I gotta make this quick because I’m meeting a buddy for a couple cold beers at a country bar. Before I go though I want to make it clear that I think Tom Ricketts is an objectively shitty person for this move because he could’ve had Sammy around at any point. but instead he set some arbitrary morality boundaries that nobody understands and certainly aren’t applied evenly. Especially when you take millions of dollars a year from multiple sportsbook partners, whether it’s the DraftKings lounge ONSITE for the kids or it’s FanDuel’s shitty programming on Marquee. Tom Ricketts will drown you in morally bankrupt content for an extra buck.
But when it comes to honoring one of the franchises most legendary and celebrated players? He’ll wait til he decides to cap the budget around league-12th best and fans start protesting. He’ll wait til there’s pressure from season ticket holders and the chance somebody like you or me would tell him to Fuck Off in the Toyota parking lot after a game. Tom Ricketts will let it come down to the last second where he needs Sammy Sosa most for him to let him back around the club. And along the way Tom will have a smile on his face as he expects all the praise and attention. I’ve seen it a thousand times and every time it makes me sick.
All of that to say that I’m so happy Sammy Sosa is back where he belongs. There’s no one more qualified to talk to Dominican Cubs players than Sammy Sosa and there’s no former player I’d rather have around as a vibes/aura/influencer. Sammy is and always will be the most energetic baseball player of my life. Like Javy Baez but imagine Javy Baez was awesome for like a decade and didn’t leave the Cubs during the middle of an unnecessary teardown forced by Tom Ricketts’ cash management. That’s the best comparison I can afford and even that’s an injustice.
Anyways it’s good to see Sammy back. I hope it’s more than just one game and one PR experience. I hope there’s a jersey or ceremony or something at Wrigley with a permanent spot behind the batting cage for BP. That’s the best way to use Sammy Sosa and I would actually be shocked if the Cubs got it right.