This Tom Ricketts quote perfectly shows why the Cubs don't care about big spending

It hasn't been the best offseason for Chicago Cubs owner Tom Ricketts. Multiple missteps in public comments have ratcheted up frustrations with the fanbase and, despite repeatedly making the same mistake in his remarks about spending and payroll, he doesn't seem to have learned a lesson just yet.

In an interview with CNBC, Ricketts spoke about Major League Baseball's 'superpower' when competing against the NFL and NBA. His response perfectly encapsulates why the Cubs feel no pressure to raise their spending, despite falling into the middle-of-the-pack in terms of payroll.

I think it's the social nature of the game. I mean, the fact is, you go to a baseball game to talk to the people you're with, right? You can't do that in other sports. And you can take – you go into a baseball game, you can take your seven-year-old daughter, or your 87-year-old grandfather. And – or father, in my case. But like the, you can take anyone. And it's still a place where people gather. There's, you know, just there's these magical summer nights that people spend sitting and enjoying each other's company. And I think that is what makes baseball so powerful, and why it still is America's natural pastime. You know, why people go to all of our games, plus all the minor league games. It just, it has that social vibe to it. And I think that's our power.

On the surface, that's a nice, feel-good quote. Everyone loves enjoying America's Pasttime with their family - it's something that often transcends generations and creates lifelong memories. Those magical summer nights are something we've all experienced. There's nothing like the sun setting behind the third base seats at Wrigley when the temperature is perfect and the Cubs are winning.

But it's that magic - and Wrigley Field has more of it than most ballparks - that keeps nearly 3,000,000 fans rolling through the turnstiles year after year, regardless of how the team is playing or what expectations are. It's a social event for many and the Friendly Confines have the benefit of also being a tourist destination, to boot.

So why spend more? Chicago should push past the 3 million mark in 2025 for the first time since before the pandemic, regardless of whether or not the Cubs live up to expectations. Whether this team wins 90 games or loses 90 games, the stands will be full, the revenue will be flowing in. It's an unfortunate truth for those wanting more from this ownership group - because, until that changes - or something else spurs a dramatic change-of-heart from the Ricketts family - the Cubs will continue masquerading as a mid-market franchise.