Ricketts family makes its pitch
Ponder this for a moment: For the first time in the 25-year history of the Cubs convention, fans finally were able to meet the owner of the team.
Out is corporate ownership in the form of the Tribune Co. In is family ownership in the form of the Ricketts family.
"How cool is this?" said new Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts as he welcomed the throngs to the Chicago Hilton for Friday evening's opening ceremonies.
It was mostly a feel-good start to the annual weekend gathering, with the only boos reserved for general manager Jim Hendry and team president Crane Kenney, a sure sign the crowd was restless to see more off-season action to improve the team.
Those same fans will get to grill all levels of Cubs management today during sessions that figure to be quite lively.
But it was a warm welcome for the four Ricketts siblings: Tom, Laura, Peter and Todd. The capper came when all four tossed out ceremonial first pitches to the crowd.
"Words cannot describe how excited we are to get this season started," Tom Ricketts said in his opening remarks. "Twenty-five years ago, there were no team conventions. This was the first, and it remains the best convention in all of sports.
"And the reason it is the best convention in all of sports is because the Cubs have the best fans in all of sports."
Some of the biggest cheers of the evening went to newly elected Hall of Famer Andre Dawson. Newcomer Marlon Byrd and veteran holdovers Derrek Lee and Ryan Dempster also drew big cheers.
Even though the players never talked much about the ownership situation, which took three baseball seasons to play out as the Tribune Co. sold the team, there seemed to be a feeling that things are on the right track even though the team is coming off a disappointing 83-win season.
"I just think it's great," Dempster said. "It's great when you have a hand that you can actually shake, of your bosses. That's great for the community. They're such great people, obviously, humongous Cubs fans. Most importantly, they want to win. They demand excellence out of us as players. We demand it out of ourselves. It's a great combo. Go out there and have a real, good successful season and get back to the playoffs."
Hendry is still trying to come up with a veteran outfielder and an experienced right-handed pitcher for the bullpen, and he seemed more optimistic Friday he was on the right track to doing that.
As far as expectations go, Dempster said they should be high.
"For me, expectations are always high," he said. "I put a lot on myself and a lot on us as a unit and as a team to go out there and succeed and do well. Expectations don't really change. Every year, they're the same, and that's to go to the playoffs and try to win a championship ... To not make the playoffs, it's embarrassing. At the same time, we're excited about the challenge ahead of us."
As all fans know, it's been 102 years since the Cubs won the World Series, something Dempster addressed with some humor.
"The first 100 (years) hurt me a little bit," he said. "Year about-60 was tough. That was a tough one to swallow. But as they've gone on, I've learned to deal with it a little better. I know that gets asked a lot. I've thought about it a lot of times. Really, I just truly care about this year's team.
"You just have to enjoy the moment of the 2010 Chicago Cubs and go out there and have fun. And who knows? Maybe at the end of the year, we can party like it's 1908."
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