02/23/10 6:18 PM EST
MESA, Ariz. — Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts spoke to the players and staff prior to Tuesday's first full-squad workout, signed a few autographs for fans along with his sister Laura and brother Todd, and then went to look at possible Spring Training sites.
It's quite a change for the Ricketts family.
"A few people come up and say 'Hi' in the airport who probably wouldn't otherwise," Tom Ricketts said of his celebrity status. "We're loving every minute of this, every minute."
Ricketts spoke to the players for about 10 minutes, addressing them in the cramped weight room at Fitch Park.
"There were two messages," Ricketts said. "One is, it's a family ownership now and we want everyone to feel like they're part of the family. The second message is we're very excited to get the season started. We think we had a terrific offseason and we have great players and great coaches and we should have a great year."
The Ricketts family took over in late October, ending the Tribune Co.'s control. Now, the team's ownership has a face and a voice.
"It's the first time I've seen an owner here in the four years I've been here," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "It was nice having them here and they all said a few words. Tom basically spoke for the group. He was inspiring.
"He talked about how the family would do everything in their power to help the Cubs win, from the training facilities to the things they're doing with Wrigley Field, even to the new dietician that we have," Piniella said. "We're thrilled to death and we'll do everything in our power to do whatever we can to insure we win and to work with him and for him."
Ricketts said he was impressed by the commitment this offseason by the players to their workout routines. Many showed up early in camp. Piniella addressed the team as well and said Spring Training sets the tone for the season.
"You have to work hard here and don't cheat yourself," Piniella said of his message. "But at the same time have some fun doing it because baseball is supposed to be fun. Outside of that, I commended the team again — and I mean this wholeheartedly. It doesn't sound like much, winning 83 games, but with the problems we had, I thought these kids held themselves together pretty good and I told them that.
"My message was if we could do that with the problems, injuries and so forth, I know with the talent we have assembled here that we can add another 10 or so wins to our total and give ourselves a chance in postseason again," he said.
One thing the Ricketts family is learning is how to be both a fan and the owner.
"You do sometimes let your 'fan hat' take over," Tom Ricketts said. "It's a pretty comfortable balance for us. You let the guys like Jim [Hendry, general manager] and Lou do their job, and everything will take care of itself after that."
Some of the players said it's nice to have an actual person to communicate with as far as the team owner goes.
"Well, I pride myself on being an 'actual person,'" Ricketts said, smiling. "One of the messages is we're around and if there's anything we can be doing better, let us know. The fans will see us, too. We are fans and we'll be part of the fabric at Wrigley this year. We'll be around and accessible to both the players, fans and the coaches."
Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee said he appreciated the Ricketts' accessibility.
"I think it'll help, someone you can identify with and speak to," Lee said. "They'll be around and I already had a chance to speak with them at the [Cubs] Convention and they were asking questions and it was nice. I think it'll help, I think it'll make a difference."
Among the challenges the Ricketts family face is Wrigley Field, and Tom Ricketts said the ballpark "needs a lot of love." Crews have been renovating the restrooms and the concourse, and fans will see improvements this year.
While in Mesa, the three Ricketts siblings planned to tour some of the potential Spring Training sites with team president Crane Kenney. As far as the proposed ticket surcharge for Cactus League games to help pay for a new spring stadium, Tom Ricketts said he'll leave that to legislators.
"I'm not going to talk about any of that," Ricketts said. "We're very confident we'll get a solution that works for everybody down here."
How many Cubs games will he attend during the regular season?
"As many as my wife will let me," Ricketts said.
He does sound like a Cubs fan.
"We always knew there was an incredible fan base and we've seen how deep that passion is," Ricketts said. "That's one thing you can say you have an appreciation for but until you see it first hand, you don't have a full appreciation of it."
Third baseman Aramis Ramirez met Tom Ricketts when he visited the club's academy in the Dominican Republic.
"I heard they're Cubs fans," Ramirez said. "They're going to do their best for us to win a championship."
It's been a dream season already for the family, who grew up as Cubs fans, attending games in the bleachers. What if the Cubs won the World Series in the family's first year of ownership?
"Obviously, that would be off the charts," Ricketts said.