Author Topic: Cubs in '19  (Read 72295 times)

Ron

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Re: Cubs in '19
« Reply #1110 on: December 17, 2018, 10:46:26 am »
I was thinking recently that Theo Epstein was hired by the Cubs in October, 2011, seven years ago.  So he is now, I believe, entering the third year of his second five year contract, meaning he presumably only has three years remaining in his own window with the Cubs (he's generally expected to move on at the end of this contract). So it's safe to say that he feels his own since of urgency to get back to the World Series.

I do not think he's the kind of guy who would sacrifice the future of the franchise for immediate success, even though he doesn't expect to be around after the 2021 season. Still, it should be clear that he's also highly focused on doing what he thinks is necessary for short-term success. 
That is probably worth remembering when trying to understand how he is approaching his job in general and this off-season in particular.

davep

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Re: Cubs in '19
« Reply #1111 on: December 17, 2018, 01:20:27 pm »
I hadn't heard that he was expected to move on after this contract.  Who is doing the expecting, and why?

Ron

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Re: Cubs in '19
« Reply #1112 on: December 17, 2018, 01:55:18 pm »
I hadn't heard that he was expected to move on after this contract.  Who is doing the expecting, and why?

I remember reading, more than once I think, that he believes 10 years is a kind of limit to being effective. I can't cite any specific sources, but my impression is that this is widely expected to be the case. As always, I could be wrong.

CUBluejays

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Re: Cubs in '19
« Reply #1113 on: December 17, 2018, 03:15:50 pm »
He's said 10 years in the limit somebody should stay in 1 place and has guessed that is as long as he'd stay, but it isn't set in stone.

Jes Beard

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Re: Cubs in '19
« Reply #1114 on: December 17, 2018, 05:35:46 pm »
I remember reading, more than once I think, that he believes 10 years is a kind of limit to being effective. I can't cite any specific sources, but my impression is that this is widely expected to be the case. As always, I could be wrong.

That is also my memory from one of the early interviews with him after he joined the Cubs.

ben

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Re: Cubs in '19
« Reply #1115 on: December 17, 2018, 07:01:10 pm »
I've also heard Theo talk about "10 years" being the limit of productive time in such a role.

Bill Walsh, the Hall of Fame 49ers football coach who turned that franchise into one of the best ever, wrote about "10 years as the limit" two decades ago and a quite a few sports executives and coaches have echoed his theory. 

Over time, the 100+ hour weeks and immense pressure that comes with those roles must take a toll!

Folks, we should enjoy the next 3 years as much as we can...there is FAR less certainty Cubs will "sustain success" after that incredibly hard-working, brilliant guy leaves (with the greatest record of any MLB executive ever).

Jes Beard

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Re: Cubs in '19
« Reply #1116 on: December 17, 2018, 07:39:18 pm »
I've also heard Theo talk about "10 years" being the limit of productive time in such a role....  Folks, we should enjoy the next 3 years as much as we can...there is FAR less certainty Cubs will "sustain success" after that incredibly hard-working, brilliant guy leaves (with the greatest record of any MLB executive ever).

George Weiss was GM of the Yankees for 13 years, during which the Yankees won 10 pennants, 7 WS and had a winning percentage of .622.

Nice to know that Theo has beaten that.
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Deeg

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Re: Cubs in '19
« Reply #1117 on: December 17, 2018, 09:56:32 pm »
Ben, if this coming season goes south I wouldn't be shocked to see a major teardown-rebuild whether Theo sticks around or not.  Joe would be gone for sure and Theo might decide that if ownership doesn't want to stay with the big boys financially, that would be preferable to a slow decline followed by a crash when the FAs bolt.  Rizzo would probably stay with his contract, but I could see Bryant, Schwarber, Contreras, Quintana, and Hendricks all dealt after next season.  Maybe see what you can get for Lester if he has a decent season and is willing to waive his NTC. Hope Almora and Happ step up and build around Baez and prospects.

Mind you, I'm not saying that's the most likely scenario - just one that can't be ruled out.  There's a lot of potential for things to turn ugly next year based on what's gone down over the last few months.
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CUBluejays

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Re: Cubs in '19
« Reply #1118 on: December 17, 2018, 10:40:03 pm »
Yes, it can be.
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ben

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Re: Cubs in '19
« Reply #1119 on: December 17, 2018, 11:19:25 pm »
Deeg, I agree that next season could go south, particularly IF our pitching doesn't come through as it has in recent years.
If that happens, there will, indeed, be MANY changes!

Jes, George Weiss has quite a record; however, he wasn't the person who led the Red Sox to their 1st two World Championships in almost 100 years AND the Cubs to their 1st World Championship in 108 years!

In all due respect to Mr. Weiss, count me among those who believe Theo is THE best ever for ending the Red Sox AND Cub droughts - somehow, architecting the Cubs' to a WS might have earned that recognition by itself, but providing that for BOTH tortured franchises??
It's a no-brainer.

CUBluejays

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Re: Cubs in '19
« Reply #1120 on: December 17, 2018, 11:53:06 pm »
Only 2 teams paid the CBT last year and the Cubs are currently the only team above the threshold. They are playing with the big boys already.

The Cubs are going to have Hamels, Zobrist, Strop, Kintzler, Dunensing and maybe Morrow as free agents next year. There will be big changes next year regardless of what happens.

If Theo has 3 years left, he isn’t taking a World Series contender and tearing it down partially.

Jes Beard

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Re: Cubs in '19
« Reply #1121 on: December 18, 2018, 07:30:11 am »
Jes, George Weiss has quite a record; however, he wasn't the person who led the Red Sox to their 1st two World Championships in almost 100 years AND the Cubs to their 1st World Championship in 108 years!

In all due respect to Mr. Weiss, count me among those who believe Theo is THE best ever for ending the Red Sox AND Cub droughts - somehow, architecting the Cubs' to a WS might have earned that recognition by itself, but providing that for BOTH tortured franchises??
It's a no-brainer.

You are now looking for reasons to consider one better than the other, and that is moving the goalposts from your original position, which was simply that Theo has the best RECORD of any MLB executive ever.

Unless Theo can top the RECORD Weiss had, he does NOT have the best RECORD.

It is about like saying some pitcher who won 60% of his games so far in his career has the best RECORD of any MLB pitcher ever... and ignoring the existence of Whitey Ford.

Jes Beard

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Re: Cubs in '19
« Reply #1122 on: December 18, 2018, 07:33:25 am »
The Cubs are going to have Hamels, Zobrist, Strop, Kintzler, Dunensing and maybe Morrow as free agents next year. There will be big changes next year regardless of what happens. 


Those last three names could all announce their retirements this afternoon, with the Cubs getting nothing at all for any of them... and it would not come remotely close to qualifying as a "big change."

CUBluejays

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Re: Cubs in '19
« Reply #1123 on: December 18, 2018, 10:19:19 am »
I forgot Cishek too.

That will be $60+ million dropping off the payroll.

Here is the list of relievers who the Cubs control after this year by IP.  Edwards, Rosario, Montgomery, Norwood, Chatwood, Mills, Maples, Victor Caratini, Ian Happ, and Anthony Rizzo.  So the bullpen is going to have a big overhaul going into 2020.

brjones

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Re: Cubs in '19
« Reply #1124 on: December 18, 2018, 10:46:55 am »
Cubs finally do something:

Ken Rosenthal @Ken_Rosenthal
#Cubs close to signing free-agent IF Daniel Descalso, source tells The Athletic.