Periodic Front Office Check-In

[Rice Cube]

Some bullets from today:

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/09/theo-epstein-talks-future-sveum.html

"I think obviously we really care about our fans and we want them to have a great experience, but we're trying to be transparent about it," he said. "We have a plan and we have a vision and it won't happen overnight, but given the way of things I think this is the best way to go."

"There might be some tough things we have to tell (fans) along the way, and there might be another trading deadline in our future where we trade away 40 percent of a really good rotation," Epstein added. "Again, our goal from the beginning was that we were going to do what we need to do to put ourselves in position to be a contending team year in and year out. So that means no shortcuts and taking a long approach."

Epstein went on to praise manager Dale Sveum, acknowledging that he is being evaluated more on his ability to help their young players develop than the club's win-loss record.

http://espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/story/_/id/8378766/chicago-cubs-theo-epstein-levels-fans-future

"We told him that based on where we are as a franchise, we're going to try to win but we're not going to evaluate him on wins and losses the first couple of years, to be honest, because it wouldn't be fair," Epstein said. "We knew we would be putting out a team that had too much developing talent to be evaluating him strictly on wins and losses. We will evaluate him on a number of other criteria that we shared with him, and I think he has done a fantastic job to be honest with you."

...

The first goal is to make the playoffs. Until then, titles can't happen.

"When you acquire really young players and trade for prospects and focus on the draft, it's really obvious that it's not a quick road, but it's going to be a really, I think, rewarding journey," Epstein said.

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/13514/cubs-motivation-comes-from-humble-goal

"I think nobody wants to be associated with a 100-loss team; it would be really nice to avoid," president Theo Epstein said. “We’ll try to win every game but if we can win enough to avoid 100 that would be a very, very small victory but certainly better than losing 100. I think the guys feel that. Nobody wants to be a part of that.”

...

So if it got down to crunch time and they Cubs still needed a late victory to avoid the mark, would they consider bringing back Jeff Samardzija to pitch again or use a hot pitcher on short rest?

“No. Absolutely 100 percent not,” Epstein said. “We’re going to do what we can to win every game but you are what your record says. We’ll look up at the end of the year and see where we are but we couldn’t short change player’s development or put a player in jeopardy health wise to try to avoid something like that. It would be really small-minded to do something like that.”

 

[Mr. Cub]

At least he's honest.

 

[waldo7239117]

Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer have been pretty quite since taking over, but when they have talked, it was the truth. It's probably not what we want to hear, but I do love the honesty.

 

[Shawon0Meter]

 

[Rice Cube]

Paul Sullivan has an article up with some Theo blurbs:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sport...-wait-till-next-year-20121004,0,5051297.story

The usual dig at Big Z also included.

 

[Rice Cube]

More Theo stuff from ESPN:

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/13876/theo-not-making-empty-promises-to-fans

 

[Sunbiz1]

More Theo stuff from ESPN:

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/13876/theo-not-making-empty-promises-to-fans

Can U see this link?.
http://eedition.chicagotribune.com/Olive/ODE/ChicagoTribune/

The Trib now has a goofy digital subscription that won't allow me to paste the text of articles. What I wanted to share was this:

Epstein said:

"The Cubs have a covenant with fans and that the 2.8 million in attendance for a 101 L team is proof they are buying into the plan".

I'm not buying the statement fans are "buying in", you?

 

[Rice Cube]

Can U see this link?.
http://eedition.chicagotribune.com/Olive/ODE/ChicagoTribune/

The Trib now has a goofy digital subscription that won't allow me to paste the text of articles. What I wanted to share was this:

Epstein said:

"The Cubs have a covenant with fans and that the 2.8 million in attendance for a 101 L team is proof they are buying into the plan".

I'm not buying the statement fans are "buying in", you?

It depends on which fans you're talking about. There are the fans who are die-hards who will buy in no matter what. There are those who would like to go to games but can't because they couldn't afford it especially when the team was good and tickets were more expensive. But I think most fans in the background know that there's a good chance that better days are coming, and in the meantime they can save their money or get cheaper tickets. Also, the tourism crowd will still hang out in Wrigley, not to mention the people playing hooky who have nothing better to do on weekday afternoons.

The Cubs obviously won't be able to take advantage of this good will forever, and there's only so much the scalpers are willing to help out with, so their time is definitely limited.

 

[Sunbiz1]

It depends on which fans you're talking about. There are the fans who are die-hards who will buy in no matter what. There are those who would like to go to games but can't because they couldn't afford it especially when the team was good and tickets were more expensive. But I think most fans in the background know that there's a good chance that better days are coming, and in the meantime they can save their money or get cheaper tickets. Also, the tourism crowd will still hang out in Wrigley, not to mention the people playing hooky who have nothing better to do on weekday afternoons.

The Cubs obviously won't be able to take advantage of this good will forever, and there's only so much the scalpers are willing to help out with, so their time is definitely limited.

In a way, I think Theo may have been patronizing fans b/c I'm having a hard time believing that he really believes Cub fans are that baseball smart.

Does that link work 4/you?. I ask b/c it's the entire newspaper...lol

 

[Rice Cube]

To be honest I try to avoid the Tribune like the plague these days I'm not a fan of most Chicago beat writers.

 

[Rice Cube]

There is this one though...

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/10/05/quote-of-the-day-theo-epstein-on-the-state-of-the-cubs/

Theo's a good speaker but I don't think they've completely figured out what they're gonna do yet. That's part of the reason I wrote up the Greinke blog last night, just idle speculation on my part but it does make sense to splurge a bit.

 

[daddies3angels]

Can someone please tell me why fans seem to think 2014 is the magical year this all turns around? Theo already said he not going to buy into FA. Building up the farm going to take 5+ yrs. He still has to draft and trade for prospects which are going to take time in minors and then the ones that do pan out have to prove something in MLB. Honestly its going to take 10+ yrs to do what he wants. He cant do what he did in BOS and over spend in Draft and international signings to build great farm. So to get this rebuilding going faster they going to have to spend money in FA or if they are going to stick with there plan its going to take way past 2014. Im at the point where i honestly dont care. As guy said up there some fans are just going to eat up everything that these guys saids. Il always be a Cub fan and follow them hard but i dont see this regime winning anytime soon. Honestly i think they will be fired before they start winning cause i dont see Fans allowing them to rebuild for 5+ yrs. If Ricketts already pissed about attendance being below 3 mil what do they expect when team going to suck again next year and years after that. People will keep there season tickets so when they do finally get good they can go but until that happens seats will keep staying empty.

 

[dabynsky]

Ultimately we don't know what is going to happen because there are so many question marks about what guys will be. I doubt the plan is to build entirely through the farm system, but we will see when the time is right in their estimation. Some arms could make this team interesting next year if young guys play well, but a lot would have to bounce our way. I am anxious to see what they are able to do in the offseason.

 

[daddies3angels]

Ultimately we don't know what is going to happen because there are so many question marks about what guys will be. I doubt the plan is to build entirely through the farm system, but we will see when the time is right in their estimation. Some arms could make this team interesting next year if young guys play well, but a lot would have to bounce our way. I am anxious to see what they are able to do in the offseason.

From what im understanding reading between the lines they going to spend on mid tier guys giving them 1-2 yr deals and if/when they out of the race they will flip them for prospects. As i said in earlier thread i truly believe they plan on building farm up by signing FA to 1-2 yr deals and flipping them for specs cause they know they can build up picks from comp and cant over spend during AM Draft. I actually think its a really smart idea way to rebuild with new draft rules. But its going to take more then 2-3 yrs for it to work. Im curious how fans will deal with losing for years to come.

 

[dabynsky]

From what im understanding reading between the lines they going to spend on mid tier guys giving them 1-2 yr deals and if/when they out of the race they will flip them for prospects. As i said in earlier thread i truly believe they plan on building farm up by signing FA to 1-2 yr deals and flipping them for specs cause they know they can build up picks from comp and cant over spend during AM Draft. I actually think its a really smart idea way to rebuild with new draft rules. But its going to take more then 2-3 yrs for it to work. Im curious how fans will deal with losing for years to come.

I wouldn't be shocked if that was the plan. I also wouldn't be shocked if this team was quite a bit better depending on some bounces. But either way I am just curious to see what they can do.

 

[daddies3angels]

I wouldn't be shocked if that was the plan. I also wouldn't be shocked if this team was quite a bit better depending on some bounces. But either way I am just curious to see what they can do.

Have to remember this is the Cubs. Not like we follow the Cardinals who get "infield fly rule" luck lol

 

[dabynsky]

Have to remember this is the Cubs. Not like we follow the Cardinals who get "infield fly rule" luck lol

Yeah today did nothing but confirm my belief in the Cardinals magic pixie dust.

 

[daddies3angels]

Yeah today did nothing but confirm my belief in the Cardinals magic pixie dust.

I just confirmed today that God is a STL fan while Devil is a Cubs fan

 

[Rice Cube]

Some stuff from Theo about the offseason plan:

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cub...on-plan?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

 

[dabynsky]

Interesting stuff particularly that they are going to turn Cabrera into a starter. This is the first time that made Ian Stewart sound a legitimate shot at returning next season, and just an interesting look at the offseason.