(670 The Score) The Cubs' underachieving 2019 season and inactivity this offseason hasn't hampered owner Tom Ricketts' outlook for the upcoming campaign.
"I think we have the best team in our division," Ricketts said at a press conference at Cubs spring training in Mesa, Ariz. on Monday. "I think we have a really dynamic, exciting new manager. I think the players are going to play very, very hard for David Ross. Barring some kind of crazy injuries, I think we should win our division and get back in the playoffs. And once you're in the playoffs, there's no reason to think you won't go all the way. I think one of the things people realize about the baseball playoffs is it doesn't matter what your record was during the season. Everyone has a chance to go all the way. So that's what we have to do. We have to get back on top of our division, and I think we have the right guys to do that."
Ricketts briefly reflected on the Cubs going 84-78 in 2019, when a collapse in the form of a nine-game losing streak in September torpedoed their playoff hopes.
"It's disappointing to not make the playoffs, no matter how much money you spend," Ricketts said. "I think we had the talent. A lot of things conspired against us toward the end of the season, but that's really no excuse. I think we should be back in the playoffs this year. Like I said, I trust our guys to put the dollars where they think they'll get the best return."
Ricketts also defended the Cubs' inactivity this winter. The team signed just two players to big league contracts, and both additions were of the low-profile variety in reliever Jeremy Jeffress and outfielder Steven Souza Jr.
"We kind of had a different circumstance this year," Ricketts said when asked if a championship-contending team being stagnant was unusual in his view. "Some of the flexibility we would've had going into the offseason we used last summer to bring in (Craig) Kimbrel. But I trust our baseball guys to put those resources to work in the right way and also keep a long-term perspective. Once again, with the strategy of trying to be as consistent as possible to make the playoffs as often as possible. And I think our guys will make good decisions."
