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Well it appears the Cubs finally have a GM with a brain! I am very excited that Theo Epstein will be rebuilding the Cubs and hopefully bringing us our first World Series Title in over 100 years!

Lots of work to do, but this is a great first step in my opinion!

Originally posted by WINSTON'S EMPIRE:

Well it appears the Cubs finally have a GM with a brain! I am very excited that Theo Epstein will be rebuilding the Cubs and hopefully bringing us our first World Series Title in over 100 years!

Lots of work to do, but this is a great first step in my opinion! Theo must not have watched ESPN's special on Steve Bartman. That piece alone would have scared him away from the Cubs' mystique!!



Theo must know that if he can win a World Series with the Cubs he will be a bigger hero than he was in Boston. He's rolling the dice here, but there's no reason why he can't duplicate the same magic if he starts building the farm system from the ground up. Signing a big free agent like Prince Fielder could help, but his first order of business should be to build the farm system like he did in Boston and providing himself with many more chess pieces than his opponents have.

Totally agree Greg. If he can do it in Chicago like he did in Boston, he will become a BASEBALL LEGEND!

Also agree that the Cubs need to quit using the Yankee's Model of signing aging superstars and trading their prospects to WIN NOW! They need to shed the few remaining bad contracts on the books and start from the ground up.

Doughboy's gave Theo the blueprint about a month ago.... Keep Starlin Castro and dump all the rest!!!!

It was the perfect move at the perfect time for him. He will have years of leeway with the Cubs, while in Boston they are PO'd about the collapse this year.

Theo has a brain but will they give him $$$$ too???

Originally posted by The Mighty Men:

It was the perfect move at the perfect time for him. He will have years of leeway with the Cubs, while in Boston they are PO'd about the collapse this year. Exactly right.

He'll have almost total control in Chicago as well. In Boston, it seemed he was always butting heads with somebody in upper management.



A number of $$$$ come off the Cubs books this year. Theo doesn't have to sign Pujols to make a mark. I think he will do the smart thing and sign the younger Fielder for less years than what Pujols will command.



The move would almost certainly force the Ricketts to increase payroll. Something that Theo is comfortable with and something to get Cubs fans excited again.



Also, Theo tried to hire Ryne Sandberg to Manage at Pawtuckett. It wouldn't be a surprise to see a Ryno hiring under Epstein.

Originally posted by DOUGHBOYS:

[QUOTE]

A number of $$$$ come off the Cubs books this year. Theo doesn't have to sign Pujols to make a mark. I think he will do the smart thing and sign the younger Fielder for less years than what Pujols will command.



The move would almost certainly force the Ricketts to increase payroll. Something that Theo is comfortable with and something to get Cubs fans excited again.



Also, Theo tried to hire Ryne Sandberg to Manage at Pawtuckett. It wouldn't be a surprise to see a Ryno hiring under Epstein. Could not agree more on the Prince Fielder to the Cubbies idea Dough!







But the idea I like even better is Ryno coming back to the Cubs as Manager! Its time!!!



[ October 12, 2011, 12:26 PM: Message edited by: WINSTON'S EMPIRE ]

I wonder if Theo will take Bill James with him to Chicago. He definitely was the one who brought Bill to Boston and he is a Midwest guy. I bet the two continue to work together in Chicago. Just a hunch.

Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:

I wonder if Theo will take Bill James with him to Chicago. He definitely was the one who brought Bill to Boston and he is a Midwest guy. I bet the two continue to work together in Chicago. Just a hunch. Part of the deal is supposed to be a moratorium on Theo hiring Boston personnel. There is some speculation this is just Ben Cherington, though nothing has been formally announced.



The best idea I have seen is Boston should insist the Cubs take Lackey.

The day after the Cubs lost their 91st and last game of the season, the renewal notice for 2012 season tickets showed up in my email. I wasn’t very happy.



And seeing Dan replace his usual word “KC” with “Cubs” over the past 6 months when referencing management incompetence hasn't been any easier.



Now with the apparent hiring of Theo Epstein, the possibility of Sandberg being looked at as the team manager, and the knowledge that the Cubs will have between $40 and $50 million dollars to spend this winter, I’m already looking forward to next year.



Of course it could just be that I’m a typical Cubs fan……….. Eternal hope and all……



[ October 12, 2011, 05:11 PM: Message edited by: Navel Lint ]