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Ricketts the one to thank for latest Cubs hopes

Tom Ricketts is everywhere yet easily overlooked while strumming a banjo next to rock guitarist Theo Epstein.

Fans at the Cubs Convention chanted “Thee-oh! Thee-oh! Thee-oh!” They didn’t chant “Tah-mee! Tah-mee! Tah-mee!”

But don’t forget that Ricketts will be responsible for however this latest Cubs reinvention eventually works out.

Without Ricketts there would be no Epstein as Cubs president of baseball operations and essentially as their latest hope against hope.

Ricketts, the Cubs’ chairman, has grown into something I initially didn’t think he had lurking inside him.

I never agreed with the characterization that Ricketts was just another Mike McCaskey. However, my first impression was that he didn’t get what being a sports owner is all about.

After an impressive 2011, indications are that he got it.

Ricketts still might be a little naive about Chicago politics while seeking financial aid to renovate Wrigley Field … but don’t underestimate his resolve in that pursuit either.

What I read wrong about Ricketts was how willing he is to roll up his sleeves, plunge into the trenches and aggressively, energetically and enthusiastically learn the business of baseball.

The first clue should have been that Ricketts accompanied members of the Cubs’ player-personnel department to the minor leagues to see for himself what makes that aspect of an organization tick.

Maybe the most important thing Ricketts learned down there was how little he knew.

Remember, he originally and famously said that he doesn’t believe the Cubs need a baseball guy to watch his baseball guy watch his baseball guys.

Today the Cubs have baseball guys watching his baseball guys watch his baseball guys.

Owner flexibility is a good thing, and now leftovers from general manager Jim Hendry’s regime blend with Epstein’s hires. It’s difficult to imagine many big-league teams with a bigger front-office staff.

Ricketts demonstrated the ability to learn, grow and adapt. He also has demonstrated a willingness to spend money to make money, something not all sports owners in this town have done.

Ricketts invested in the minor leagues. He invested in Caribbean baseball. He invested in baseball analytics. He invested in Wrigleyville.

Oh, yeah, and Ricketts permitted Epstein to trade Carlos Zambrano and eat at least $15 million of the remaining guarantee on his contract.

History screams that Ricketts’ extravagance won’t last forever. Many sports owners arrive raining money before realizing all they have done is spring a financial leak.

It’ll be interesting to see how long Ricketts’ open-wallet policy continues.

Regardless, I still doubt that Ricketts or anyone else on the planet is capable of guiding the Cubs to a World Series championship in my lifetime.

That likely depends on Epstein, who is perceived as Ricketts’ best move so far. Ricketts got lucky because just as he was searching for somebody to run the Cubs’ baseball operation, the best possible fit became the best possible candidate available.

“Ricketts was lucky,” a friend said to me recently, “but he also was smart enough to go get Epstein.”

Yes, he was, and now the club moves forward with the local optimism displayed at the Cubs Convention.

In the meantime, let’s not forget that Theo Epstein is the rock star, but Tom Ricketts is the leader of the band.

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