New GM/Cubs Future News Articles

[Bryants Disco Ball]

She might just be on this board because she follows the Cubs and this is a pretty populated board. Sometimes I don't think posters that belong to a well read message board for a very popular team give themselves enough credit. I have no doubt current and past players and current and past members of Cubs management have read this board at one time or another. They are human, and it's difficult not to start searching the Internet to see what people are saying about you.

[UMFan83]

I'm a little skeptical about one's neighbor 'leaking' anything about the search for our new GM. There's a great deal of confidentiality involved in a position like that and she would have violated that trust. She may find herself out of a job if Tom Ricketts found out about it. Tell her to zip it.

 

Our new GM should not have anyone forced upon him, he should able to hire/fire who he needs to do the job he was brought on board to do.

 

No doubt. That's why I said to take it with a grain of salt. She was very casual about what she said and none of the info was really all that different from what we've all read about. The only thing I'd take from it is confirming the Cubs interest in some of the names we've discussed.

 

Just felt I'd share to 1)name drop ;) and 2) to provide the board with any tidbits I come across that aren't from the usual sources. I highly highly doubt I'll ever come across any really juicy info from her, and I would never ask her to share such info with me. I'm sure she gets enough of that from her friends that are Cubs fans. I don't mind asking her casually about the GM search and if she chooses to tell me something, then that's great.

[RammyFanny]

Phil Rogers:

Fans hoping that Tom Ricketts will hunt big names in his general manager search are likely to be disappointed.

 

A source close to Brian Cashman confirms that he's out, and over the weekend Red Sox chairman Tom Werner called Theo Epstein's rumored interest “a complete non-story.’’ Joe Maddon, the Rays’ manager, eloquently explained why he’s not worried about Andrew Friedman leaving Tampa Bay to take on the challenge at Wrigley Field.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-your-morning-phil-epstein-viciedo-posey-20110829,0,7643230.story

[SouthSideRyan]

I thought we all agreed to stop listening to anything the Chicago media said.

[WrigleyField 22]

So if you're not canning them, the new management (in any business) would retain them, assuming their performance is good. Basically, I'm sure Hendry didn't bring this person in, so it shouldn't be expected they leave with him.

 

I'm not expecting them to leave, I'm just commenting that it seems odd to me that a new head of baseball operations wouldn't have his choice of executive assistant.

Well on that article about the current assistant, it says right in it that the previous executive assistant spanned multiple GMs and a quarter of a decade. I know from my own experience at my company when the new CEO came in, our executive admin assistant stayed in the same role.

 

We've read stuff saying that actual baseball people like Fleita may be forced on the new GM, so an executive assistant doesn't seem to odd. Sure if they decide after a year, they want a change it would be granted, but right away? That would seem odd, IMO.

 

Where have you read Fleita may be forced on the new guy?

Forced was a bad word choice. But I remember reading speculation right after that Flieta and Wilken have a strong chance to remain because Ricketts is happy with them.

[Magnetic Curses]

So if you're not canning them, the new management (in any business) would retain them, assuming their performance is good. Basically, I'm sure Hendry didn't bring this person in, so it shouldn't be expected they leave with him.

 

I'm not expecting them to leave, I'm just commenting that it seems odd to me that a new head of baseball operations wouldn't have his choice of executive assistant.

Well on that article about the current assistant, it says right in it that the previous executive assistant spanned multiple GMs and a quarter of a decade. I know from my own experience at my company when the new CEO came in, our executive admin assistant stayed in the same role.

 

We've read stuff saying that actual baseball people like Fleita may be forced on the new GM, so an executive assistant doesn't seem to odd. Sure if they decide after a year, they want a change it would be granted, but right away? That would seem odd, IMO.

 

Where have you read Fleita may be forced on the new guy?

Forced was a bad word choice. But I remember reading speculation right after that Flieta and Wilken have a strong chance to remain because Ricketts is happy with them.

 

if beane gets hired you can bet that he's been given carte blanche to clean house, and then wilken and fleita are as good as gone. same with theo.

 

no big name is going to come in and be told that he absolutely has to keep wilken or fleita, especially considering the magnitude and attitude and philosophies of those being mentioned seriously.

 

i will change my screen name to raging anus if fleita and/or wilken are still with the cubs next year. if we hope to land a guy who can turn things around, he will not keep someone else's guys in such important positions. there's absolutely no [expletive] way, and it's insane to think otherwise.

 

"hey billy, you can do what you want, we'll give you a mountain of money, but you absolutely have to keep these two guys who have pretty average to below average track records drafting and developing major league players. we all know the very reason we hired you was to change things beginning with drafting and player development, but you can't change the guys in charge of those two departments. they are untouchable."

 

the only way those guys stay is if we hire colleti or the interim guy. not gonna happen.

[TruffleShuffle]

i will change my screen name to raging anus if fleita and/or wilken are still with the cubs next year

 

i think there's a decent chance that at least one of them is back, so i'm pretty excited about this.

[Cubs Fan Dan]

I want Epstein, Friedman, Beane before anyone else but it does not mean the Cubs "need" a big name. There are plenty of solid choices that could be the next Theo or Andrew. I just hope he does not give Colletti the job. I would much prefer Hahn, Levine, DePoto and maybe possibly Burns if the top 2 choices are gone.

 

But yes listening to Chicago Media will be a time filler until the truth comes out. It is useless to speculate people being "out" if they have not even been officially pursued. Its almost like the Cubs are wanting to sign Pena for next year when the GM with the new direction has yet to be even named.

[UMFan83]

 

"hey billy, you can do what you want, we'll give you a mountain of money, but you absolutely have to keep these two guys who have pretty average to below average track records drafting and developing major league players. we all know the very reason we hired you was to change things beginning with drafting and player development, but you can't change the guys in charge of those two departments. they are untouchable."

 

And also, you cannot pick your own assistant, you must use Jim's old one.

[Magnetic Curses]

i will change my screen name to raging anus if fleita and/or wilken are still with the cubs next year

 

i think there's a decent chance that at least one of them is back, so i'm pretty excited about this.

 

you should change your name to "gay guy from crocodile dundee, you know the guy dressed like a chick who gets his dick squeezed by crocodile dundee" if they're both gone.

[TruffleShuffle]

i will change my screen name to raging anus if fleita and/or wilken are still with the cubs next year

 

i think there's a decent chance that at least one of them is back, so i'm pretty excited about this.

 

you should change your name to "gay guy from crocodile dundee, you know the guy dressed like a chick who gets his dick squeezed by crocodile dundee" if they're both gone.

 

i'll pass. sounds like you've got a lot of great ideas for your future ID though.

[Banedon]

I thought we all agreed to stop listening to anything the Chicago media said.

 

Phil Rogers was fighting for the top spot of people not to listen to.

[CubColtPacer]

 

Where have you read Fleita may be forced on the new guy?

Forced was a bad word choice. But I remember reading speculation right after that Flieta and Wilken have a strong chance to remain because Ricketts is happy with them.

 

if beane gets hired you can bet that he's been given carte blanche to clean house, and then wilken and fleita are as good as gone. same with theo.

 

no big name is going to come in and be told that he absolutely has to keep wilken or fleita, especially considering the magnitude and attitude and philosophies of those being mentioned seriously.

 

i will change my screen name to raging anus if fleita and/or wilken are still with the cubs next year. if we hope to land a guy who can turn things around, he will not keep someone else's guys in such important positions. there's absolutely no [expletive] way, and it's insane to think otherwise.

 

"hey billy, you can do what you want, we'll give you a mountain of money, but you absolutely have to keep these two guys who have pretty average to below average track records drafting and developing major league players. we all know the very reason we hired you was to change things beginning with drafting and player development, but you can't change the guys in charge of those two departments. they are untouchable."

 

the only way those guys stay is if we hire colleti or the interim guy. not gonna happen.

 

Wilken isn't considered average to below average by the industry. He is considered to be strange but still one of the best in his field. The funny thing is that Beane and Wilken are both considered about the same in their respective fields. Both still have great reputations but there are more question marks about both than there were 5 years ago.

 

Now Fleita on the other hand doesn't have that great track record to fall back on.

[Magnetic Curses]

 

Where have you read Fleita may be forced on the new guy?

Forced was a bad word choice. But I remember reading speculation right after that Flieta and Wilken have a strong chance to remain because Ricketts is happy with them.

 

if beane gets hired you can bet that he's been given carte blanche to clean house, and then wilken and fleita are as good as gone. same with theo.

 

no big name is going to come in and be told that he absolutely has to keep wilken or fleita, especially considering the magnitude and attitude and philosophies of those being mentioned seriously.

 

i will change my screen name to raging anus if fleita and/or wilken are still with the cubs next year. if we hope to land a guy who can turn things around, he will not keep someone else's guys in such important positions. there's absolutely no [expletive] way, and it's insane to think otherwise.

 

"hey billy, you can do what you want, we'll give you a mountain of money, but you absolutely have to keep these two guys who have pretty average to below average track records drafting and developing major league players. we all know the very reason we hired you was to change things beginning with drafting and player development, but you can't change the guys in charge of those two departments. they are untouchable."

 

the only way those guys stay is if we hire colleti or the interim guy. not gonna happen.

 

Wilken isn't considered average to below average by the industry. He is considered to be strange but still one of the best in his field. The funny thing is that Beane and Wilken are both considered about the same in their respective fields. Both still have great reputations but there are more question marks about both than there were 5 years ago.

 

Now Fleita on the other hand doesn't have that great track record to fall back on.

 

nevertheless, it would be asinine for ricketts to force anyone from the old regime on the man he's chosen to turn his franchise around, wilken being a huge piece of the old regime. it's not like he's an usher or a beer vendor, he's the director of mother-effing scouting. to think that beane or epstein or friedman aren't going to insist on bringing in their own guys, well, it just blows my mind.

[UK1679666180]

I'd be surprised if Wilken isn't back for next year. Regardless if they go after a current GM or an up and comer, the time to assemble a staff isn't there. While they'll be in full GM search mode, other teams will be signing or re-signing their scouting and development depts.

[Sammy Sofa]

nevertheless, it would be asinine for ricketts to force anyone from the old regime on the man he's chosen to turn his franchise around, wilken being a huge piece of the old regime. it's not like he's an usher or a beer vendor, he's the director of mother-effing scouting. to think that beane or epstein or friedman aren't going to insist on bringing in their own guys, well, it just blows my mind.

 

It's not necessarily an issue of Wilken being "forced" on anyone. It wouldn't be surprising if whoever takes over simply decides to keep him on for the time being, but it also wouldn't be surprising if he wasn't back.

[Benchwarmer]

nevertheless, it would be asinine for ricketts to force anyone from the old regime on the man he's chosen to turn his franchise around, wilken being a huge piece of the old regime. it's not like he's an usher or a beer vendor, he's the director of mother-effing scouting. to think that beane or epstein or friedman aren't going to insist on bringing in their own guys, well, it just blows my mind.

 

It's not necessarily an issue of Wilken being "forced" on anyone. It wouldn't be surprising if whoever takes over simply decides to keep him on for the time being, but it also wouldn't be surprising if he wasn't back.

 

This will be interesting on timing, once the season ends. If Ricketts drags out the process into late November, then we're bumping up against the clock for signing free agents, etc... I think that a well connected GM candidate knows the people in the industry who he feels could help him pull this off. Does the new GM go in cold on day one and need to be briefed on the major league and minors or comes in knowing the talent and what needs to be done. My feeling is that Fielder and Pujols will sign later in the process and that will be too late for a few teams.

[Magnetic Curses]

nevertheless, it would be asinine for ricketts to force anyone from the old regime on the man he's chosen to turn his franchise around, wilken being a huge piece of the old regime. it's not like he's an usher or a beer vendor, he's the director of mother-effing scouting. to think that beane or epstein or friedman aren't going to insist on bringing in their own guys, well, it just blows my mind.

 

It's not necessarily an issue of Wilken being "forced" on anyone. It wouldn't be surprising if whoever takes over simply decides to keep him on for the time being, but it also wouldn't be surprising if he wasn't back.

 

the time constraint issue makes sense, but i certainly don't look for him to be here long-term at this point.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

i will change my screen name to raging anus if fleita and/or wilken are still with the cubs next year

 

i think there's a decent chance that at least one of them is back, so i'm pretty excited about this.

I hope somebody has bookmarked this. I'm way too old to remember this next spring.

[Guest]

I'd be surprised if Wilken isn't back for next year. Regardless if they go after a current GM or an up and comer, the time to assemble a staff isn't there. While they'll be in full GM search mode, other teams will be signing or re-signing their scouting and development depts.

I wouldn't be surprised if Fleita sticks around for a year for the same reason.

 

I just want the right GM hired. I'll give him a year to put his staff together after that.

[UK1679666180]

I'd be surprised if Wilken isn't back for next year. Regardless if they go after a current GM or an up and comer, the time to assemble a staff isn't there. While they'll be in full GM search mode, other teams will be signing or re-signing their scouting and development depts.

I wouldn't be surprised if Fleita sticks around for a year for the same reason.

 

I just want the right GM hired. I'll give him a year to put his staff together after that.

 

Same here, I expect the entire scouting staff to be back with a few exceptions depending on who is hired and the contract situation of those who he wants hired (if they're still under contract for next year).

[WrigleyField 22]

I'd be surprised if Wilken isn't back for next year. Regardless if they go after a current GM or an up and comer, the time to assemble a staff isn't there. While they'll be in full GM search mode, other teams will be signing or re-signing their scouting and development depts.

I wouldn't be surprised if Fleita sticks around for a year for the same reason.

 

I just want the right GM hired. I'll give him a year to put his staff together after that.

The only major changes I would see a new GM making is adding new positions to give us an actual statistical department of our scouting. You may see a few positions change over, but I put it highly likely that many members of the staff will be back. And when we're talking about an executive assistant, I doubt a new GM is going to care who gets Carlos Marmol's visa in line, as long as its done without him having to worry about it. Now I'm sure Ricketts will be open to any demands, so if Cashman or Friedman comes in and says I want Fleita gone immediately, it will happen, but there may be bigger immediate worries for someone coming in.

[Magnetic Curses]

when both of them get let go, i'm just going to whip it out for all of you

[WrigleyField 22]

Maybe its just fluff:

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/6113/bush-some-front-office-staff-could-return

 

Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with a new GM getting freedom to hire/fire whoever he wants, but there may not be a huge overhaul, especially when the owner may be happy with many of the top advisors.

[ConstableRabbit]

 

"hey billy, you can do what you want, we'll give you a mountain of money, but you absolutely have to keep these two guys who have pretty average to below average track records drafting and developing major league players. we all know the very reason we hired you was to change things beginning with drafting and player development, but you can't change the guys in charge of those two departments. they are untouchable."

 

And also, you cannot pick your own assistant, you must use Jim's old one.

I know it sounds silly, but this isn't an uncommon practice in the business world, especially when dealing with an executive admin/assistant who has been with the company for a long time or who has a lot of responsibilities (it sounds like this person has one of those). There are significant monetary and productivity costs associated with firing good and/or knowledgeable employees.