Chicago (AP) -- Dennis FitzSimons, the chief executive of the company that owns the Chicago Cubs, said today that staff reductions would be needed to bring costs in line with other properties in the Tribune Co. portfolio.
FitzSimons, who called the Cubs on-field peformance unacceptable when
Tribune's 2nd-quarter earnings were released last week, said in a memo to
employees that an undetermined number of ``unnecessary or overlapping''
positions would be eliminated. The Cubs have compiled the third-worst record in
baseball this year despite having one of the highest payrolls.
Sources in the player's union said they expect buyouts to be offered. Among
the positions they expect to be eliminated are the second baseman, middle-relief
pitchers and the manager.
FitzSimons said in a conference call with baseball analysts that second
base can be covered by the shortstop or, on ground balls to the left side of the
field, by the pitcher, who has downtime available between pitches. He said the
Cubs also anticipate using overshifts for every batter, using the Internet to
cover the positions left vacant.
He acknowledged the possible loss of some double plays, but said they're
statistically rare, which doesn't make sense on a cost-benefit basis, and
mainly appeal to older fans.
The franchise's new 5-year strategic plan calls for starting pitchers to
throw complete-game shutouts, or at least 8 and a third innings, eliminating the
need for middle-relief pitchers and all but one closer, who can sell beer for
the prior eight innings. By throwing shutouts, the company also expects to be
able to save money on batters, who will need to score only one run.
Managers will be shared with minor league teams in the Cubs farm system,
FitzSimons told the analysts.
"I don't expect the quality of the games will be diminished,'' he said,
noting that Little League teams have functioned with much smaller coaching
staffs and much lower salaries for the players. ``People have been coming to
see baseball for decades, and there's no reason to expect that will change."
