Report: Cubs Now a Theocracy

According to WEEI, the Cubs and Theo Epstein have agreed to a 5-year deal worth upwards of $15 million. But it’s not finalized (not even official, much less officially official). And they haven’t settled on a title (Grand Poobah of Baseball Operations or Crane Kenney’s Gimp Handler). And they have to settle on compensation for poaching Theo out of the last year of his contract (Brett Jackson, Bryan LaHair, or a Patterson to be named later). This is why you have to title your breaking news articles with “Report:” in front of them.

Cue half of Cubdom saying the Cubs’ World Series dreams are imminently to be fulfilled and the other half saying Theo isn’t the answer or won’t make a difference for quite some time. The truth is somewhere in the middle. Like, a finger. Having someone who knows what he’s doing in charge of all things baseball will make a difference right away. Doesn’t mean the Cubs will contend right away or even win a World Series ever. But if the reports are true, the Cubs are a better baseball organization right now than they’ve been in my lifetime.


0 thoughts on “Report: Cubs Now a Theocracy”

  1. This is why you have to title your breaking news articles with “Report:” in front of them.

    (dying laughing) at sports reporter’d

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  3. I might actually be enjoying the reports about Crane Kenney being an asshole even more than I’m enjoying the reports about Theo coming aboard. If anybody has more of those, please post.

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  4. But if the reports are true, the Cubs are a better baseball organization right now than they’ve been in my lifetime.

    This.

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  6. Also (dying laughing) at PTBNL. If there aren’t any available now, we’ll just have to ask Mr. and Ms. Patterson to make some more.

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  9. But if the reports are true, the Cubs are a better baseball organization right now than they’ve been in my lifetime.

    this

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  10. [quote name=mb21]I posted something right after this, but this is far better so I got rid of mine. love the finger joke.[/quote](dying laughing) I knew it would happen. I was checking and re-checking to see if anything else was up and then thought, “As soon as I put this on the front page we’re going to have four articles show up simultaneously.”

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  11. The Cubs apparently have not settled on a title for Epstein, who served as Red Sox GM for nine seasons.

    How could this be anything other than President of Baseball Ops? That would leave Kenney as CTO (Chief Trough Officer).

    Unless the title specifically includes mention of dominion over Kenney. “President Of Baseball Operations And Crane Kenney’s Boss Theo Epstein”.

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  13. How many GMs in baseball hold the title of President? I’m just wondering if he’s being hired to be GM or to actually just be president and Ricketts is trying to build a front-office super-team.

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  14. [quote name=fang2415]How could this be anything other than President of Baseball Ops? That would leave Kenney as CTO (Chief Trough Officer).

    Unless the title specifically includes mention of dominion over Kenney. “President Of Baseball Operations And Crane Kenney’s Boss Theo Epstein”.[/quote]Maybe the negotiation is hung up over whether Theo can add the words “Ha Ha Ha” to the title.

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  15. I don’t think it’s uncommon, JMan. MacPhail had that title. I know Dombrowski does or did. Pretty sure there are others.

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  17. [quote name=JMan]How many GMs in baseball hold the title of President? I’m just wondering if he’s being hired to be GM or to actually just be president and Ricketts is trying to build a front-office super-team.[/quote]Theo as Pres of Baseball Ops, Friedman as GM?

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  18. [quote name=fang2415]Theo as Pres of Baseball Ops, Friedman as GM?[/quote]Or maybe now that you’ve got Theo, Anthopoulos for GM? That guy seems to be a decent dealmaker…

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  19. I can’t imagine Friedman would want to leave Tampa for a GM job under the Cubs new messiah. He’s be blocked from advancing and he’d never get the credit if they won.

    If they get a GM under Theo it will be an up-and-comer, but I hope they don’t right away. I think that was a mistake when they brought in MacPhail.

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  22. It’s definitely the right framework. Could be that Ricketts was biding his time because he was waiting for Theo/Friedman to be more available. The timing seems right for Theo to get out of Boston. This should bode well. I’m excited about the off-season again. Now, if Detroit and St. Louis would just hurry up and lose.

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  23. [quote name=Aisle424]I can’t imagine Friedman would want to leave Tampa for a GM job under the Cubs new messiah. He’s be blocked from advancing and he’d never get the credit if they won.

    If they get a GM under Theo it will be an up-and-comer, but I hope they don’t right away. I think that was a mistake when they brought in MacPhail.[/quote]I could actually see Hahn coming in as GM under Theo. But to be honest, I think you’re right, it’s probably best if Theo runs the show on his own, at least until a new direction is set.

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  28. [quote name=Mish]http://joeposnanski.si.com/2011/10/12/the-cubs/[/quote](dying laughing) at the Garlin thing.

    I hate the fucking goat story.

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  29. I hate the goat story so much that it almost makes me not want to see the Cubs get to the WS since it would mean Tim McCarver not shutting up about it for a whole two weeks.

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  30. If he ends up GM then it should be fun to see who becomes AGM. some speculation out there is Byrnes. I would say Hahn but not sure Reinsdorf would allow him lateral movement.

    Should be fun to also see if the Cubs go from having one of the smallest front-offices to something much larger since Ricketts appears to be investing a lot in his FO.

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  31. [quote name=Mish]http://joeposnanski.si.com/2011/10/12/the-cubs/[/quote]For some reason, reading that felt like listening to my own eulogy.

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  33. [quote name=JMan]If he ends up GM then it should be fun to see who becomes AGM. some speculation out there is Byrnes. I would say Hahn but not sure Reinsdorf would allow him lateral movement.

    Should be fun to also see if the Cubs go from having one of the smallest front-offices to something much larger since Ricketts appears to be investing a lot in his FO.[/quote]I think Hahn ends up as GM somewhere else. There’s a lot of teams looking for a GM now between LAA (I mean AAoLA), O’s, Houston… Am I forgetting someone? Not to mention Boston if Theo goes and Tampa if Houston brings Friedman back to his home town. Those teams can’t really afford to hire somebody big away, so Hahn’s a perfect hire for them — smart, new-school, experienced, not “battle-tested” like Theo, but a loooot cheaper. I’d be surprised if one of them doesn’t snap Hahn up.

    I’m betting if Theo brings in an assistant it’ll be some nerd he found that nobody’s ever heard of. No need for “baseball experience” with Theo at the top.

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  34. [quote name=Mish]http://joeposnanski.si.com/2011/10/12/the-cubs/[/quote]Wow, Poz wins the Cubs. I didn’t know Wrigley refused to build a farm system until the 60s. That explains a lot.

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  38. the other half saying Theo isn’t the answer or won’t make a difference for quite some time.

    Not even kidding about this part…

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  39. [quote name=fang2415]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2sKH8yjVsM[/quote]wtf, youtube? Well, fuck happiness then.

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  40. “Of course it wasn’t Bartman. These are the Cubs. It was predestined. If it wasn’t Bartman, a meteor would have hit the mound.”

    (dying laughing)

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  43. [quote name=AndCounting][/quote]Correct.[quote name=dylanj]http://www.csnchicago.com/baseball-chicago-cubs/news/Kaplan-Epstein-blown-away-by-Ricketts-co?blockID=576086&feedID=661[/quote]Music —> ears

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  44. How horrible are the Chicago beat reporters that Kaplan has turned into the only source of new information on the Chicago side of the story.

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  45. [quote name=cdw]How horrible are the Chicago beat reporters that Kaplan has turned into the only source of new information on the Chicago side of the story.[/quote]They’re trying to figure out how to make this a lazy Latino’s fault.

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  46. [quote name=Rice Cube]They’re trying to figure out if Theo Epstein is how to make this a lazy Latino‘s fault.[/quote].

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  47. [quote name=Kaplan]Expect aggressive moves from the get-go and a willingness to retool the entire major league roster as he looks to build a winning combination for the Cubs for the first time in 103 years.[/quote]
    Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh…

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  48. http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/10/cubs-agree-to-deal-with-theo-epstein.html :

    The Cubs’ overall payout to Epstein will be closer to $20MM than $15MM, because they’re responsible for paying a $3.5MM conclusion bonus that he had negotiated into his contract with the Red Sox, according to ESPN.com’s Buster Olney (all Twitter links). MLB has monitored the Cubs’ negotiations with Epstein, since there’s concern that his deal will change the market for general managers. Epstein’s salary will be similar to the one the Red Sox paid him, Olney notes. He was the Cubs’ first choice and has met with them twice.

    So we’re paying Theo just under one win a season, then? Doesn’t sound too bad, even if the replacement level is low for GMs.

    Kind of surprising that he won’t be in for a real pay boost from his current comp. He must actually want the job. (!)

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  49. [quote name=Kaplan]In fact, sources tell us that Ricketts is not opposed to spending big money on a star player, but for him to sign a mega contract the player must fit long-term with the organization.[/quote]…Alberto…?

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  52. [quote name=dylanj]we dont need pujols- we already have LaHair[/quote]Just to be safe, I would trade LaHair for Pujols.

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  53. In fact, sources tell us that Ricketts is not opposed to spending big money on a star player, but for him to sign a mega contract the player must fit long-term with the organization.

    It’s funny how refreshing it is to hear this. (The fact that (the fact that there will be news) is big news) really makes me realize just how stultifying the Cubs have been for, well, most of my life. I’m getting a head rush right now, just because something’s finally going to *happen*. !.

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  55. I’m trying to find a reason to be pessimistic about this and can’t. Maybe Ricketts will force Theo to make Todd the GM…

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  57. [quote name=Alvin, Lord of all Dreamland]I did, as you know, think Billy Beane was going to be the new GM. Obviously, things changed after the Red Sox did not make the playoffs and Terry Francona left as manager by mutual decision. That opened up the possibility that Epstein could also leave, and the Cubs decided to take advantage by asking, and now apparently hiring, him.[/quote]I can’t wait for the official embargo on this story to break so we can see Alvin react to the news that the Cubs never even considered Beane.

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  59. [quote name=shotty]I’m trying to find a reason to be pessimistic about this and can’t. Maybe Ricketts will force Theo to make Todd the GM…[/quote]GM —> garbage man

    [quote name=fang2415]I can’t wait for the official embargo on this story to break so we can see Alvin react to the news that the Cubs never even considered Beane.[/quote]I would think that the Ricketts considered contingency plans such as Friedman and Beane, but put 99.9% of their efforts and resources into acquiring Epstein.

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  60. [quote name=Rice Cube]Is that feasible?[/quote]Just a thought if the Cubs don’t land either Fielder or Pujols. 1B is filled in Boston for time being, and so is DH if they resign Ortiz. I don’t know if Boston sees Youk as their 3B of the future.

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  61. [quote name=Rice Cube]I would think that the Ricketts considered contingency plans such as Friedman and Beane, but put 99.9% of their efforts and resources into acquiring Epstein.[/quote]I just can’t imagine they would have put Beane near the top of the list, even. After Friedman, Theo, Cashman, I think you go Hahn, maybe Cherington, maybe another assitant that I’m forgetting, then Beane. If anything the movie moves him down your list, since if he fucks it up you look like an idiot who went goo-goo-eyed at the theater and decided to hire Brad Pitt as your GM.

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  62. [quote name=fang2415]It’s funny how refreshing it is to hear this. (The fact that (the fact that there will be news) is big news) really makes me realize just how stultifying the Cubs have been for, well, most of my life. I’m getting a head rush right now, just because something’s finally going to *happen*. !.[/quote]Except maybe when they signed Soriano, as mentioned. I remember being excited about Nomar Garciaparra. This is definitely the change we’ve been waiting to see since Ricketts took over, though. It’s like 2 years of buildup to the best punchline imagineable.

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  63. [quote name=josh]Except maybe when they signed Soriano, as mentioned. I remember being excited about Nomar Garciaparra. This is definitely the change we’ve been waiting to see since Ricketts took over, though. It’s like 2 years of buildup to the best punchline imagineable.[/quote]It seems like he was just riding out the storm until this offseason because he knew some goodies were going to become available. Method to madness?

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  64. [quote name=GBTS]Just a thought if the Cubs don’t land either Fielder or Pujols. 1B is filled in Boston for time being, and so is DH if they resign Ortiz. I don’t know if Boston sees Youk as their 3B of the future.[/quote]Don’t they have a young 3B option as well? It seems far-fetched, but not entirely off the table.

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  65. [quote name=josh]Except maybe when they signed Soriano, as mentioned. I remember being excited about Nomar Garciaparra. This is definitely the change we’ve been waiting to see since Ricketts took over, though. It’s like 2 years of buildup to the best punchline imagineable.[/quote]I was pumped when they got Nomar, but it was always clear it would be a quick fix if anything; Soriano always felt like a risk to me since it was so many eggs in one basket. But now we’re going to see *everything* change — not just one guy, not just for one year and then back to the grind. Even if they suck for a while, this is going to be exciting. I can’t recall ever having thought that about the Cubs before.

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  66. [quote name=josh]Don’t they have a young 3B option as well? It seems far-fetched, but not entirely off the table.[/quote]I guess what I’m suggesting is they should sign Fielder and then flip him for Youk.

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  70. http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=15291
    Colin’s thoughts on the GM signing are behind BP’s paywall, but here’s the final paragraph:

    If I sound pessimistic, it’s because I’m trying to temper the optimism, and there’s a lot of it flying around right now for Cubs fans. As well there should be—the Cubs made promises at the start of their GM hunt: it would be quiet, it would focus on player development, and it would give the Cubs a stronger grounding in analytics (read: sabermetrics) than it’s had previously. Getting Epstein, in the fashion they are going about it, would resoundingly check all those boxes. That’s something Cubs fans can cheer about.

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  71. [quote name=fang2415]I was pumped when they got Nomar, but it was always clear it would be a quick fix if anything; Soriano always felt like a risk to me since it was so many eggs in one basket. But now we’re going to see *everything* change — not just one guy, not just for one year and then back to the grind. Even if they suck for a while, this is going to be exciting. I can’t recall ever having thought that about the Cubs before.[/quote]No, I think you’re right. This is definitely a bigger scale than those things. I was lucky (or maybe “lucky”) a few years ago, since I didn’t know enough to question whether or not Soriano was a good signing. It felt like a complete shift in perspective at the time, like they were finally going to assemble a team that could win, not just patch here and there (a la Nomar). Turned out it was a cheap attempt to win in the short term to increase the team’s sale price, but I was duped like a lot of fans.

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  76. [quote name=dylanj]astros moving to the AL[/quote]
    Ugh. I’d rather see MLB add an expansion team or have the Brewers go back to the AL. There’ll be an interleague game almost every day.

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  77. [quote name=shotty]Ugh. I’d rather see MLB add an expansion team or have the Brewers go back to the AL. There’ll be an interleague game almost every day.[/quote]I believe that’s the point, though the logistics escape me. I guess they might do some kind of divisional assignment system like the NFL does in setting their out-of-division matchups.

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  78. [quote name=shotty]Ugh. I’d rather see MLB add an expansion team or have the Brewers go back to the AL. There’ll be an interleague game almost every day.[/quote]That would be true even if it had been the Brewers, though. The two leagues now have odd numbers. They would have had to add two teams, and you’re left with the same problem of one unbalanced division in each league if you do that.

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  80. [quote name=Rice Cube]I believe that’s the point, though the logistics escape me. I guess they might do some kind of divisional assignment system like the NFL does in setting their out-of-division matchups.[/quote]It would be easier if the two leagues didn’t play with two different sets of rules. Then it would be no big deal at all to play interleague.

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  81. I wonder if this means the NL will adopt the DH. Still sort of ambivalent about it, I’d rather the pitchers learned to hit better but seeing as that’s nearly impossible… (dying laughing)

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  82. [quote name=josh]It would be easier if the two leagues didn’t play with two different sets of rules. Then it would be no big deal at all to play interleague.[/quote]Yeah, that.

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  83. [quote name=Rice Cube]I wonder if this means the NL will adopt the DH. Still sort of ambivalent about it, I’d rather the pitchers learned to hit better but seeing as that’s nearly impossible… (dying laughing)[/quote]I used to be vehemently against it, but… to hell with it. I’m tired of watching Matt Garza flail wildly at pitching. The inconsistency between the leagues really messes things up, even without IL play, because of AL pitchers coming over to the NL, or NL teams with farm teams with a DH.

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  84. I’m already engaged in Facebook arguments with moron Cubs and Sox fans. He signed Carl Crawford and John Lackey, blah, blah, blah. People are stupid.

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  85. So if each division is now five teams, and you play 15 games against each divisional opponent, that’s 60 games taken care of. Then let’s say you play 7 games against the other ten teams in the league, that’s 70 more. Have to find a way to get rid of the other 32 games, so let’s say they force 6 against the White Sox. Then that is 26 games they’d have to play against one out-of-league division. Just a quicky calculation. I’m guessing they adjust the number of games played against same-league/different-division foes to make the interleague set closer to 30 games than 32.

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  86. [quote name=Rice Cube]I wonder if this means the NL will adopt the DH. Still sort of ambivalent about it, I’d rather the pitchers learned to hit better but seeing as that’s nearly impossible… (dying laughing)[/quote]
    Posnanski had a really good post this summer on why the NL won’t adopt it: NL owners don’t want to spend the money and want AL teams to be at a perceived disadvantage by having to spend the money on DHs.

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  87. [quote name=ACT]I used to be vehemently against it, but… to hell with it. I’m tired of watching Matt Garza flail wildly at pitching. The inconsistency between the leagues really messes things up, even without IL play, because of AL pitchers coming over to the NL, or NL teams with farm teams with a DH.[/quote]I feel the same way. Watching pitchers hit is the lowlight of every single game. Yes, it adds an element of strategy, but one based on making the game less exciting overall.

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  89. [quote name=Rodrigo Ramirez]I’m already engaged in Facebook arguments with moron Cubs and Sox fans. He signed Carl Crawford and John Lackey, blah, blah, blah. People are stupid.[/quote]
    Laser Show + Youk = awesome. Prove me wrong.

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  91. [quote name=shotty]Posnanski had a really good post this summer on why the NL won’t adopt it: NL owners don’t want to spend the money and want AL teams to be at a perceived disadvantage by having to spend the money on DHs.[/quote]You wouldn’t necessarily have to spend big. Hell, you could use a Tony Campana as your 9 hitter at DH and still improve the lineup overall. There could be frugal ways to improve your lineup without having to use the traditional formula of an aging slugger. Some AL teams are already moving that way.

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  92. [quote name=shotty]Ugh. I’d rather see MLB add an expansion team or have the Brewers go back to the AL. There’ll be an interleague game almost every day.[/quote]I love that aspect of it. Interleague play is no longer a novelty. It should no longer be treated as one. Always having at least one interleague series going on helps legitimize it as just part of the game. And it probably does signify the adoption of DH in the NL. I’m so glad this move is going down. I’m no fan of the DH, but i am a fan of balance and equity. One six-team division and one four-team division is just too ridiculous a concept to have gone on as long as it did.

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  93. [quote name=mb21]http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/7091803/sources-theo-epstein-agrees-five-year-deal-chicago-cubs-leave-boston-red-sox?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pulsenews

    mb21 ———–> happy[/quote]

    Any guesses as to what the Cubs gave up? I really don’t think they’d give up Brett Jackson.

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  94. [quote name=Rodrigo Ramirez]I’m already engaged in Facebook arguments with moron Cubs and Sox fans. He signed Carl Crawford and John Lackey, blah, blah, blah. People are stupid.[/quote]Most people fail to understand if you’re active on the free agent market you’re going to make bad signings. There’s no way around it. None. It could be argued that most free agent contracts are bad signings considering the player is likely at or past his prime and will get worse.

    Tango posted something about what I’m doing below yesterday or today, but I think most people here are already aware of it.

    28 year old: 3 WAR
    29: 2.5
    30 2.0
    31: 1.5
    32: 1.0
    Total: 10 WAR
    Contract: say 5/50

    You’re not paying the guy less as he gets worse. You’re either paying him the same amount or more if the contract was backloaded. There’s simply no way for a 5 year contract to look good unless the player out does his projections. By that I mean look good to the average fan. We know you have to take the overall value, but most don’t realize that.

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  95. [quote name=AndCounting]I love that aspect of it. Interleague play is no longer a novelty. It should no longer be treated as one. Always having at least one interleague series going on helps legitimize it as just part of the game. And it probably does signify the adoption of DH in the NL. I’m so glad this move is going down. I’m no fan of the DH, but i am a fan of balance and equity. One six-team division and one four-team division is just too ridiculous a concept to have gone on as long as it did.[/quote]I agree with this and I also agree that the NL’s days of the pitcher batting are nearing an end. May not be immediately, but within the next 10 years the DH will be in the NL.

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  96. And I like it. I hate the pitcher batting. I absolutely hate that a guy who doesn’t even practice hitting is standing at the plate doing just that. It’s like having one inning each game pitched by a position player.

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  97. [quote name=mb21]And I like it. I hate the pitcher batting. I absolutely hate that a guy who doesn’t even practice hitting is standing at the plate doing just that. It’s like having one inning each game pitched by a position player.[/quote]This might actually be fun. The designated lightning round where you try to get as much batting practice runs as possible (dying laughing)

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  99. I don’t know why people keep pointing to Beane backing out of the job as if it means anything now. Theo has never backed out of a job that he agreed to. If it was Beane the Cubs were hiring then it’s a fair point, but how Theo got his job is irrelevant. He took it. He left a few years later and then was rehired and didn’t back out. Maybe he does back out. I don’t know, but that example is useless.

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  100. [quote name=WenningtonsGorillaCock]Anybody have insider?

    “The Cubs GM job is not all that, and if Theo Epstein thinks he’s signing on for a National League version of the job he took with the Red Sox, he’s sorely mistaken, writes Jim Bowden.”

    (dying laughing)

    http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/the-gms-office/post?id=1908&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fblog%2fthe-gms-office%2fpost%3fid%3d1908%5B/quote%5DI was going to read that and then I realized who it was written by and didn’t bother.

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  101. [quote name=mb21]And I like it. I hate the pitcher batting. I absolutely hate that a guy who doesn’t even practice hitting is standing at the plate doing just that. It’s like having one inning each game pitched by a position player.[/quote]Oooh I like that idea!

    The other aspect is that pitchers are valuable and they have to work very hard to be effective pitchers. There’s more risk of injuries to the legs or getting hit with them batting. I would think NL owners would be overall supportive for that reason, as would the players union. As much as you spend on those guys to do one job, you want to be able to keep them doing it as long as possible.

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  102. [quote name=mb21]I was going to read that and then I realized who it was written by and didn’t bother.[/quote]I figure it might be worth a few (dying laughing)

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  103. I’d laugh my ass off if the Red Sox hired Hendry and they won 6 consecutive division titles and 4 World Championships while the Cubs are in a permanent race for the top draft pick. (dying laughing)

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  104. [quote name=WenningtonsGorillaCock]I figure it might be worth a few (dying laughing)[/quote]I (dying laughing) when I see Jim Bowden’s name.

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  105. i thought our media was terrible, but that hit piece from the boston press on Francona is something else. Basically he is an ineffective, drug addled loser because his players choked. What a crock of shit

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  106. oh and he spent too much time worrying about his pending divorce and his two sons deployed in Afghanistan. What kind of asshole lets shit like that get in the way of BASEBALL!?

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  108. [quote name=mb21]I’d laugh my ass off if the Red Sox hired Hendry and they won 6 consecutive division titles and 4 World Championships while the Cubs are in a permanent race for the top draft pick. (dying laughing)[/quote]That would invite a bunch of “Moneyball doesn’t work” articles, much to my chagrin.

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  109. Can the Cubs just pay off the Red Sox? Instead of prospect, give them cash? I’d rather they keep Jackson if that’s who it’s going to cost.

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  110. SI_JonHeyman Jon Heyman
    there is a bit of discussion whether #cubs send cash or minor leaguers to #redsox for theo. so far boston prefers the $.

    If true excellent

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  114. [quote name=mb21](dying laughing) the Red Sox would prefer cash to anything in the Cubs farm system.[/quote]It’s a blessing in disguise (dying laughing)

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  122. BTW, right now, yes Carl Crawford looks like an awful contract. But if he posts another 5 win season in 2012, would anyone be surprised?

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  126. [quote name=Mish]BTW, right now, yes Carl Crawford looks like an awful contract. But if he posts another 5 win season in 2012, would anyone be surprised?[/quote]I actually kind of expect it to happen.

    Happy birthday, Bubbles!

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  127. [quote name=bubblesdachimp]Great birthday present for bubbles[/quote]I’m glad you like it, I was worried pink wasn’t your color. Sorry I didn’t include the D cell batteries with it, I didn’t have enough postage.

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  128. [quote name=Mish]BTW, right now, yes Carl Crawford looks like an awful contract. But if he posts another 5 win season in 2012, would anyone be surprised?[/quote]I’m not worried about his hitting (which bounced back after a miserable April), but his baserunning and defense are of some concern. I don’t know whether he’s just had a bad year or he’s actually lost a significant amount of speed. If it’s the latter, there’s no way his bat (which has always been about average) can make up for it.

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  129. Also, if he’s lost speed, his hitting will look worse, since part of his batting line comes from running out grounders (.328 career BABIP).

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  130. [quote name=ACT]I’m not worried about his hitting (which bounced back after a miserable April), but his baserunning and defense are of some concern. I don’t know whether he’s just had a bad year or he’s actually lost a significant amount of speed. If it’s the latter, there’s no way his bat (which has always been about average) can make up for it.[/quote]How stable is BSR as a stat? I see that he’s got the lowest BSR of his career on Fangraphs this year.

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  132. Baserunning should be rather consistent, but I don’t know for sure. Times on base obviously affects it, but it seems to me one of those stats that is more consistent than most.

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  133. having Steve Rosenblooms job would be awesome. You just write anything, dont use any kind of logic or facts to back it up and collect a paycheck.

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  135. [quote name=The Wreckard]Wow, that was fucking awful. His argument is basically “Epstein failed once. Also, steroids or something.”[/quote]Yeah, I like that he blames Theo for assembling a disinterested clubhouse. Except in 2004, those guys were cowboys! Oh, and 2007, those guys were professionals.

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  136. exactly! when Millar had those guys doing shots they had great chemistry when Jon Lester has a beer ON HIS OFF DAY its a sign that all control is lost

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  137. [quote name=GBTS]Yeah, I like that he blames Theo for assembling a disinterested clubhouse. Except in 2004, those guys were cowboys! Oh, and 2007, those guys were professionals.[/quote]Also that the main reason Epstein was a better choice is that Friedman, who isn’t even available, is better. Even though he operates in a situation that couldn’t possibly be any more different than the Cubs.

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  138. [quote name=The Wreckard]Also that the main reason Epstein was a better choice is that Friedman, who isn’t even available, is better. Even though he operates in a situation that couldn’t possibly be any more different than the Cubs.[/quote]I like Theo maybe even better, because he has had a budget and has done okay with it. Really, though, how much difference can there be between the two? It’s difficult to measure.

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  141. [quote name=josh]I like Theo maybe even better, because he has had a budget and has done okay with it. Really, though, how much difference can there be between the two? It’s difficult to measure.[/quote]Friedman’s margin of error was obviously smaller, but he didn’t seem to spend money in free agency particularly well. The Red Sox have been every bit as good at player development, they’ve just been more willing to trade off those prospects. Can you imagine a Red Sox team with every prospect they’ve traded off in Theo’s time, rather than the guys they were traded for? They’d probably be just as good as the Rays.

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  142. [quote name=The Wreckard]Also that the main reason Epstein was a better choice is that Friedman, who isn’t even available, is better. Even though he operates in a situation that couldn’t possibly be any more different than the Cubs.[/quote]Yeah, I agree. I remember GW saying something the day Hendry was fired. I think MO said Ricketts should go find the next Theo and GW responded by saying something along the lines of go find the current one. If you get a chance to get a guy like Theo, you don’t let it go unless the cost is absurd. I don’t care what Friedman has done in Tampa Bay. Theo has shown he can succeed in Boston with that payroll and the move to Chicago is pretty much the same. Although he’ll probably have a bit less to spend, he won’t be having a team that is spending $50-75 million less than another team in the same division. This was an easy decision. It was probably the easiest decision Tom Ricketts will ever have as the owner of the Cubs.

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  146. [quote name=The Wreckard]Friedman’s margin of error was obviously smaller, but he didn’t seem to spend money in free agency particularly well. The Red Sox have been every bit as good at player development, they’ve just been more willing to trade off those prospects. Can you imagine a Red Sox team with every prospect they’ve traded off in Theo’s time, rather than the guys they were traded for? They’d probably be just as good as the Rays.[/quote]The Red Sox have also had fewer first round picks, have picked after Tampa Bay in the 1st overall and have had far fewer picks in the top 5 rounds. When you get the first 100 picks of the draft every year like the Rays have, you god damn better have a good farm system.

    I’m willing to bet money that if we looked at this thoroughly (prospect development) that we’re going to see that Theo is better. When you factor in that the Rays have had more picks in the early rounds and that the Red Sox have been more willing to trade their own prospects I’d be absolutely shocked to find that the Rays have done a better job than the Red Sox.

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  147. [quote name=fang2415]Ah, back from the gym. So, any baseball teams we know restructured their entire system yet?[/quote]The Gashouse Gorillas fired their manager after their incredible collapse against Bugs Bunny.

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  149. [quote name=fang2415]Ah, back from the gym. So, any baseball teams we know restructured their entire system yet?[/quote]The Red Sox?

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  154. [quote name=dylanj]Friedman was my guy but Epstein is fine too.[/quote]An Epstein is fine too.

    [quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2011/10/12/pierzynski-drank-during-games/[/quote]Also, that’s fucking hilarious. That guy is such an asshole, I almost like him.

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  156. [quote name=Mish]http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/the-first-moves-for-cubs-gm-theo-epstein/[/quote]
    Hard to believe Theo’s first offseason would be spent ensuring the Cubs lose 110 games in 2012.

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  157. [quote name=Smokestack Lightning]Hard to believe Theo’s first offseason would be spent ensuring the Cubs lose 110 games in 2012.[/quote]Agreed. Not happening. Theo isn’t taking this job to lose over 100 games and build from scratch. He only signed a 5-year deal. The intention is for them to contend as soon as possible and it doesn’t include a fire sale.

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  158. [quote name=mb21]Agreed. Not happening. Theo isn’t taking this job to lose over 100 games and build from scratch. He only signed a 5-year deal. The intention is for them to contend as soon as possible and it doesn’t include a fire sale.[/quote]So what’s the solution? Smart trades of the farm system and rebuild that from scratch? There has to be some kind of sacrifice, I would think.

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  159. [quote name=josh]So what’s the solution? Smart trades of the farm system and rebuild that from scratch? There has to be some kind of sacrifice, I would think.[/quote]
    Isn’t the real question: Who won the Matt Garza trade? x17

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  160. [quote name=Smokestack Lightning]Hard to believe Theo’s first offseason would be spent ensuring the Cubs lose 110 games in 2012.[/quote][quote name=mb21]Agreed. Not happening. Theo isn’t taking this job to lose over 100 games and build from scratch. He only signed a 5-year deal. The intention is for them to contend as soon as possible and it doesn’t include a fire sale.[/quote]I think the initial PC and the manager hire will tell us a lot. If they plead for patience at the PC and hire Sandberg, they’re going to rip it down and build it from the ground. If the preach “we must contend every year and that includes next year” and they go with a more experienced manager, then no rebuild is coming.

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  162. [quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Isn’t the real question: Who owns the Cubs x17.[/quote]I just want to know what Theo’s title is going to be.

    What’s the over/under on who gets that scoop?

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  163. [quote name=josh]So what’s the solution? Smart trades of the farm system and rebuild that from scratch? There has to be some kind of sacrifice, I would think.[/quote]Focus on improving by 10 wins per year. You’d be a 90-win team in 2013.

    To do that – shed the contracts you can, get the marquee free agents you can, trade the valuable pieces you can.

    I think Epstein’s shown that he can do that.

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  164. [quote name=Suburban kid]I just want to know what Theo’s title is going to be.

    What’s the over/under on who gets that scoop?[/quote]I would like to know whether Al gets to interview Theo and whether it turns out exactly like Aisley’s last blog post (dying laughing)

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  165. [quote name=The Wreckard]Focus on improving by 10 wins per year. You’d be a 90-win team in 2013.

    To do that – shed the contracts you can, get the marquee free agents you can, trade the valuable pieces you can.

    I think Epstein’s shown that he can do that.[/quote]That sounds good to me. So no firesale for the sake of hitting the reset button, but rather smart trades. I don’t know. It could work.

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  167. According to sources, Major League Baseball expressed great concern over the compensation package because they do not want this deal to affect how other teams compete in the market for front-office personnel.

    (dying laughing) at what a collusive cabal MLB is.

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  169. [quote name=fang2415](dying laughing) at what a collusive cabal MLB is.[/quote]Since Selig and Reinsdorf have effectively taken over, the owners have made a regular practice of flaunting the anti-trust exemption.

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  171. [quote name=fang2415]One of the things that makes me happiest about all this is the last paragraph of this comment: http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/soriano-contract-retrospective-a-jim-hendry-tribute/#comment-1037944%5B/quote%5DYeah, the theory has always been there’s no reason to get smart. Every year that gets tacked onto the curse seems to bring 100 more fans with it. As Joe Poz said, the Cubs are the most popular team in baseball. Why change the formula?

    Hopefully, Rickets is on the road to doing just that.

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  172. [quote name=josh]Yeah, the theory has always been there’s no reason to get smart. Every year that gets tacked onto the curse seems to bring 100 more fans with it. As Joe Poz said, the Cubs are the most popular team in baseball. Why change the formula?

    Hopefully, Rickets is on the road to doing just that.[/quote]The formula can be improved. Go from the most popular team in baseball —> the most popular and winningest team in baseball. Does not have to be mutually exclusive. Let’s hope it can be done.

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  173. [quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Since Selig and Reinsdorf have effectively taken over, the owners have made a regular practice of flaunting the anti-trust exemption.[/quote]Well, what the hell, right? If somebody (e.g., the Supreme Court) is dumb enough to give you the keys to the liquor cabinet, you’d be an idiot not to drink up, I guess…

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  174. [quote name=Rice Cube]The formula can be improved. Go from the most popular team in baseball —> the most popular and winningest team in baseball. Does not have to be mutually exclusive. Let’s hope it can be done.[/quote]I agree, but for so long, just throwing a Sammy Sosa out there and pocketing the profit has been good enough. Becoming a perennial contender also draws fans, as the Red Sox showed.

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  176. [quote name=josh]I agree, but for so long, just throwing a Sammy Sosa out there and pocketing the profit has been good enough. Becoming a perennial contender also draws fans, as the Red Sox showed.[/quote]Winning will bring all the fans to the yard. Especially the bandwagoners.

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  177. [quote name=wrigleyville]who is this Theo you people speak of?[/quote]www.whoisthistheoyoupeoplespeakof.com

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  178. [quote name=fang2415]Well, what the hell, right? If somebody (e.g., the Supreme Court) is dumb enough to give you the keys to the liquor cabinet, you’d be an idiot not to drink up, I guess…[/quote]That’s certainly been the sentiment. Who knew large groups of similarly minded rich white men would act this way?

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