Imrem: Ricketts, Reinsdorf step up their game

Wow, the Wrigley Field renovation must be more financially beneficial than expected.

The Cubs shook the outfield walls and million-dollar bills came tumbling out … one for each ivy leaf that sprouts in the spring.

In the process, the Cubs' chances to win the World Series went from a couple trillion to 1 down to 10 to 1.

The Cubs' investment of $155 million in Jon Lester purchased relevance for a team that hasn't won a championship since 1908.

Speaking of relevance, the White Sox also bought some in part because they gave $46 million to David Robertson, a relief pitcher of all positions.

Overall, Chicago baseball is relevant again.

One night when Charles Barkley was winding down his playing career, he sat at his locker complaining that NBA owners aren't committed to winning. After awhile I felt compelled to ask what percentage of NBA players are. Barkley paused before answering, "A higher percentage than owners."

Who knows? How can any of us commoners get into any of their wealthy heads?

It was always curious that Dollar Bill Wirtz - who loved hockey, the Blackhawks and the Stanley Cup - didn't try to buy a title before he died.

The financial commitment does start with the owner, especially in a sport like baseball without a salary cap.

What we saw this week is that Cubs' chairman Tom Ricketts and Sox' chairman Jerry Reinsdorf finally appear all in on winning.

Reinsdorf always said that you could question much about him but not his desire to win the World Series.

Meanwhile, Ricketts has said since his family bought the Cubs that all profits from the team would go back into the ballclub.

Yet both the Sox and Cubs deteriorated the last few years - the perception being that Reinsdorf was committed more to the Sox' shareholders and that Ricketts needed the cash to pay off debts.

Fans wanted to scream, "Put up or shut up, fellas!"

This week Reinsdorf and Ricketts put up big time by joining the baseball trend in which owners in general quit crying poor.

The game's economic structure was balanced by profit-sharing. MLB.com and the MLB Network are among the new enterprises generating revenue for all. The sport is flush with cash.

Perhaps even Charles Barkley noticed that owners are purchasing more players than vineyards these days.

Small-market teams such as the Pirates and Royals aren't exactly competing with the Yankees and Dodgers in payroll, but they are spending enough to challenge them on the field.

Ricketts and Reinsdorf might have been shamed into joining in this offseason after their teams stunk themselves into irrelevance.

Maybe the two ownerships noticed that large segments of their fan bases were staying away from the ballpark.

Whatever it was, something jolted Reinsdorf and Ricketts into taking big financial risks.

Jon Lester, 31, is risky at an age when pitchers figure to fade long before a guaranteed six years on a contract expires.

For David Robertson, approaching 30, four years on a deal is a long time to expect a closer's arm to hold up.

Fans don't care about risks. They're greedy. They think, "Don't stop now, guys." Go for the expensive Cole Hamels, Mr. Ricketts, and go for the expensive Melky Cabrera, Mr. Reinsdorf.

Keep shaking those million-dollar bills out of the walls because whatever the cost, a baseball team can never be too relevant.

mimrem@dailyherald.com