 sleuthPremium
join:2001-08-30
West Des Moines, IA | New Cubs GM So what do you guys think of Epstein's fit with the Cubs? Rumors keep heating up and it sounds like we're only a day away from hearing the Rickett's offically announce him as our new GM.
I haven't been following baseball as much as I used to, but this is my take. I don't know that he's all that different from Jim Hendry. I think I have concluded two things about Epstein:
1. He cannot evaluate talent at the professional level
2. He is great at prospecting young talent and building farm systems
There's a few things that support my conclusions. He was not part of the trade that brought Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell to Boston that helped them win the world series. He was in the middle of a contract dispute and has said he would not have completed that trade. Lets look at his evaluation of talent at the major league level: Julio Lugo, Eric Gagne, J.D. Drew, John Lackey, and time will tell if we should add Carl Crawford to that list. Big contracts with bad returns. I think we can relate to this conundrum.
Now lets evaluate his other achievements. Brought in David Ortiz, Curt Schilling, Keith Folk, Kevin Millar and has scouted and drafted Dustin Pedroia, Jacoby Ellsbury, and John Lester.
Guys agree/disagree with my two conclusions? In the end I think Epstein is a sure fire upgrade over Hendry. God knows we can use some real young talent and not some wannabe's like Pie and Patterson. |
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sleuthPremium
join:2001-08-30
West Des Moines, IA | I guess I should throw in there, who would you guys like to see as the Cubs GM?
I would like to have seen us go after Andrew Friedman. Not that I know all that much about that guy. But man, anyone who can take the Ray's from absolute obscurity to contender every year is a magician. Plus you can just see the team chemistry on the field every day. |
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 jsinaikoPremium
join:2001-04-25
Chicago, IL | reply to sleuth
Congrats guys - Theo is a good one - if he can't do what is needed, I don't know who can.
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Illegitimati non carborundum
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sleuthPremium
join:2001-08-30
West Des Moines, IA | reply to sleuth
Quicker then I thought. Reports are indicating an official offer has been made and they're just waiting for his John Hancock.
I hope he can turn us around. I know I mentioned he cannot evaluate professional talent, but he comes from the school of Billy Beane. A forward thinker who looks at the game from a modern perspective. Lets hope this pays dividends. |
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 JonPremium
join:2001-01-20
Lisle, IL
 ·AT&T U-Verse
| said by sleuth:Quicker then I thought. Reports are indicating an official offer has been made and they're just waiting for his John Hancock.
WKRO in Boston was reporting the deal was done this morning. Was taking my wife to work at 8am when they said it. They said it was a 5 yr 15mil deal. True or not I don't know but that's what they said. |
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I agree that this is the best you can get for the Cubs. you need someone who has the ability to build your farm system. Epstein is the absolute best guy available for that task. I would assume that he has complete control of baseball operations. He won't have to worry about spending money, the Cubs just don't have it to spend. I imagine 5 years before he can really spend some money, if need be. I think he would have at least 3yrs to get a competitive good group of guys out there that have a good chance of making it somewhere in the playoffs. |
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cubs4evaPremium
join:2004-04-29
Aurora, IL | reply to sleuth
I hope he works out for us. It keeps reminding me of when we got Andy Mcphail though.....he had the 2 World Series victories with the Twins and was a "genius" too. I'm praying things will be different with Theo. |
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sleuthPremium
join:2001-08-30
West Des Moines, IA | said by cubs4eva:I hope he works out for us. It keeps reminding me of when we got Andy Mcphail though.....he had the 2 World Series victories with the Twins and was a "genius" too. I'm praying things will be different with Theo.
No doubt, but I don't believe we had the payroll then that we have now. We're willing to spend the big money these days.
Hopefully the 'Moneyball' effect pays off for us. I mean, it's hard to argue the success of the A's in early 2000, and the recent success of the Red Sox and Devil Rays. |
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 insomniacOh YeahPremium
join:2002-09-22
Naperville, IL
 ·Comcast
 ·AT&T Midwest
| said by sleuth:No doubt, but I don't believe we had the payroll then that we have now. We're willing to spend the big money these days. The Cubs are saddled with a couple of big contracts that they can't dump. Ricketts isn't willing to spend any big money. The Yankees and Red Sox have demonstrated that you can't always just buy a championship.
The only way this is going to happen is from the ground up. Epstein is a good start.
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If everything seems to be going well, you've obviously overlooked something. |
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sleuthPremium
join:2001-08-30
West Des Moines, IA | said by insomniac:said by sleuth:No doubt, but I don't believe we had the payroll then that we have now. We're willing to spend the big money these days. The Cubs are saddled with a couple of big contracts that they can't dump. Ricketts isn't willing to spend any big money. The Yankees and Red Sox have demonstrated that you can't always just buy a championship. The only way this is going to happen is from the ground up. Epstein is a good start. You say that now, but wait until the Fielder/Pujols sweep stakes. I don't see how the Cubs wouldn't be a participant in that. Need a 1B and this acquisition may put fans back in the stands. |
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 StepRCode WarriorPremium
join:2000-11-06
Elgin, IL | reply to sleuth
At least ticket prices will be flat or even a little lower for 2012.
There are 13 designated marquee games in the bowl area, individually priced from $114 to $29, depending on location; 16 platinum dates ($102-$25); 26 gold games ($92-$19); 16 silver ($74-$12); and 10 bronze ($57-$8).
The bleachers will feature 13 marquee dates, priced individually at $78; nine platinum games ($52); 21 gold dates ($38); 27 silver ($27); and 11 bronze ($17). Last season, bleacher general admission prices ranged from $72 for marquee games to $20 for bronze.
The 13 marquee games include the season opener April 5 against the Nationals; May 18-20 against the White Sox; June 15-17 against the Red Sox; June 30 against the Astros; July 14 against the Diamondbacks; July 27-29 against the Cardinals; and Aug. 11 against the Reds.
»chicago.cubs.mlb.com/schedule/in···4&y=2012 |
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cubs4evaPremium
join:2004-04-29
Aurora, IL | $78 for a Bleacher Seat......that's just nuts! |
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StepRCode WarriorPremium
join:2000-11-06
Elgin, IL | People will pay it when the Red Sox and White Sox are in town. |
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cubs4evaPremium
join:2004-04-29
Aurora, IL | I guess....I know I won't. |
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JonPremium
join:2001-01-20
Lisle, IL | reply to sleuth
Well at least he canned Quade. thank god they didn't let that train-wreck go for another couple of years. Ryno is not on the list for the job so we'll see who they get this time. |
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jsinaikoPremium
join:2001-04-25
Chicago, IL Reviews:
·AT&T U-Verse
·AT&T Midwest
| This is the first really new beginning for the Cubs in my lifetime. The Trib looked as if it was going to do something but ended up bogged down in inertia. Even if Theo does things that aren't to your taste entirely, he needs to be given a chance. He's a premier baseball exec (as was McPhail so who knows?), and he's aproven winner (as was McPhail). The difference between him and --
Illegitimati non carborundum
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cubs4evaPremium
join:2004-04-29
Aurora, IL | So far, I've agreed with what he's done. Probably his big job this offseason is unloading Zambrano on somebody. I'm sure the Cubs will have to eat most of that contract too. |
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insomniacOh YeahPremium
join:2002-09-22
Naperville, IL Reviews:
·Comcast
·AT&T Midwest
| reply to sleuth
I'm just going to treat this as the offseason thread, since I don't think we have another one.
As I expected, it appears we won't be getting Pujols or Fielder.
And it looks like Ryan Braun has tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs, which comes with a nice little 50-game vacation. Will we have one less foe in the division for the first third of next season? »espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/···ing-drug
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If everything seems to be going well, you've obviously overlooked something. |
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sleuthPremium
join:2001-08-30
West Des Moines, IA | said by insomniac:As I expected, it appears we won't be getting Pujols or Fielder.
Where did you hear that we're officially out for Fielder? I read an ESPN rumor that the Cubs are a likely candidate. A source from the meetings said something in the lines of, Theo wanting to make an impression on the city and make a big acquisition and Fielder is a great fit and likely candidate. Rumors are just that, rumors, but I haven't heard that we're not going after him.
said by insomniac:And it looks like Ryan Braun has tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs, which comes with a nice little 50-game vacation. Will we have one less foe in the division for the first third of next season? »espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/···ing-drug
That's hilarious. Our broke NL Central division just got easier. I think we may be able to win the division with only 80 wins!! haha. |
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| said by sleuth:said by insomniac:As I expected, it appears we won't be getting Pujols or Fielder.
Where did you hear that we're officially out for Fielder? I read an ESPN rumor that the Cubs are a likely candidate. A source from the meetings said something in the lines of, Theo wanting to make an impression on the city and make a big acquisition and Fielder is a great fit and likely candidate. Rumors are just that, rumors, but I haven't heard that we're not going after him. primarily because it goes against everything Theo has said he wants to do. He wants to build from within, then add if necessary once they are a highly competitive team. but, if they were going to do something like that, Fielder would be your best bet. The Angels are freaking crazy for taking pujols for 10yrs and that kind of money. you have to know the last 4yrs will be wasted money! better their money than mine! |
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