Peavy to the payroll.

Submitted by Mister Whipple
on Mon, 04/20/2009 - 6:37pm

I lied. Um... All that stuff I said about being a crack head? It just helps me sell magazines.

Submitted by mattofamerica
on Tue, 04/21/2009 - 5:22pm

man, what am i gonna do with 40 subscriptions to Vibe?

Submitted by jacos
on Mon, 04/20/2009 - 12:57pm

Also that chunk of change gives you know voting rights on the board according to WSCR.

But I believe you get a seat cushion.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Mon, 04/20/2009 - 1:42pm

http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/spor...

if he continues to struggle, Samardzija could get called up for the rotation and move Marshall to the pen.

Submitted by Charlie
on Mon, 04/20/2009 - 1:43pm

Poor Marshall.

Submitted by mannytrillo
on Tue, 04/21/2009 - 10:17am

Yeah, not sure what this guy has to do to stay in the rotation for an extended period of time. He must have shit in Lou's hat or something.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Mon, 04/20/2009 - 2:41pm

speaking of Marshall, he'll be available in the pen for the first 2 games of the Reds series.

Submitted by Q-Ball
on Mon, 04/20/2009 - 2:51pm

Good! How much longer do we think Cotts has?

Submitted by Ryno
on Mon, 04/20/2009 - 2:52pm

I'd give him 2 weeks, but I think when it comes to walking guys any time after inning 6, I think Lou has much less patience than me.

Submitted by Arizona Phil
on Tue, 04/21/2009 - 5:00pm

Q-BALL: Neal Cotts is only making $1.1M, so I wouldn't be surprised if the Cubs DFA him and see if anyone is interested, and if nobody is interested, the Cubs could try to outright him to AAA. He can refuse an outright assignment because he has three-plus years of MLB service time, but if he refuses, he terminates his contract and the Cubs don't owe him any termination pay. 

As far as who might replace Cotts if the Cubs drop him, the best "pure LOOGY" Cubs minor leaguer in the higher levels of the system is John Gaub, who is at AA Tennessee. Jason Waddell actually is better against RH hitters, but Lou Piniella REALLY liked him in ST, and so I suspect if a move is made with Cotts, Waddell will get the call. But it really should be Gaub if you're looking for someone who can get a Prince Fielder or a Ryan Howard out.

Or the Cubs could recall a starting pitcher from Iowa (probably Jeff Samardzija) and move Marshall to the pen. 

I think Cotts is a goner, though. Uncle Lou looked VERY unhappy with Cotts last time he pitched.

Submitted by Q-Ball
on Mon, 04/20/2009 - 2:53pm

I looked it up, Cott's career OPS vs. Lefties is HIGHER than it is vs. Righties.

And we have him on the roster why?

Submitted by Ryno
on Mon, 04/20/2009 - 3:27pm

He's on the roster and plays the LOOGY role as a formality.

Submitted by Mister Whipple
on Mon, 04/20/2009 - 6:39pm

Has anyone actually run the numbers on whether guys in the LOOGY role are better against lefties than just any ol' reliever? I'm curious.

Submitted by crunch
on Mon, 04/20/2009 - 6:55pm

i'm just glad this isn't dusty/remlinger part 2.

also, im kinda WTF about cotts's control. he's not throwing as hard as he was late last season, but still hitting low 90s. lowering velocity back to his "normal" rate and still a loss of control...ow.

Submitted by mannytrillo
on Tue, 04/21/2009 - 10:19am

Crunch, I was thinking the same thing. This is Dusty/Remlinger all over again. I can't understand how these old school managers can't see the splits. Hopefully Cotts can be used appropriately over the next weeks and turn it around. If not, BYE BYE!!

Submitted by crunch
on Tue, 04/21/2009 - 11:14am

i wanna know why cotts returned from his AAA stint last year throwing a very easy 95-97mph and he's "dialed it back" again to 91-93mph area.

if it's for control it's not working...

Submitted by champsummers
on Mon, 04/20/2009 - 3:06pm

-very much appreciate the 'bullpen usage' chart btw.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Mon, 04/20/2009 - 3:10pm

thnx, thought that would be handy...will do my best to stay on top of it throughout the year. Gonna try and manage it through Google Docs.

Submitted by mannytrillo
on Tue, 04/21/2009 - 10:20am

I concur. Great little addition...

Submitted by Jace
on Mon, 04/20/2009 - 3:06pm

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=2...

Article manages to contradict itself, taking a shot at Aaron Miles, for only going 1-for-5 in the Cards series. The caption of his pitcure in the article then says he went 2-for-4 with 2 RBI and a run scored in Friday's game... Nice Work!

Submitted by Rob G.
on Mon, 04/20/2009 - 3:39pm

hates black people...

http://bjays.wordpress.com/2009/04/20/edgy-jays-ma...

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/p...

Submitted by Rob G.
on Mon, 04/20/2009 - 3:41pm

can't wait for the Google hits on that one...

and it's a joke btw, before anyone takes that clip seriously.

Submitted by The Joe
on Mon, 04/20/2009 - 3:47pm

Aaron Hill should come to Chicago.

Submitted by crunch
on Mon, 04/20/2009 - 5:01pm

yow...if you have no sense of voice inflection, personality, or acting you probably shouldn't be joking about a teammate being racist. hehe...

that was so dry it's gonna rope some people in.

Submitted by CPH2133
on Mon, 04/20/2009 - 5:24pm

Vernon Wells also admits to being bisexual around the :53 mark...He can do both sides...These interviews are gold.

EDIT: The videos suck for the most part. I only watched Bourne squirm around a pretty girl and Wells calling Hill racist. The rest if crap.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Mon, 04/20/2009 - 4:02pm

http://www.bleachernation.com/2009/04/18/google-an...

Submitted by Rob G.
on Mon, 04/20/2009 - 4:05pm

get Blaine Boyer from Braves for Brian Barton....

say that 10 times fast...

Submitted by Mister Whipple
on Mon, 04/20/2009 - 6:48pm

I give that trade a B+

Submitted by Rob G.
on Mon, 04/20/2009 - 4:34pm

http://cubs.scout.com/2/858302.html

Fox, M. Smith, Vitters, B. Lalli, R. Flaherty

Pitchers
C. Coleman, D. McDaniel, A. Shafer, HW Chen, Ascanio

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Mon, 04/20/2009 - 4:56pm

"After 15 years, they’d get back their original investment."

I would imagine that people who are smart enough to have that amount of capital at their disposal are going to ask Ricketts '15 years, huh... what time frame are you looking at to cover your initial investment?'

I would say they should troll around for former Cubs, but the previous management burnt so many bridges, the wealthier former Cubs are all associated with other organizations now.

Submitted by crunch
on Mon, 04/20/2009 - 5:02pm

giving someone 25m to hold for 15 years only to get it back seems like a crap deal to me...those perks better be damn good. hehe...

Submitted by Rob G.
on Mon, 04/20/2009 - 5:07pm

I'm hoping there are some other details because that's a shitty business deal if you have $25M sitting around. 15 years just to get back your original investment? No interest, no voting rights on the team...you'd only do it if you really want the good seats and say you own part of the Cubs.

at a mere 3% interest rate, the investor would lose out on $13-$14M and that's a pretty conservative estimate.

 

 

Submitted by CPH2133
on Mon, 04/20/2009 - 5:27pm

I didn't click the link, but by reading the quote I took it as in 15 years the investor will have earned his initial investment back in revenue form the team. Like a projection that is the point they'll break even.

I could, and am most likely, be wrong

Submitted by crunch
on Mon, 04/20/2009 - 5:30pm

if they throw in a "Garden Claw Gold" i'll chip in a share.

Submitted by Chad
on Mon, 04/20/2009 - 6:13pm

the best part is you invest just you said and take $1,000,000 and get front row seats to every game.

stupid stupid stupid.

Submitted by The E-Man
on Mon, 04/20/2009 - 5:14pm

That just cannot be accurate. Sorry Crain's. There must be a missing fact here.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Mon, 04/20/2009 - 5:19pm

it pays to read the original article...

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/article.pl?...

The preferred shares would represent an ownership interest in the team but confer no voting privileges or other rights of control. Investors would be entitled to a 6.5% dividend on their shares, according to people familiar with the terms.

Submitted by Jace
on Mon, 04/20/2009 - 5:27pm

http://muskat.mlblogs.com/
Cashner headed to Daytona soon, after recovering from oblique injury...

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Tue, 04/21/2009 - 12:11am

Her letters thing also said that Colvin was in A ball which surprised me.

Submitted by The Joe
on Tue, 04/21/2009 - 12:20am

I was looking at minor league rosters earlier today. He is.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Tue, 04/21/2009 - 12:33am

Colvin can't throw yet and can full-time DH in the FSL. Southern League has a part-time DH only.

Submitted by CPH2133
on Mon, 04/20/2009 - 5:31pm

If I could be the guy who called Cotts into the office and tell him thanks for his time...here is your severance pay, I'd find a way to come up with 25m

Submitted by 10man
on Mon, 04/20/2009 - 7:56pm

"You can just go ahead and paypal me the money or send a check to Nigeria."

Can i just say that i find this remark very racist. in fact, i will go on to say that the entire TCR staff is a racist regime. in fact, i will go on to say further that the Cubs 100+ years of futility never happened and that the Cubs have actually won the world series in there somewhere. i am now inviting other members of TCR in a walkout. you can expect that a clown in lively colored hair will come soon to disrupt your comments section. that is all.

Submitted by artskoe
on Mon, 04/20/2009 - 11:10pm

100 Million for naming rights would be a better deal. Dickie Durban could vote some pork to AIG, which would be floated to a certain North Chicago property bailout, ending one hundred years (or so) of first and second half losses. New training facilities will be built for Z OVER Lake Michigan accessible by high speed (23 secs., in honor of Ryno) bullet trains between the stadium and said lake, followed by a small neon sign erection stating, 'Wrigley Field presented by AIGIRS'. Who's with me?

Submitted by crunch
on Tue, 04/21/2009 - 12:49am

i'd love to see cubs baseball live from Viagra Field in downtown Chicago.

Submitted by SJS
on Tue, 04/21/2009 - 1:15am

For those of you who have seen BASEketball, I've always been a fan of ____ Tampon Field...I love the blimp with the white string flying easily in the wind. I mean think about it, having tampon nights in the playoffs to soak up all of blood and tears.

Submitted by Dusty Baylor
on Tue, 04/21/2009 - 10:50am

(crickets chirping noisily)

Submitted by Ryno
on Tue, 04/21/2009 - 11:02am

The team sale is beginning to look like a train wreck.

Submitted by mannytrillo
on Tue, 04/21/2009 - 11:27am

I have to agree. They are over a year behind schedule and I am not 100% convinced it is actually going to go through as expected now. I think it all started with Zell and him thinking he is smarter than he really is.

Submitted by SJS
on Tue, 04/21/2009 - 11:50am

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4085478

Weird quote by Jim Mraz, Great Falls LL president:

"You're a little stunned. Like, 'Whoa, wait a minute.' Here's the game of baseball -- it's got steroids hanging over it, all these issues. ... Needless to say the Nats kind of need help with what they're doing. I could see if he was out trying to do something small or private, but he just came into my community and gave us a shot in the arm."

Is it just me, or is it bad that Mraz mentioned something about steroids (on a topic completely unrelated it it), and then used the "shot in the arm" reference. Nothing conspirital about it, just seemed a poor choice of words.

Submitted by John Beasley
on Tue, 04/21/2009 - 12:04pm

I'm all for seventh chances, but it's not like this dude's a model citizen. Cool of the LL to cover his tab, though, and I'm sure the kids had a blast.

Submitted by The Joe
on Tue, 04/21/2009 - 12:12pm

"Dukes, who was paid $500 for his appearance, signed autographs, watched the parade of teams and spoke to the players for about a minute. He then sprinted to his car and headed to the ballpark, the Post reported."

Yeah, sounds like a real philanthropist.

Submitted by Indiana JJ
on Tue, 04/21/2009 - 3:25pm

I'm thinking that was so he could try to get to the park on time.

Submitted by The Joe
on Tue, 04/21/2009 - 3:34pm

You're probably right, it's just the whole description that makes it sound bad.

He gets - $500
He gives - autographs, watches a parade, talks with players for 1 minute.

Probably not as bad as that sounds, though. He seriously would be an ass if he accepts more money from them, though.

Submitted by Rob Richardson
on Tue, 04/21/2009 - 3:54pm

"Yesterday the big story -- at least before the Nats ejected 20 percent of their 25-man roster -- was Elijah Dukes getting benched and fined for being five minutes late ... after volunteering his time with a local Little League. Oh, the horror! How could Manny Acta be so heartless? Well, 1) the local Little League is going to pay Dukes' fine, and 2) last night Dukes, playing center field behind Zimmerman, blatantly lolly-gagged a routine single into a double. Some guys just don't get it, and some of those guys never will."

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/sweetspot

Submitted by crunch
on Tue, 04/21/2009 - 4:01pm

i still have no idea who the hell would want dukes anywhere around kids...much less giving them advice.

no one he was speaking to is old enough to even sneak into a strip club...and none of those kids are married so he can't teach them how to beat their girlfriends and wives without leaving too many marks.

...and none of them are old enough (barely) for him to sleep with.

for all the complaining about the TB/durhamBulls(AAA) antics of the old crew of kids from years ago Dukes was by far the catalyst and source of much of the trouble...imo...

Submitted by navigator
on Tue, 04/21/2009 - 12:36pm

The Nationals are idiots if they let the little league team pay his fine. What a butthead organization.

Submitted by Doug Dascenzo
on Tue, 04/21/2009 - 1:12pm

I'm pretty sure Dukes is the idiot if he lets the LL team pay his fine. I know he's still on his original contract, but he should be ok paying $500, especially since he that's what he charged the Little Leaguers in the first place.

Submitted by T-Dubs
on Tue, 04/21/2009 - 5:09pm

Maybe it's not a coincidence that the amount of the fine is the same as what he was making for his personal appearance fee.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Tue, 04/21/2009 - 12:19pm

• On Roger Clemens' magical hot testicle ointments:

"I've seen some of it drip onto his balls. He lubes. I've never seen a guy wear more hot shit on the planet. The guy's basically in a jock and a pair of socks and like head to toe in hot shit. That's no bullshit."

• Would he try magical hot testicle ointments?:

No, I would fucking cry. The stuff that he used to put on his body-even his hot tanks were like molten lava. He would get in the hot tank before the games, and it was like a cauldron. One time I put my foot in there, my skin almost fell off my foot, it was so hot.

http://deadspin.com/5220378/jason-giambi-grows-up-...

Submitted by Wes
on Tue, 04/21/2009 - 1:50pm

You lost me at "The guy's basically in a jock and a pair of socks and like head to toe in hot shit."

Submitted by The Joe
on Tue, 04/21/2009 - 1:58pm

Yeah, but Chad's pants are tight.

Submitted by Ryno
on Tue, 04/21/2009 - 2:44pm

Hot shit on my balls? No thanks. Great interview quote, though. It's gloriously incoherent. It's practically parachat.

Submitted by The Joe
on Tue, 04/21/2009 - 3:20pm

I learned the hard way that it is not a good idea to put hand sanitizer on you balls. Just a tip for you.

Submitted by Indiana JJ
on Tue, 04/21/2009 - 3:28pm

Duly noted

Submitted by Mister Whipple
on Tue, 04/21/2009 - 6:39pm

Oddly tempted to ignore you warning and try this.

Submitted by The Joe
on Tue, 04/21/2009 - 6:44pm

Maybe I just discovered something really cool and didn't want to share it.

I say go for it.

Submitted by Andrew
on Tue, 04/21/2009 - 3:51pm

Hot shit on my balls?

Pretty sure Carlos has some gross fetish for that, or at least knows the name for it.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Tue, 04/21/2009 - 4:15pm

I hear AramRam requires this after homering.

Submitted by Jackstraw
on Tue, 04/21/2009 - 1:56pm

That might explain some of the unfocused rage.

Submitted by The Joe
on Tue, 04/21/2009 - 1:59pm

That and the steroids.

Submitted by Tito
on Tue, 04/21/2009 - 3:25pm

It's been drizzling all day long here, hope they get the game in.

Submitted by SJS
on Tue, 04/21/2009 - 4:15pm

I can't believe they will get today's game in. Not since it's been drizzling/raining all day. We shall see. Maybe since it will be pretty chilly, Dusty will have that flask of bullshit he laughed about on Opening Day 2003

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