New GM/Cubs Future News Articles

[Vinestal]

Ah, Bob Nightengale, he of the "Hendry to stay on" report right before he got fired.

All true. Grain of salt and all of that, just passing along what I saw.

Saw this article this morning as well that I found a good read if anyone is interested: http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2011/10/03/spiegel-cubs-fans-theo-freakout-is-warranted/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

[SouthSideRyan]

I'd give up the farm and Castro for Epstein. It won't take that but there's no more important position in baseball.

 

 

This is somehow a worse idea than WSR's.

[biittner77]

If Epstein wanted out of Boston, it's much better he goes to the Cubs as opposed to another AL team.

[UK1679666180]

Would it be the worst thing in the world to keep Bush or another interim around for anothther year and just wait for Epsteins contract to be up? If the Red Sox do then extend him, it's not like there are any guys currently out there now who we'd have missed out on, and it would also give Cherington more incentive to come over.

 

Just let Ricketts call the shots for now, and if he wants Fielder, Pujols, or any other big name free agents, just tell whoever the acting GM is to go after him.

 

Boston wins 110 next year, make Epstein co-CEO and the cubs miss out on a franchise changer?

 

No. Get him while Boston is playing chicken little.

[javy knows my name]

Would it be the worst thing in the world to keep Bush or another interim around for anothther year and just wait for Epsteins contract to be up? If the Red Sox do then extend him, it's not like there are any guys currently out there now who we'd have missed out on, and it would also give Cherington more incentive to come over.

 

Just let Ricketts call the shots for now, and if he wants Fielder, Pujols, or any other big name free agents, just tell whoever the acting GM is to go after him.

 

Boston wins 110 next year, make Epstein co-CEO and the cubs miss out on a franchise changer?

 

No. Get him while Boston is playing chicken little.

 

Ricketts makes baseball decisions? Randy Bush keeps a front office job?

 

No.

[UK1679666180]

I'd give up the farm and Castro for Epstein. It won't take that but there's no more important position in baseball.

 

 

This is somehow a worse idea than WSR's.

 

It was hyperbole, but I don't see any reasonable compensation getting in the way if that's what it takes..

[UMFan83]

Would it be the worst thing in the world to keep Bush or another interim around for anothther year and just wait for Epsteins contract to be up? If the Red Sox do then extend him, it's not like there are any guys currently out there now who we'd have missed out on, and it would also give Cherington more incentive to come over.

 

Just let Ricketts call the shots for now, and if he wants Fielder, Pujols, or any other big name free agents, just tell whoever the acting GM is to go after him.

 

Boston wins 110 next year, make Epstein co-CEO and the cubs miss out on a franchise changer. Cubs are forced to make Crane Kenney the GM and his first move is to field an all scrappy lineup as Eckstein and Erstad among others are lured out of retirement.

 

Fixed

[SouthSideRyan]

I'd give up the farm and Castro for Epstein. It won't take that but there's no more important position in baseball.

 

 

This is somehow a worse idea than WSR's.

 

It was hyperbole, but I don't see any reasonable compensation getting in the way if that's what it takes..

 

Certainly depends on the definition of reasonable. It's not as if Epstein is the only upper echelon GM out there.

[jersey cubs fan]

Why do people assume we would have to trade anything to the RedSox for Epstein? They have an option year which they could simply decide to decline on the 8th of October. Has a GM ever been traded for? I know it happens with managers but I didnt even know it was possible with non-field personel.

 

One guy said something like that, and he was clearly joking because he said we'd give up Garza and Castro.

 

 

Yes I was joking about Garza and Castro. But if Ozzie Freaking Guillen netted 2 supposedly top 5 prospects, then why wouldn't Boston want compensation for Epstein? I don't know about compensation for GM's, but a good GM is certainly way more valuable to a team than Ozzie freaking Guillen.

 

Even if he has an option year, why would Boston just release him if they knew he would probably get an offer from the Cubs?

 

Your GM is more important, but your manager is who you sell to the ticket buying public.

[Guest]

Your GM is more important, but your manager is who you sell to the ticket buying public.

 

In the past, I'd agree.

 

I think a hiring like Epstein alone would be enough to get the fan base extremely excited. He'll get fans like us amped up because of the obvious reasons, and his success in Boston with the championships and the drought will get the casual fans excited.

[UK1679666180]

I'd give up the farm and Castro for Epstein. It won't take that but there's no more important position in baseball.

 

 

This is somehow a worse idea than WSR's.

 

It was hyperbole, but I don't see any reasonable compensation getting in the way if that's what it takes..

 

Certainly depends on the definition of reasonable. It's not as if Epstein is the only upper echelon GM out there.

 

True but despite the contract expiring, Freidman should stay in TB and then you're likely dealing with compensation in Oak and I don't see Cashman in that tier and don't see Gillick or Ryan becoming a GM again. Then, it becomes unproven and worst case a bad former or current GM.

[UK1679666180]

Your GM is more important, but your manager is who you sell to the ticket buying public.

 

In the past, I'd agree.

 

I think a hiring like Epstein alone would be enough to get the fan base extremely excited. He'll get fans like us amped up because of the obvious reasons, and his success in Boston with the championships and the drought will get the casual fans excited.

 

Disagree, I think the avg Cubs fan would assoc their winning towards Francona than Epstein. Hopefully, I'm underestimating Cubs fans.

[SouthSideRyan]

GM visibility has grown a lot in the past decade or so, and if Moneyball wasn't made into a movie, I'd say Epstein was the most well-known GM.

[javy knows my name]

GM visibility has grown a lot in the past decade or so, and if Moneyball wasn't made into a movie, I'd say Epstein was the most well-known GM.

 

I agree. His hire will be huge, because all our sportswriters know him and even they can't criticize that move. The meatballs will consume, and follow suit.

[UK1679666180]

The hire would be huge, he's the most visible GM in sports (minus J Jones). An interesting question would be, say they hire Epstein and Epstein hires Sandberg (unlikely) and they win 95 games next year, who gets more credit?

 

I think with any other manager, Epstein gets due credit. Sandberg gets it if its him.

[Guest]

I saw Hak-Ju-Lee play some games in Montgomery this year and that kid is the real deal. I know everybody loves Garza, but it sure would be nice to have him in the system to make Castro expendable or to trade him for Theo if that's what it would take. As it stands, he's really the only valuable asset the Cubs have to trade aside from Garza. Their minor league system is chalk full of B and C grade prospects that don't really have much value. If they trade Garza they will be looking to fill three SP (and possibly four if Demptser opts out).

 

Freidman is still top of my list, but Theo is 1a. It would be so great to see the Cubs do the right thing for once.

[Guest]

Brett Jackson is really a B or C grade prospect?

 

 

And weird that you saw him play at Montgomery and thought he was the real deal, because as far as I can tell, he couldn't hit a lick once he moved up to AA.

[SouthSideRyan]

Freidman is still top of my list, but Theo is 1a. It would be so great to see the Cubs do the right thing for once.

 

Trading Garza or Castro for a GM is hilariously not the right thing to do.

[jersey cubs fan]

Your GM is more important, but your manager is who you sell to the ticket buying public.

 

In the past, I'd agree.

 

I think a hiring like Epstein alone would be enough to get the fan base extremely excited. He'll get fans like us amped up because of the obvious reasons, and his success in Boston with the championships and the drought will get the casual fans excited.

 

In the past, and in the present. Your manager is wearing the uniform, in the dugout every game and answering questions from the press on a daily basis. He is non-playing face of the franchise, and that is obviously what Florida was going for when trading for Guillen. GMs are more important, but they generally do not sell tickets, and they do not need to be traded. You offer promotions and money, not prospects.

[SouthSideRyan]

The hire would be huge, he's the most visible GM in sports (minus J Jones). An interesting question would be, say they hire Epstein and Epstein hires Sandberg (unlikely) and they win 95 games next year, who gets more credit?

 

I think with any other manager, Epstein gets due credit. Sandberg gets it if its him.

 

I think there'd be somewhat of a split in that scenario (which I imagine has about a .01% chance of happening) If it wasn't another "cursed" franchise with a long-ass drought, I could see that being the case. But Epstein breaking both droughts would garner him a hell of a lot of attention and praise. Only a former Cubs hall of famer like Sandberg could get anywhere close to equal credit for the turnaround. I'd argue even Francona wouldn't get the equal billing.

[Guest]

Your GM is more important, but your manager is who you sell to the ticket buying public.

 

In the past, I'd agree.

 

I think a hiring like Epstein alone would be enough to get the fan base extremely excited. He'll get fans like us amped up because of the obvious reasons, and his success in Boston with the championships and the drought will get the casual fans excited.

 

In the past, and in the present. Your manager is wearing the uniform, in the dugout every game and answering questions from the press on a daily basis. He is non-playing face of the franchise, and that is obviously what Florida was going for when trading for Guillen. GMs are more important, but they generally do not sell tickets, and they do not need to be traded. You offer promotions and money, not prospects.

 

Managers don't sell tickets, either. Good teams sell tickets. Good GMs are far more important to fielding a good team than managers. I think most fans realize this. Maybe the most casual of casual fans don't, but they'll eventually fall in line when said good GM almost inevitably puts a good product on the field.

[Guest]

Brett Jackson is really a B or C grade prospect?

 

 

And weird that you saw him play at Montgomery and thought he was the real deal, because as far as I can tell, he couldn't hit a lick once he moved up to AA.

Yes, Brett Jackson is really a B prospect.

 

You can't tell very far.

[mookie]

So, wait, Hak-Ju Lee would have made Castro expendable? I am not buying that.

[Guest]

Freidman is still top of my list, but Theo is 1a. It would be so great to see the Cubs do the right thing for once.

 

Trading Garza or Castro for a GM is hilariously not the right thing to do.

I don't understand what you are talking about. Make a point and support it. The Cubs need someone to run the franchise. That person is much more important than any individual player.

[jersey cubs fan]

Managers don't sell tickets, either. Good teams sell tickets. Good GMs are far more important to fielding a good team than managers. I think most fans realize this. Maybe the most casual of casual fans don't, but they'll eventually fall in line when said good GM almost inevitably puts a good product on the field.

 

Obviously GMs are more important, I've made that clear. Fans, however, think about the manager first and foremost. Hendry never got the heat that Baker, Piniella and Quade eventually all felt. Cashman has never gotten the heat that Torre and Girardi have felt when the Yankees come up short. Fans focus on the man in uniform.