Buster Olney just tweeted this about 10 minutes ago: "As the Cubs' situation plays out, we may find out in the end whether they prefer Theo Epstein or Andrew Friedman." Basically narrowed the field to these 2 guys, I'd be fine with either.
He seems to have done more with less. Also, I would HOPE that he could work out a way to bring Maddon with him. Though obviously, I’d be pleased with Theo as well
This is a big market team that needs to rebuild fast. Epstein has succeeded with a big market team already. He’s made mostly good trades, and mostly good free agent signings. Friedman has succeeded by building a small market team through draft picks, which nobody has the patience to do with the Cubs. I’m not convinced he would know what to do with all the money. I can’t think of many big trades or big free agents he’s signed. For this reason, I prefer Theo over Friedman, but I am most definitely willing to give Friedman a shot.
I wonder how much money Tom will have to throw at these guys?
Unless Theo is being forced out, I just don’t get why you come to Chicago to start ANOTHER rebuild job.
At least with Friedman there’s a difference in fan base, and wallet strings and everything else. The Cubs, as far as resources, would be a step up for Friedman, it would be AT BEST a lateral move for Theo.
The Holy Grail of all championships won by any one team....
…would be the Cubs winning the World Series. What Super Bowl, NBA Championship, or Stanley Cup could cause a Nation to stop to witness the final out of a Cubs World Series Championship. The significance of such an event only seems to be lost on you.
I would like some sort of explaination, why do you have it out for me? Why is that so hard for you?
There is no reason for you to be acting like this, yet you continue to do it. There are literally dozens of posters here who say very mean and insulting things, yet you allow it because they agree with you most of the time. Why is that?
whether you realize it or not, just about everyone in this country knows the Cubs haven’t won a world series in over a 100 years and most of those people probably don’t follow baseball but I can guarantee you that most eyes in this country would tune in to see the Cubs win a World Series.
Not even the best World Series viewership comes within like 1/5th of what the Superbowl draws. You really overestimate how many people care about baseball. Those that don’t, aren’t suddenly going to just because it is the Cubs.
Yes it really doesn’t have anything to do with Baseball, but this would be a once in a lifetime event and most people even those that don’t follow baseball know about the Cubs organization futility.
And again, I think you are dramatically overestimating
the fact that there is any national social significance at all. The Cubs winning a WS wouldn’t be that much bigger of a deal than when Boston did it the first time. That Game 4 had 28million viewers (2nd highest in the past 10 years, with game 7 of ‘01 getting 39million viewers.) Last years Superbowl had 111million viewers. Even taking that #1 highest rated WS game, adding 10 million more viewers, you still aren’t at HALF of what the SuperBowl gets.
I get that its going to be the biggest thing ever for you folks on here, but to say most eyes in the country would tune in is ridiculous.
rated WS ever. I take issues with the notion that more people would watch it than anything ever cause its the Cubs. Yes, it will be a national story. Every World Series winner is. If the Cubs do it, it would probably be first page below the fold, instead of on page 3. Maybe even the front page headline depending on the day. But it’s not gonna be a national story in anything but the sports sections from there out
top fold of the majority of all newspapers. Goodness it would be the top Sports story of the year. I don’t care if a 50 year old Brett Farve would win another Super Bowl. The Cubs would trump all the sports stories for the year, hands down.
I’ve said that already. Record setting viewership, again, Yes. Non-Sports fans making an effort to watch the game just because it is going to be a moment of social significance, nope. No more than Boston in ‘04. Front page top story of every newspaper… stretch, but fine. Sure wouldn’t be a followup the next day.
…this would be bigger that Boston in ‘04. First off, I don’t think you understand the reach of WGN back in the 80’s, that alone may be the single most important factor in why the Cubs are so popular across the country. The Red Sox popularity for the most part is and has been propagated by the Eastern Seaboard Programming Network(ESPN), which explains why they are a huge draw in visiting ballparks. It’s their players that are the draw, not necessarily the team. The RedSox popularity is generational but it’s also mostly geographically limited to a region.
I think your love for the WhiteSox or your hatred for the Cubs might be blinding you to just how popular this team is throughout the country.
You also are forgetting the fact that even non-baseball fans that are aware of a 100 plus years of futility would tune in just to get a glimpse of history.
I don't think you realize just how much I know about WGN growing up.
I’m a Sox fan, but damn if I couldn’t name the ’84 Cubs team lineup and blank on the ’84 Sox. Completely due to those WGN broadcasts. I get that. And I get that many folks across the country who only had that WGN station as their 4th or 5th option came home from school and saw those Cubs day games on WGN.
Boston and New York draw premium crowd prices when they come to play because of the ExPats, nothing else. If you want to argue that, then I’ll chew you on logic.
Fact remains, given the largest viewership for the WS ever, with a buffer of even 50 million viewers, The Cubs winning the WS still doesn’t get more eyes than the Superbowl.
The Super Bowl is a one-day event that people have organized parties, etc. around.
The World Series happens partly on weeknights, when people have to get up for work the next day.
We’re not talking about the raw TV viewership numbers for the games themselves. We’re talking about the attention such a WS win would get from NON sports media and people who wouldn’t otherwise care about baseball.
It’s kind of like the HR chase in 1998. People who hadn’t cared about baseball in years were following that.
YOU may be talking about that, I'm talking about the TV viewers.
but I can guarantee you that most eyes in this country would tune in to see the Cubs win a World Series.
That’s the whole and only thing I was talking about. given the post I initially responded to. However should the Cubs win the world series, this is how the talk at the water cooler the next day is gonna go among non-sports fans-
“Hey, so the Cubs won the world series.”
“Yeah, you know, if those guys can do it, maybe there is hope for me with Rebecca Romijn.”
The Boston Red Sox will hire Bill James, the writer and statistical expert, as a senior adviser, Theo Epstein, their assistant general manager, said yesterday.
So, assuming Theo comes to Chicago, who from BCB will step up to be the Cubs’ Sabermetrics adviser?
Seriously? That is like choosing between brownies & chocolate cake
If I thought the Cubs would seriously get either of them I would be over the moon. In general I think Theo is better suited though given that he has worked with a big budget and did not build a team mainly through high draft picks and trading very good players for other very good players when he could no longer afford to keep them.
Friedmann’s main plus is that he doesnt have any albatross contracts – which he just cant give out big contracts.
Give me Epstein ANY day of the week over Friedmann in that he has directed Cubs East for the last decade and done a fine job (considering missing the playoffs equals 89 and 90 wins – not too shabby)
I have the feeling the Cubs are going to hit a homerun in the GM hire. It’s just a really good feeling.
If the Red Sox get rid of Epstein as well as Francona it is stupid and overreacting. It’s time the Cubs took advantage of another team’s idiocy instead of the other way around.
It sounds as if all you are proposing is changing the title from GM to President
A GM typically has authority over all baseball decisions.
In the Cubs case, I think the financial issues are so complex that I wouldn’t want a GM to be burdened with them. I really don’t want him involved in getting the Triangle Building off the ground, for instance, or dealing with the City of Chicago.
However, all baseball related activities should already be reporting to the GM (the manager and MLB players, minor league system, player draft, scouting, and development). If you want to call him a President instead, that’s fine by me. I don’t know that it makes any difference though.
Ricketts will have Crane Kenney act in the capacity of President of Business Affairs, working on things like the Triangle Building and renovating Wrigley Field and community outreach projects. The new GM, whether it’s Theo or Friedman, will act in the capacity of President of Baseball Affairs – meaning talent evaluation, player development, etc. Now the GM probably won’t have the title of “President”, but he’ll still be totally in charge of the baseball-related affairs.
If the title of President is what will get the Cubs an Epstien or a Friedman, I’m more than fine with that. However, the responsibilities as described wouldn’t be different.
Hiring Theo would seem to indicate more of a win-now strategy.
He has worked on major contacts and signings. Is Johnny Damon’s 5 million the highest paid free agent Friedman has ever signed? I can’t remember what Manny Ramirez signed for. To me it seems as if hiring Friedman might be more of a 5 year approach. Hiring Theo means win now.
You knock your viewers for commenting on posts about every little twitter tidbit. Fact is, they are commenting about those tweets on YOUR blog and giving YOU the pageviews. Your fans are starving for info about what is gonna happen with the team. Any little thing is gonna be cause for speculation and discussion, it’s the nature of sports. I still don’t understand why you are so vehemently against twitter. It’s what reporters use now to break whatever they can, because there is no longer the ability to break any scoop in the morning edition. Yah, much crap gets put out, put its a self correcting cycle.
You fight Twitter like the old sports media fights blogs. You both seem like dinosaurs when you do it.
Broken link
San Diego Smooth Jazz Man - October 1, 2011
I'd honestly rather have Friedman.
He seems to have done more with less. Also, I would HOPE that he could work out a way to bring Maddon with him. Though obviously, I’d be pleased with Theo as well
Nunyabidness - October 1, 2011
true but
I have a really hard time seeing Maddon going anywhere for some reason.
joeflah13 - October 1, 2011
agreed.
PacificCub - October 1, 2011
He also had top picks for years, that helps quite a bit.
BobTheAutomator - October 1, 2011 via mobile
And proceeded to use them on quality guys.
We’ve had quite a few high draft picks as well.
Nunyabidness - October 1, 2011
And did not use them correctly....
TJ11 - October 1, 2011
and used them very effectively
lookingdeadred - October 1, 2011
Which not everyone does
ClarkFan - October 1, 2011
It only helps...
…if you know who to pick and who not to. Also, you still have to develop whatever players your draft.
The Cubs have not exactly shinned in either of these areas for quite a while.
MPH73 - October 3, 2011
I disagree
This is a big market team that needs to rebuild fast. Epstein has succeeded with a big market team already. He’s made mostly good trades, and mostly good free agent signings. Friedman has succeeded by building a small market team through draft picks, which nobody has the patience to do with the Cubs. I’m not convinced he would know what to do with all the money. I can’t think of many big trades or big free agents he’s signed. For this reason, I prefer Theo over Friedman, but I am most definitely willing to give Friedman a shot.
wrigleyrocker12 - October 1, 2011
As I said in another thread...
Maddon only has one more year under contract with the Rays.
Kansas25 - October 1, 2011
Maddon?
Over Quade? Not sold on Maddon’s hand-clap dedication.
timh815 - October 2, 2011
^Ditto!!!^
jeffstorm2 - October 2, 2011
he's got better hair than Quade.
epsilon - October 3, 2011
does Friedman
come with Hunsicker? because that’s a big deal…
DartmouthCubsFan - October 3, 2011
Probably not.
I can’t see the Cubs hiring two people.
Al Yellon - October 3, 2011
Then we really don't want Friedman
since he’s the business guy and Hunsicker is the baseball guy.
Josh Timmers - October 3, 2011
damn...
well I can’t seem to get the link to work here either for some reason. If you just go to @Buster_ESPN on twitter.com it’ll be there
joeflah13 - October 1, 2011
its a win either way
TheBeerBaron - October 1, 2011
Buster's previous tweet was
Great, he’s got the Cubs linked to Simon Cowell and to Jersey Shore.
RiskyBusiness - October 1, 2011
New York Post's Joel Sherman says Theo to Chicago
http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/10/01/someone-thinks-theo-epstein-is-chicago-bound/
I’m not sure if this is where Olney is getting is info.
BVictor - October 1, 2011
I am fine with Theo....friedman is an exciting pick....But I would rather have theo if andrew is not available.
I will say this as someone who is pretty hard on Ricketts……
I think it will be VERY impressive if he gets either of those men to run the Cubs….
Just my opinion of course……
TJ11 - October 1, 2011
TJ approves!!!!
LT - October 1, 2011
Very true!!!!
TJ11 - October 1, 2011
You're not only very hard on Ricketts
but you’re also extremely unfair too. You don’t know how organizations need to run, but you expect expect things to happen on the schedule you want.
Ricketts signing Friedman or Epstein will only prove further how you don’t know what you are talking about. .
jerry morales rules - October 1, 2011
I wonder how much money Tom will have to throw at these guys?
Unless Theo is being forced out, I just don’t get why you come to Chicago to start ANOTHER rebuild job.
At least with Friedman there’s a difference in fan base, and wallet strings and everything else. The Cubs, as far as resources, would be a step up for Friedman, it would be AT BEST a lateral move for Theo.
Nunyabidness - October 1, 2011
If he can win with the Red Sox AND Cubs....he will be a legend.....
TJ11 - October 1, 2011
Chicago >>>>>>> Boston
Chicago in the summer, with the lake, is tough to beat.
Hammer - October 1, 2011
Great
so Theo can watch everyone else have fun while he’s working 100 hours per week during his busy season.
uptowncub - October 1, 2011
its a good thing we all have smart phones
Hammer - October 1, 2011
For a guy who will never actually BE on the lake in the summer?
Nunyabidness - October 1, 2011
I am not even going to go down this road anymore
I made a comment – you seem to be everywhere on this site just trashing things. Let us know when you are in a better mood
Hammer - October 1, 2011
I asked an honest question and your response was that the lake would reel him on.
I’m not sure my response counts as “trashing”
Nunyabidness - October 1, 2011
Fine here is my answer
He has a wife and a 4 year old and Ill bet at sometime in the summer he will be at the lake with them. He will also have his phone with him if needed.
Hammer - October 1, 2011
He's already going to be a legend, he won two World Series in a place that hadn't won one in 80 years
He’s already going to the hall
Nunyabidness - October 1, 2011
I agree, but what would be the one thing that could top it??????
Winning with the Cubs……
TJ11 - October 1, 2011
Winning with the Red Sox or Yankees is much better than with the cubs I'm sure.
kklife12 - October 1, 2011
No one now living knows
ClarkFan - October 1, 2011
It's just very likely.
Those two teams just have much greater histories.
kklife12 - October 1, 2011
You dont get it do you....
TJ11 - October 1, 2011
ignore him
it would drive him nuts
LT - October 1, 2011
Don't get what?
I think it’s pretty clear which teams have greater histories and fanbases
kklife12 - October 1, 2011
wow...
TJ11 - October 1, 2011
Wow is right...
If you don’t understand that.
kklife12 - October 1, 2011
The Holy Grail of all championships won by any one team....
…would be the Cubs winning the World Series. What Super Bowl, NBA Championship, or Stanley Cup could cause a Nation to stop to witness the final out of a Cubs World Series Championship. The significance of such an event only seems to be lost on you.
troutfishin - October 1, 2011
He is going to be fun to toy with.....
But I think we have already before…..
TJ11 - October 1, 2011
Kind of full of yourself aren't you?
The nation does not revolve around the cubs. haha
kklife12 - October 1, 2011
oh boy..
jesus christos - October 1, 2011
Watch your attitude.
Al Yellon - October 1, 2011
Hmmm, another "kk"
Kitty Kitty strikes again!
ClarkFan - October 1, 2011
What?
No attitude here. You must be trying to respond to someone else.
kklife12 - October 4, 2011
Better yet, how about you call out TJ for his attitude....
Or does he agree with you enough that thats not needed.
kklife12 - October 4, 2011
I'll thank you to not tell me how to run this site.
Remember, you’re on about your sixth last chance.
Al Yellon - October 4, 2011
I'm only pointing out that you don't usually treat people equally around here.
kklife12 - October 4, 2011
I said nothing out of line in this thread, yet you told me to watch my attitude.
pretty curious, how is this my sixth chance also?
kklife12 - October 4, 2011
You already know the answer to that, Husker.
And so does everyone else here.
Stop being combative, stop the personal attacks.
Al Yellon - October 4, 2011
Huh?, where have I been combative?
and where have I been giving personal attacks? I think you’re thinking of someone else……
kklife12 - October 4, 2011
You need to stop now.
You’re like a 12-year-old talking back to his parents.
Stop now.
Al Yellon - October 4, 2011
Al
I would like some sort of explaination, why do you have it out for me? Why is that so hard for you?
There is no reason for you to be acting like this, yet you continue to do it. There are literally dozens of posters here who say very mean and insulting things, yet you allow it because they agree with you most of the time. Why is that?
kklife12 - October 4, 2011
No, but this site does...try to keep up
TJ11 - October 1, 2011
I'm game
whether you realize it or not, just about everyone in this country knows the Cubs haven’t won a world series in over a 100 years and most of those people probably don’t follow baseball but I can guarantee you that most eyes in this country would tune in to see the Cubs win a World Series.
Hello, McFly.
troutfishin - October 1, 2011
I would take that bet in an instant.
Not even the best World Series viewership comes within like 1/5th of what the Superbowl draws. You really overestimate how many people care about baseball. Those that don’t, aren’t suddenly going to just because it is the Cubs.
South Side Expat - October 1, 2011
It's the social significance
Yes it really doesn’t have anything to do with Baseball, but this would be a once in a lifetime event and most people even those that don’t follow baseball know about the Cubs organization futility.
Again it’s the social significance aspect of it.
troutfishin - October 1, 2011
And again, I think you are dramatically overestimating
the fact that there is any national social significance at all. The Cubs winning a WS wouldn’t be that much bigger of a deal than when Boston did it the first time. That Game 4 had 28million viewers (2nd highest in the past 10 years, with game 7 of ‘01 getting 39million viewers.) Last years Superbowl had 111million viewers. Even taking that #1 highest rated WS game, adding 10 million more viewers, you still aren’t at HALF of what the SuperBowl gets.
I get that its going to be the biggest thing ever for you folks on here, but to say most eyes in the country would tune in is ridiculous.
South Side Expat - October 1, 2011
It may not get Superbowl ratings...But it would probably be the highest rated World series in quite some time.....
It would be a national story
You can downplay it all you want…
TJ11 - October 2, 2011
I do not doubt that it would be the highest
rated WS ever. I take issues with the notion that more people would watch it than anything ever cause its the Cubs. Yes, it will be a national story. Every World Series winner is. If the Cubs do it, it would probably be first page below the fold, instead of on page 3. Maybe even the front page headline depending on the day. But it’s not gonna be a national story in anything but the sports sections from there out
South Side Expat - October 2, 2011
I think you'll be very surprised...
… at exactly how big a story it will be.
I hope you (and we) get to find out soon.
Al Yellon - October 2, 2011
It will be bigger because the Cubs are in it......That is not me saying that as a biased Cub fan....
TJ11 - October 2, 2011
It would be on the front page
top fold of the majority of all newspapers. Goodness it would be the top Sports story of the year. I don’t care if a 50 year old Brett Farve would win another Super Bowl. The Cubs would trump all the sports stories for the year, hands down.
Grockcubs - October 2, 2011
Have to disagree with you.
It would be a national story.
sue369 - October 2, 2011
Again- National story, I don't dispute.
I’ve said that already. Record setting viewership, again, Yes. Non-Sports fans making an effort to watch the game just because it is going to be a moment of social significance, nope. No more than Boston in ‘04. Front page top story of every newspaper… stretch, but fine. Sure wouldn’t be a followup the next day.
South Side Expat - October 2, 2011
You have to realize why...
…this would be bigger that Boston in ‘04. First off, I don’t think you understand the reach of WGN back in the 80’s, that alone may be the single most important factor in why the Cubs are so popular across the country. The Red Sox popularity for the most part is and has been propagated by the Eastern Seaboard Programming Network(ESPN), which explains why they are a huge draw in visiting ballparks. It’s their players that are the draw, not necessarily the team. The RedSox popularity is generational but it’s also mostly geographically limited to a region.
I think your love for the WhiteSox or your hatred for the Cubs might be blinding you to just how popular this team is throughout the country.
You also are forgetting the fact that even non-baseball fans that are aware of a 100 plus years of futility would tune in just to get a glimpse of history.
It would be bigger than ’04.
troutfishin - October 2, 2011
I don't think you realize just how much I know about WGN growing up.
I’m a Sox fan, but damn if I couldn’t name the ’84 Cubs team lineup and blank on the ’84 Sox. Completely due to those WGN broadcasts. I get that. And I get that many folks across the country who only had that WGN station as their 4th or 5th option came home from school and saw those Cubs day games on WGN.
Boston and New York draw premium crowd prices when they come to play because of the ExPats, nothing else. If you want to argue that, then I’ll chew you on logic.
Fact remains, given the largest viewership for the WS ever, with a buffer of even 50 million viewers, The Cubs winning the WS still doesn’t get more eyes than the Superbowl.
South Side Expat - October 3, 2011
You're right, it probably doesn't.
The Super Bowl is a one-day event that people have organized parties, etc. around.
The World Series happens partly on weeknights, when people have to get up for work the next day.
We’re not talking about the raw TV viewership numbers for the games themselves. We’re talking about the attention such a WS win would get from NON sports media and people who wouldn’t otherwise care about baseball.
It’s kind of like the HR chase in 1998. People who hadn’t cared about baseball in years were following that.
Al Yellon - October 3, 2011
YOU may be talking about that, I'm talking about the TV viewers.
That’s the whole and only thing I was talking about. given the post I initially responded to. However should the Cubs win the world series, this is how the talk at the water cooler the next day is gonna go among non-sports fans-
“Hey, so the Cubs won the world series.”
“Yeah, you know, if those guys can do it, maybe there is hope for me with Rebecca Romijn.”
That’s gonna be about it.
South Side Expat - October 3, 2011
Agree to disagree.
Al Yellon - October 3, 2011
Seems I (almost) always miss
“da good stuff”…
jeffstorm2 - October 2, 2011
Huh?
When it comes to winning the whole thing, the Cubs are the most legendarily futile sports franchise in North America.
I guarantee you the Cubs playing in the WS would be a huge, huge story.
Not Bruce Froemming - October 2, 2011
A rare moment of agreement
troutfishin - October 2, 2011
totally agree
Id do anything for the Cubs to win – that said – Id bet the TV numbers in a lame ass Super Bowl would destroy a Cubs/Yanks WS
Hammer - October 3, 2011
HAHA---
I feel compelled to use my first LOL
Hammer - October 3, 2011
The Saints winning the Super Bowl was kind of a big deal
Ace Venom - October 2, 2011
Hiya Ace...
I’m not disputing your point, but, IMHO, Cubs WS winners would dwarf NO S-Bowl.
jeffstorm2 - October 2, 2011
I haven't met a man yet
Who didn’t have an ego. Certainly winning with the Cubs would be a big ego boost. Why wouldn’t he be interested in a challenge like the Cubs?
cub in louies nest - October 1, 2011 via mobile
When the Cubs finally win....if you are in charge, you will be a chicago legend forever....
Look at Ditka and all the 85 Bears
Even the Cubs who missed the sereis in 84 are well remembered.
Could you imagine the party if the Cubs won? It would dwarf the Bulls and Sox stuff.
TJ11 - October 1, 2011
I have to agree with TJ here
The Cubs winning the WS would trump everything, by a mile.
Not Bruce Froemming - October 2, 2011
Agreed, Again!!!
troutfishin - October 2, 2011
Twice in a night?
I think the Guinness Book needs to be notified. ;)
Not Bruce Froemming - October 2, 2011
Who was responsible for bringing Bill James in to be an advisor for Boston?
Was it Epstein?
Fukudometer - October 1, 2011
Via 2002 NYT article...
So, assuming Theo comes to Chicago, who from BCB will step up to be the Cubs’ Sabermetrics adviser?
Fukudometer - October 1, 2011
I'll do it as long as I get a guarantee that Jonah Hill will never play me in a movie
Yes, I understand Jonah Hill isn’t playing Bill James. I just want that guarantee
Nunyabidness - October 1, 2011
Can Jason Biggs or Jason Segal play you?
Fukudometer - October 1, 2011
maybe Jason Segal for the nude scenes only
Moneyball 2: Electric Boogaloo
Fukudometer - October 1, 2011
Segal can I guess. He seems to reel in some fine tail in his movies
and I love me some Willow
Nunyabidness - October 1, 2011
Jason Segal and I share a birthday (January 18)
EalyEagle - October 1, 2011
I can bring my own calculator
does that help?
RiskyBusiness - October 1, 2011
cwyers
i have hope
DartmouthCubsFan - October 3, 2011
Seriously? That is like choosing between brownies & chocolate cake
If I thought the Cubs would seriously get either of them I would be over the moon. In general I think Theo is better suited though given that he has worked with a big budget and did not build a team mainly through high draft picks and trading very good players for other very good players when he could no longer afford to keep them.
Doggie Stalker - October 1, 2011
Brownies with edges anyway over cake
Unless I can just eat the frosting. I would be pleased with either of these guys.
cub in louies nest - October 1, 2011 via mobile
I agree
Friedmann’s main plus is that he doesnt have any albatross contracts – which he just cant give out big contracts.
Give me Epstein ANY day of the week over Friedmann in that he has directed Cubs East for the last decade and done a fine job (considering missing the playoffs equals 89 and 90 wins – not too shabby)
hansman1982 - October 1, 2011
are we talking about Portillo's chocolate cake?
The secret ingredient is mayonnaise.
Fukudometer - October 1, 2011
After seeing MOneyball again I want Beane.
puckishcubsfan - October 1, 2011
They won't actually get Brad Pitt, you know....
ClarkFan - October 1, 2011
My sources tell me it will be Theo
Of course my sources are twitter
LT - October 1, 2011
if you read it on the internet or Twitter
it must be true!!!
VegasCubFan - October 2, 2011
I rather have Theo...
… Friedman has become a tad over rated. But I wouldn’t be disappointed in either.
I don’t know if its going to happen, Al said he was 99% sure Epstein wasn’t coming.
Unique - October 1, 2011 via mobile
didnt he also say Francona would not be outed in Boston
Cubbie-Tim - October 1, 2011
I have the feeling the Cubs are going to hit a homerun in the GM hire. It’s just a really good feeling.
If the Red Sox get rid of Epstein as well as Francona it is stupid and overreacting. It’s time the Cubs took advantage of another team’s idiocy instead of the other way around.
puckishcubsfan - October 1, 2011
agreed
TJ11 - October 2, 2011
agreed
TJ11 - October 2, 2011
Question for all my friends
Question for you all.
Would you offer Friedman control over all baseball decisions and name him President to lure him here?
It’s a win win. Let Ricketts take care of all non baseball decisions only thing he would do is approve expenditures.
puckishcubsfan - October 1, 2011
I meant Epstein or Friedman I think giving either complete control may put the Cubs over the top in getting one of them.
I also would like to look at Beane. Same question and to add another wrinkle to the fire would you trade a prospect like the Marlins did for Guillen.
And are there any managers you’d trade a prospect for that are currently employed?
puckishcubsfan - October 1, 2011
It sounds as if all you are proposing is changing the title from GM to President
A GM typically has authority over all baseball decisions.
In the Cubs case, I think the financial issues are so complex that I wouldn’t want a GM to be burdened with them. I really don’t want him involved in getting the Triangle Building off the ground, for instance, or dealing with the City of Chicago.
However, all baseball related activities should already be reporting to the GM (the manager and MLB players, minor league system, player draft, scouting, and development). If you want to call him a President instead, that’s fine by me. I don’t know that it makes any difference though.
jerry morales rules - October 1, 2011
I tend to see it this way, and you may also
Ricketts will have Crane Kenney act in the capacity of President of Business Affairs, working on things like the Triangle Building and renovating Wrigley Field and community outreach projects. The new GM, whether it’s Theo or Friedman, will act in the capacity of President of Baseball Affairs – meaning talent evaluation, player development, etc. Now the GM probably won’t have the title of “President”, but he’ll still be totally in charge of the baseball-related affairs.
EalyEagle - October 1, 2011
I see it that way
If the title of President is what will get the Cubs an Epstien or a Friedman, I’m more than fine with that. However, the responsibilities as described wouldn’t be different.
jerry morales rules - October 1, 2011
The less power Ricketts has, the better.
Leave it to the pros, kid.
shoemile - October 1, 2011
Hiring Theo would seem to indicate more of a win-now strategy.
He has worked on major contacts and signings. Is Johnny Damon’s 5 million the highest paid free agent Friedman has ever signed? I can’t remember what Manny Ramirez signed for. To me it seems as if hiring Friedman might be more of a 5 year approach. Hiring Theo means win now.
BucknerKongCardenal - October 1, 2011
We “may” find out? And this outright guess provoked this many comments?
I’m going back to watching the playoffs, where things actually happen.
Al Yellon - October 1, 2011
Don't you think it's a higher chance than you thought at first?
Unique - October 1, 2011
(On Epstein)
Unique - October 1, 2011
No.
I don’t think the chances have changed one bit since yesterday, except in the minds of national sportswriters looking for page views.
Al Yellon - October 1, 2011
99% chance of not happening though?
The Cubs are an attractive job. Epstein could reach legend status with this job.
Only snag I see is the Red Sox letting him out his contract.
Unique - October 1, 2011
No, there's not a 99% chance of it NOT happening.
But neither is it the sure thing that this tweet implies.
Al Yellon - October 1, 2011
Just remembered this post from you in the season finale...
In regards of Epstein’s chances to coming to the Cubs:
It, being the chance Epstein comes. That’s why I said 99%. I figured you knew something we didn’t at that time.
Unique - October 1, 2011
Al's not the biggest Twitter fan
so he probably won’t greet anything disseminated via that channel all that warmly.
EalyEagle - October 1, 2011
especially when it's Buster Olney doing the Tweeting
linky
EalyEagle - October 1, 2011
Yeah, I remember that.
I think Olney has to hold some weight here though.
The national media is typically wrong all the time, but logic would tell you Epstein would be at least moderately interested in the position.
Unique - October 2, 2011
I suppose.
Olney throws a lot of stuff through the Twitter mill. Not surprising that a small percentage of it would turn out to be right.
Al Yellon - October 2, 2011
If seeking out page views...
is such a bad thing, then you should probably stop posting links here to every article you write on other SB Nation blogs.
kanderber - October 2, 2011
I don't feel the need to boost Buster Olney's page views.
I don’t think it’s a stretch to wonder why I like to promote mine.
Al Yellon - October 2, 2011
Come on Al.
You knock your viewers for commenting on posts about every little twitter tidbit. Fact is, they are commenting about those tweets on YOUR blog and giving YOU the pageviews. Your fans are starving for info about what is gonna happen with the team. Any little thing is gonna be cause for speculation and discussion, it’s the nature of sports. I still don’t understand why you are so vehemently against twitter. It’s what reporters use now to break whatever they can, because there is no longer the ability to break any scoop in the morning edition. Yah, much crap gets put out, put its a self correcting cycle.
You fight Twitter like the old sports media fights blogs. You both seem like dinosaurs when you do it.
South Side Expat - October 2, 2011
There's no question there is useful info on Twitter.
The noise-to-signal ratio is quite high, though.
Sure, speculate all you want. But recognize that the national writers are doing exactly the same thing: guessing.
Al Yellon - October 3, 2011
SB Nation is a network.
daver - October 3, 2011
I agree with you
this isn’t even speculation, and it certainly isn’t reporting.
tomas21 - October 2, 2011
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