With the Chicago Cubs in the early stages of the 2012 Spring Training season in Arizona, the team's chairman Tom Ricketts took some time to speak with the media about a variety of subjects. It would appear his initial impressions of the new leadership regime headed by President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein and manager Dale Sveum could not be much higher:
"We’ve got a good team and we’re going to have a good year," he said.
Ricketts was especially impressed with Epstein's commitment to communication. Epstein and the highest levels of leadership are drafting a manual entitle "the Cubs Way" in an effort to create a unified approach throughout the Cubs organization:
"What they’re doing is they’re putting everything down on paper and they’re signing off on it," he said. "Everybody is working together to create something that everyone buys into. So not only does it help you be more consistent in the way you treat players and the way you train players, everyone buys in. You’re accountable, and that’s a big part of the Cubs way."
The chairman also briefly talked about the issue of creating a new Cubs television network, much like the YES Network which has enabled disproportionately large payrolls for the New York Yankees over the last two decades. According to Ricketts, the Cubs are still in the process of acquiring a new TV deal, but the process appears to still be in early stages:
"We’re looking at it, but we’re not sure when, (or) exactly how it’s all going to work out."
The Cubs will look to improve on their 2011 season starting March 4 when the team takes the field for their first Spring Training exhibition games.
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