In a letter addressed to Cubs fans, chairman Tom Ricketts expressed remorse that the Cubs had again failed to reach the playoffs, but he didn’t offer specifics on how the club would remedy that disappointment moving forward.
“There is no way to sugarcoat it – this is not where we planned to finish the season,” he said in the letter, which was sent Friday morning via email to Cubs fans, including season ticket holders and those who have opted in to receiving emails from the team. “Like our fans, we had high expectations for our team this year and early victories delivered hope for postseason baseball. But inconsistent play and injuries upended that promise, leading us into a hole too deep to recover from despite another second half surge. Bottom line, we did not play a complete season of competitive baseball. As a result, we have again missed the most exciting and exhilarating month of the season – October.”
His diagnosis fell in line with president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer’s end-of-season comments, in which he, too, pointed to an extended slump in May and June as the Cubs’ undoing.
“The work is underway to close the gap to make the Cubs a perennial playoff team,” Ricketts wrote. “Our baseball operations staff is redoubling its efforts to build a team that consistently plays in the postseason and delivers the promise of sustained success to Cubs fans.
“Though we fell short this season, we have strong foundations to build on.”
The rest of the letter focused on the positives of the season, from the eight Cubs prospects on MLB Pipelien’s Top 100, to contributions from rookies Shota Imanaga, Michael Busch and Pete Crow-Armstrong.
He thanked fans for helping the team recognize Cubs legend Ryne Sandberg at his statue unveiling this year and donating to ‘Cubs for a Cure,’ which raised money for cancer awareness.
“It is more than a game – it is a tradition that spans decades, with our fans at its heart and soul,” Ricketts wrote. “You bring an excitement to the ballpark that is as time-honored as the ivy-lined walls and historic scoreboard. I want to personally express my sincere gratitude for your continued loyalty to our team.
“Now, it is time for us to get to work to bring championship caliber baseball back to Wrigley Field.”
Perhaps answers on how the Cubs are going to ensure “championship caliber baseball” would be too much to ask for. That’s never been Ricketts’ style. He consistently defers to Hoyer on baseball operations matters. And even on subjects in Ricketts’ domain – like budget – he deflects, pointing to the competitive disadvantage of broadcasting that kind of information to those with whom Hoyer will have to negotiate.
However unsatisfying, this balance between empathizing with fans’ disappointment but mostly pointing out silver linings was predictable for someone in his position. Most owners aren’t as vocal as the Mets’ Steve Cohen, for example, whose investments in recent years have helped propel the Mets to at least the NLCS this year.
Soon, however, Ricketts’ actions will send a more definitive message. Hoyer’s contract is up after the 2025 season. Whether Ricketts offers Hoyer a contract extension – and to a lesser extent, when he makes that decision – will illuminate Ricketts’ opinion of the team’s direction far more effectively than courteous words in an email.
“I look at it as an opportunity,” Hoyer said of his contract status at his end-of-season news conference. “I’m excited about next year. I think we’re in a great position.”