Other than the obvious financial incentives there is no reason for adding a "jumbotron." JimC, do you really need to know how the Nationals, Pirates, and Padres are doing while watching the Cubs play? I trust, rather hope, that you weren't serious w/ that remark. I would prefer to trade/not resign veteran players and trend towards signing cheap, younger talent.

Wilson:

I was totally serious. That scoreboard blows and so do those weeds (Ivy) on the wall. That place needs a makeover.

I think signing grabow is good move

....I just hope they don't go overboard and give him 3 yrs at $5/6M per.

we've seen it before.

With yearly interest payments of 25-30 mill per year///just to pay off the note...I'm resigned to some sort of electronic signage for additional revenues...somewhere AROUND the park....

But I trust Ricketts to do it right...at least more than I do the Tribune.

Unless it's a superstar...JH should have learned his lessons by now re no trades/

and backloading/overpaying.

I'm sure Ricketts will be watching every move...and penny...and JH should have learned SOME lessons re flexibility to take advantage of in season bargains

going forward.

Ricketts may start out with Hendry...but I don't think he'll last the remaining 3 years on his contract...unless we do happen to win the world series next season...an unlikely prospect at this point.

Just what I was thinking.

No need for that along with the no trade clauses that are given out.

Wrigley needs a Jumbotron for revenue and for the fans.

I would put a jumbotron blocking the view of the Horseshoe casino roof. If I am not mistaken, that may be the only roof that provides no income to the Cubs.

Blocking the view of another roof would probably violate any agreement between the Cubs and the rooftops and cause a lawsuit, resulting in the Cubs paying for the obstructed view. Maybe turning half the scoreboard into an electronic screen could be an option. Do we really need to know the AL scores?

I just thought of the perfect way to sell the idea of a jumbotron to the purists. Tell them that you will be able to eat the remaning contracts of Soriano, Bradley, and Zambrano if you put it up. They hate those players so much, that will get their ok in a heartbeat.

I know this won't be popular.

I wish they would replace that antiquated scoreboard with a jumbotron.

The old scoreboard can't even list all the teams that are playing.

JimC...Where would the gents that run the scoreboard get another job? lol

They are highly skilled at what they do and have been at it forever.

Do you really want to increase unemployment? lol

No need to replace it Jim, since it's protected by the Institute of Culture, just design and build a new one elsewhere. Maybe on top of the original one that could nicely contrast between the old and the new. Hey maybe a replica in shape but with the new electronic goodies internally and externally.

Whatever, I love Wrigley the way it is and its essence should never be touched; but this park is dancing with miss obsolete and is need a ton of renovation work and a modernization process of some kind before it becomes un-save-able.

Bruce Levine also mentioned Ricketts

flew to Boston to look at their

electric scoreboard...seems the Bosox

sold $25 mill worth of advertising off it

a few years ago before the economy tanked.

I'm sure something like that is coming to Wrigley soon...but they better be really careful...the scoreboard they have now is a big part of the character

at Wrigley.

Suzy, they can't touch the scoreboard. Historical monument.

Think rooftop with the electronic scoreboard ... like the Horseshoe Casino building (the old Budweiser building).

Ok...good thing...I was worried when I read that.

Good move. I like Grabow...would like him better if we could sign him for one year...but 2 is acceptable if JH doesn't

overpay like he usually does.

Then you dump Cotts. Make a decision on Gorzelanny...(arbitration eligible)...

either we get him cheap or let him go.

Marshall becomes trade bait...Gaub's earned a job on the 40 man roster...

Pabelbon should be protected for a look-see next year...(maybe long relief)

Sasser had a nice year at AA...and could factor in.

Grabow signing at the right price is a very good thing.

Suzy...I have not heard or read anything that would make me believe Cotts will be back in a Cubs' uniform. He is a free agent at the end of the year.

Gorzelanny will be back.

There is no reason to protect Papelbon, I do not think he will garner much attention due to the poor numbers he put up at Iowa. Remember a team must keep the player on their active roster, or Major League DL, like the Cubs did with David Patton. I really do not think he should be protected.

I think Gaub will be added to the 40-man and possibly Blake Parker. Very good numbers for both.

Neil, what's your thoughts on Sasser,

(1.36 era) at AA?

Suzy, his ERA looks good but and ERA is not a good gauge for a reliever.

In 35 games, all out of Daytona's pen he gave up 45 hits and walked 25 batters. He struck out 51 which is decent. But when he was promoted, 10 walks and 10 strikeouts in 16 1/3 inings. I would like to see a better strikeout to walk ratio than 2:1.

I would think more time in the minors is needed ... he was drafted only 2 years ago.