One Step Closer for Cubs, Two Steps for Theo Epstein

The news has finally broke that Theo Epstein is coming to the Chicago Cubs, with a deal of 5 years, around 20 million.  The deal has not been finalized yet since the Rickett’s are trying to get him a title for his duties.  The one thing Theo wanted to happen was that he wanted full control of the team, as he didn’t have full control in Boston.  Tom Ricketts wanted to find a GM who could take control of this team, and was a winner.  No one has been proven more a winner than the man of Theo Epstein.  He turned the Red Sox around right when he got the job in 2002, to almost making the World Series in 2003, to winning it in 2004, and 2007.  Although the collapse this September was completely not his fault, since the clubhouse had no chemistry from what it sounds like, he understands what it means to be a winner, and a contender.  This is what the Cubs have been missing for a while here, over paid players all around this club, and hopefully Theo can figure out some way to get us out of this hole.

I love this situation because Theo is left with a lot to do here, the only real pieces we have in place is Starlin Castro at short, Matt Garza is our ace, and there is not much else in place at this moment.  I am looking forward to what he does with this team, he’s going to have enough money to go after the big free agents such as Prince Fielder, Albert Pujols, and C.J. Wilson.  If he pulls the trigger on those deals remains to be seen, he needs to resign Aramis somehow, fill the hole at first base, clean up the mess in the outfield, and find some decent pitching in the bullpen and the rotation.  I’m not worried because I have all the faith in the world in Theo to do the job, as he has been my idol for quite sometime.  He is every young sports fans idol if they want to become a GM one day, and I can say the same for me.

Who will be the Manager?

Now the question next that needs to be answered is who will become Theo’s manager to lead this ball club next year which finished a disappointing 71-91.  There is no way that Epstein will be keeping Mike Quade as manager, as many wouldn’t have even put him as a manager, unlike Jim Hendry (which is why he got fired).  If it was my decision I would finally love to see Ryne Sandberg get his chance to manage here in Chicago, where he has wanted too for a while now.  After Hendry saying that Sandberg wasn’t ready for the big leagues yet it probably was gonna keep away Sandberg until he left, but now that Epstein is here, I believe he is number 1 on his list.  Epstein tried to get Sandberg to coach at Pawtucket last year, the triple A affiliate of the Red Sox, but Ryne ultimately went to go coach with the Leigh Valley Iron Pigs, the Phillies triple A affiliate.  Sandberg had a great reputation as a player, and now has it as a coach, all he has done in managing is win.  Sandberg in 5 season’s in the minor leagues, 2 in Triple A, 1 in double A, and 2 in single A, he has a combined record of 364-341, which is a .516 winning percentage.  Now some people may not think that is good, but he was never able to be with a team for more than two years, what that record shows is what he did right away, and that was win.  This is what the Cubs need is to win right away to get every game to sell out again like it was in 2007 and 2008.

Terry Francona is also a possibility, but not likely since they just had the break-up in Boston.  I would look to see that Francona will take some time off managing if he doesn’t get a job that he likes, and will probably stay in the announcing booth for the year.

Is next year here yet?

With all this news surrounding Cubs, I’m sure most fans are anxious for this MLB postseason to get over with, so the winter meeting’s can start, and free agency begin.  I know I’m already looking forward to next year, which usually doesn’t happen until around Christmas time when Fantasy Football ends.  This year Christmas has come early with all of this news, and I cannot wait for Theo to start making moves in the Cubs organization.