How enthused are you with your team's ownership?

[Mattingly]

I mean their dedication to winning. Have they insisted to the GM to field a good team? Not just the moves that come from the GM, but have they gone on the record that they don't just want to have increased attendance and revenue, but have been good to the fans?

I've heard a million references to George Steinbrenner in here. I'm looking to here more about Peter Angelos (BAL), Fred Wilpon (NYM), Mike Illitch (DET) and others.

Anything about how upfront they've been with the fans and the media, whether they've made commitments to the city, increasing revenue are all thing I'm interested in hearing about.

Thanks.

[ReignInBlood]

My Padres have increased payroll the last few years as how it was promised, after Petco Park's inaguration. Though I don't think the money has been spent wisely.

Dedication to winning, they have increased payroll at all, and promised to be competitive starting 2004, they were competitive in 2004, but no in 05 when they won the division. I'm afraid they might finish worse this year.

[Chisox73]

Funny how winning a World Series changes the perception of a team owner.

With that being said,the perception of White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf has changed considerably since brining home the title.

Yes,he does care about the bottom line,but at the same time,he's entrusted GM Kenny Williams to run the team as he see's fit.Willimas wants to win so bad again that he got Reinsdorf to bump the payroll from $75 million to around $95 million for '06.

For those outside of Chicago,there was a side of Reinsdorf that was shown that most people never got to see.That was one who is very loyal to his organization.

He even paid for all his employees,from the front office to the ticket salespeople and flew them to Houston for the World Series.That was a very class move by him.

Now that he has a taste of finally winning a World Series,he would like to do this every year.

[VTSoxFan]

The Red Sox ownership has shown that it's not afraid to sacrifice a beloved figure to take chances on the future, whether immediate or distant. Lately it's been....weird, like a soap opera (What caused the breakup? Will they reunite? Can they overcome their differences? They are still in love -- what about the children? Holy yikes. ) and we have yet to see whether the turmoil of the.....interregnum? separation? will have lasting effects for good or for future heartbreak.

[Chisox73]

I got a question for you VT,

With all that has went down in Boston with Theo the last few weeks,and all the moves that have been made(losing Damon),how do you guys feel about Theo coming back to the same role that he stepped away from?

Personally,I would feel really betrayed for what has happened with the BoSox.

[VTSoxFan]

I got a question for you VT,

With all that has went down in Boston with Theo the last few weeks,and all the moves that have been made(losing Damon),how do you guys feel about Theo coming back to the same role that he stepped away from?

Personally,I would feel really betrayed for what has happened with the BoSox.

Well, you know, I'm just kind of flabbergasted right now. I have a ton of questions -- what was the cause of the rift in the front office? Has it been suffiiciently healed in order for them to operate successfully? What in the name of Abner Doubleday were they thinking? Did they have any concern for the team? Why put us all through such agony at one of, if not THE most crucial times of the year?

I was critical of Theo from Day 1; I don't think his return will mean a golden mantle of certain success has suddenly dropped over the team. As of this moment (AFAIK) we are still without a centerfielder or a shortstop, though steps are being taken to remedy that. But... we still have disgruntled players and disgruntled fans, and we have to wonder whether any of it was necessary, if Theo and Larry could have acted like adults.... but there are some enormous egos trying to wedge into that front office, and it's a tight squeeze.

Regarding the Damon non-deal: Theo said that had he been in charge, it would have turned out the same. But how can we be sure that's what he really meant, when it was plain that all along he's been angling to get his job back? How could he kick over the traces and say "you morons, you blew it!" and hope to return? Lip service. Apple polishing. Who can we trust for the truth?

Time will tell, I suppose, what good or harm will come of this inexplicable offseason. It hasn't been boring... I can say that, at least. Another thrilling episode in "As The Front Office Turns."

[mojorisin71]

McCourt has yet to keep his promise of a $100M payroll, and his lack of professionalism in dealing with the front office is hurting the team's image. So no, I'm not really happy with our team ownership.

[ReignInBlood]

McCourt has yet to keep his promise of a $100M payroll, and his lack of professionalism in dealing with the front office is hurting the team's image. So no, I'm not really happy with our team ownership.

You don't like how your team turned from a AA team to a MLB team filled with veterans in one offeseason???

[Mattingly]

The Red Sox ownership has shown that it's not afraid to sacrifice a beloved figure to take chances on the future, whether immediate or distant. Lately it's been....weird, like a soap opera (What caused the breakup? Will they reunite? Can they overcome their differences? They are still in love -- what about the children? Holy yikes. ) and we have yet to see whether the turmoil of the.....interregnum? separation? will have lasting effects for good or for future heartbreak.

The only two "beloved" figures I've recently seen actually part on the team's terms would be Nomah and Theo. Those beloved players I've seen part on their own terms would include Pedro and a certain "idiot" who went to the archrival team (206 miles down south).

Now then, which person(s) were you referring to?

Funny how winning a World Series changes the perception of a team owner.

With that being said,the perception of White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf has changed considerably since brining home the title.

Jerry Reinsdorf, like Mike Illitch I'd named earlier, is one of those owners whose "2nd team" seemingly happens to be the baseball team. In Jerry, it seems like the Bulls are his main team (at least when a certain bald-headed player wearing #23 roamed), and in Mike, it seemed like the Red Wings were his main priority.

From your end, do the White Sox seem to be getting more equality from the press, or in the perception of Reinsdorf's priorities? Or are they still appearing to be the less loved "stepchild" (for wont of a better word).

[Mattingly]

McCourt has yet to keep his promise of a $100M payroll, and his lack of professionalism in dealing with the front office is hurting the team's image. So no, I'm not really happy with our team ownership.

I've heard jokes about McCourt in the LA/SFG thread. Isn't he new to baseball ownership? Has he ever owned any sports team before?

When you say lack of professionalism, does he bawl them out in the press, treating them childishly? Or does he not give them enough trust that their experience and skills have warranted and suggested he should?

I'm also hoping to hear from fans of teams with new stadiums, or as in the case of the Marlins' Jeffrey Loria, a team in which a new stadium has been an issue. I think that the Brewers would also fall into that criteria, since the City of Milwaukee bought them a stadium, but ownership didn't increase payroll, as promised.

[Jake83]

The length of time McCourt has been the Dodger owner has not given us enough time to make a true opinion on him as a owner

Through the press which has turn negative the last few years on the Dodgers McCourt is made out to be the villian of Dodger baseball.

[Perseas]

I'm a Braves fan... WHAT OWNERSHIP?????!!!!!

All they 've done in the past years is to shrink the payroll more and more... Thank god we are blessed with probably the best two mangerial people in the business... John Schuerholz, in my opinion THE BEST GM in all MLB and Bobby Cox... one of the best managers of all time in my opinion... The team is on the market now, and I hope we can go on to find an owner that replicates the Ted Turner days...

[redlegsfan21]

So far, I like our ownership.

[four tool]

The Red Sox soap opera makes me think they will not be winning another world series in the near future--say at least 3-5 years.

I'm glad Theo is back and I hope it's a sign of everyone finally getting it together. But I'm not sanguine about the working relationships. Hopeful, not convinced, is the word.

[VTSoxFan]

The Red Sox soap opera makes me think they will not be winning another world series in the near future--say at least 3-5 years.

I'm glad Theo is back and I hope it's a sign of everyone finally getting it together. But I'm not sanguine about the working relationships. Hopeful, not convinced, is the word.

You know, when Theo's return was announced last week, there was talk of "frank, spirited" discussions over the last 2 months. I read that as "rip-roaring screaming matches". There have to be some deeply serious issues still lingering... and you're right, the working relationships are bound to be tense. I'm glad I live out of earshot of their "frank, spirited" discussions.

I was told once to "never, never be without hope." Hence my av line. If we lose hope, we lose everything.