With Tom Ricketts (l) not in attendance, Theo Epstein will face fans' questions GETTY IMAGES
The Ricketts family "will not do their annual panel discussion and take direct questions from fans" during this weekend's annual Cubs convention, according to Bruce Miles of the Chicago DAILY HERALD. One of the "more endearing qualities of the Ricketts family since it took ownership" of the club in late '09 has been a "willingness to meet with fans and face questions at the convention." But instead of its usual panel, the family will be a part of tomorrow night's "comedy/talk show session" hosted by former Cubs P Ryan Dempster. This comes amid "myriad serious questions facing the franchise, from its inactivity in this winter's trade and free-agent markets to the suspension" of SS Addison Russell to the new RSN the Cubs are "planning to launch" in '20. Cubs President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein and President of Business Operations Crane Kenney "will conduct their sessions Saturday" (Chicago DAILY HERALD, 1/17). In Chicago, Paul Sullivan notes the Ricketts would have been "asked to navigate a landmine-laden field of topics." They "usually were willing to face the music in public at the convention, unlike former Tribune Co. executives and Sam Zell, the previous two owners." But this year, Epstein "will have to face the difficult questions instead of the owners" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 1/17).
SHELL OUT THE CASH? In Chicago, Rick Morrissey writes the Cubs "have the money to sign" free agent RF Bryce Harper, but they "don’t want to spend the money." Morrissey: "Don’t the Cubs owe it to their fan base to do whatever it takes to get better? Hasn’t ownership squeezed every last bit of disposable income out of the team’s fans? How about a little something for the effort?" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 1/17).
