Ricketts family takes helm

The Cubs new owners wasted no time explaining their goals Friday afternoon.

On a day when wet weather at Wrigley Field would have forced a rainout, Tom Ricketts and his family hosted what amounted to a love-in. The Rickettses introduced themselves to the Chicago media three days after completing a financial closing to buy a 95 percent controlling interest in the Cubs and Wrigley Field.

"Everybody on this stage shares a last name, but we also share something more than that," said Tom Ricketts, who stood near his brothers, Pete and Todd, and his sister, Laura. "We are Cubs fans with deep Chicago roots, and all of us love the team, we love the stadium, and we love Chicago."

Tom Ricketts said the family's goal was to bring a World Series title to Cubs fans such as themselves. He expressed confidence in Cubs general manager Jim Hendry and manager Lou Piniella, and he said the family planned short- and long-term improvements to Wrigley.

Ricketts thanked Cubs fans for their support during his family's nearly three-year quest to buy the team. The deal was valued at $845 million and included a 25 percent stake in Comcast SportsNet.

"For those fans, we have three messages," Ricketts said. "No. 1 is we're going to win the World Series. ... We're going to invest in the best personnel and we're going to hold them to the highest standards of accountability."

Secondly, Ricketts said, the family would do everything it could to improve the Wrigley Field experience for today's fans and the next generation of fans. Ricketts' third message was that his family loved the city of Chicago and would be good neighbors with Wrigleyville residents.

For 2010, Ricketts said he expected "slight increases" to the team's payroll and to ticket prices. He did not specify how much "slight" might entail, although he said neither he nor anyone on the team's board of directors had discussed permanent seat licenses.

Ricketts did not say whether the team would try to trade embattled outfielder Milton Bradley or be willing to pay the $21 million remaining on his salary. He promised to be a hands-off owner in player personnel decisions and let Hendry and his staff do their jobs.

For more about the new Cubs owners, check out Saturday's Northwest Herald.

-Tom Musick