Re: New GM/Cubs Future News Articles

[ArizonaGM]

Gotta love speculation but this is wild.

 

 

http://cubsrumorsandnews.blogspot.com/

 

One source I have talked to said that Ricketts and Epstein have both wanted to put a family atmosphere in the Cubs organization by bringing back some individuals that have impacted the Cubs in the past. This source said he would not be surprised to see the front office hire Ryne Sandberg as manager and then he in turn name Larry Bowa as his bench coach and possibly add Mark Grace somewhere on the staff. What a buzz that would create.

 

No way Grace leaves Phoenix and his broadcasting job to be a coach. He's said many times that he doesn't miss the uniform and he loves to be able to just watch and talk about baseball. No meetings, no working long hours. 3-4 hours a day then its beer:30. I'd rather see Larry Bowa the manager. If he's the bench coach i can't see him go ape [expletive] every once in a while.

[erik316wttn]

Gotta love speculation but this is wild.

 

 

http://cubsrumorsandnews.blogspot.com/

 

One source I have talked to said that Ricketts and Epstein have both wanted to put a family atmosphere in the Cubs organization by bringing back some individuals that have impacted the Cubs in the past. This source said he would not be surprised to see the front office hire Ryne Sandberg as manager and then he in turn name Larry Bowa as his bench coach and possibly add Mark Grace somewhere on the staff. What a buzz that would create.

 

Larry Bowa as bench coach would be amazing. What is Mark Grace going to do make sure the beer is tapped?

 

He'll be official team slumpbuster.

[Cubswin11]

I don't know if Bowa is on ESPN or MLBN as a analyst, but my god he seems like a [expletive] idiot and a raging old lunatic of man whenever he speaks.

[erik316wttn]

Raffy Palmiero as hitting coach?

[CUBZ99]

Raffy Palmiero as hitting coach?

 

Cindy Sandberg as PR director?

[CubsWin]

Raffy Palmiero as hitting coach?

Worked for McGuire and the Cardinals...

[J.R.]

Gotta love speculation but this is wild.

 

 

http://cubsrumorsandnews.blogspot.com/

 

One source I have talked to said that Ricketts and Epstein have both wanted to put a family atmosphere in the Cubs organization by bringing back some individuals that have impacted the Cubs in the past. This source said he would not be surprised to see the front office hire Ryne Sandberg as manager and then he in turn name Larry Bowa as his bench coach and possibly add Mark Grace somewhere on the staff. What a buzz that would create.

Seems much more like a load of 1980s fanwank than a scenario to be actually pursued by Theo.

[toonsterwu]

I don't know if Bowa is on ESPN or MLBN as a analyst, but my god he seems like a [expletive] idiot and a raging old lunatic of man whenever he speaks.

 

He's actually pretty good on the radio. I listen to him when I go through Philly, and he's a fairly knowledgeable, fun, radio guy.

[CUBZ99]

Can anyone really prove Kaplan does not like "brown players"? I have never heard him say anything and more specifically, which players(s) did he single out?

 

he doesn't say "well i think most hispanic guys are lazy and don't care" since he'd obviously get fired, but curiously his whipping boys all happen to be latin american and he seems to criticize all of them for lack of hustle, leadership and effort.

 

Seems like a pretty racist observation on your part. Your telling me Kaplan has never criticized a "white player"? I don't remember him liking Todd Hundley very much. He didn't give Prior any grief for being injured all of the time?

 

Kaplan's complaints about hustle, leadership, and effort are pretty much echoed by all of the media.

[TruffleShuffle]

lol

[Little Slide Rooter]

Anyone else remember Gary Sheffields comment, something along the lines of black and hispanic players being more difficult to "control" than white ones?

[erik316wttn]

Anyone else remember Gary Sheffields comment, something along the lines of black and hispanic players being more difficult to "control" than white ones?

 

The racist!

[Sammy Sofa]

Can anyone really prove Kaplan does not like "brown players"? I have never heard him say anything and more specifically, which players(s) did he single out?

 

he doesn't say "well i think most hispanic guys are lazy and don't care" since he'd obviously get fired, but curiously his whipping boys all happen to be latin american and he seems to criticize all of them for lack of hustle, leadership and effort.

 

Seems like a pretty racist observation on your part. Your telling me Kaplan has never criticized a "white player"? I don't remember him liking Todd Hundley very much. He didn't give Prior any grief for being injured all of the time?

 

Kaplan's complaints about hustle, leadership, and effort are pretty much echoed by all of the media.

 

How was that possibly "racist" on Truffle's part? Please, go ahead and explain.

[USSoccer]

Can anyone really prove Kaplan does not like "brown players"? I have never heard him say anything and more specifically, which players(s) did he single out?

 

he doesn't say "well i think most hispanic guys are lazy and don't care" since he'd obviously get fired, but curiously his whipping boys all happen to be latin american and he seems to criticize all of them for lack of hustle, leadership and effort.

 

Seems like a pretty racist observation on your part. Your telling me Kaplan has never criticized a "white player"? I don't remember him liking Todd Hundley very much. He didn't give Prior any grief for being injured all of the time?

 

Kaplan's complaints about hustle, leadership, and effort are pretty much echoed by all of the media.

 

Kaplan's comments about Aramis Ramirez and Starlin Castro are evidence enough that he's a raging racist rectum.

[erik316wttn]

I want to hear more about that Crane Kenney story. If true, I don't see why he's still employed with the organization this morning.

[Laura]

dan_bernstein Dan Bernstein

Wow. RT @ScottWCVB "@LynchieWCVB reports Crane Kenney was holding up talks 'for his own interests' and is in hot water with Commish.

 

Well, Kenney would be losing some power I guess, so I can see this sort of ringing true. That said, I take everything from the media in this process with a grain of salt. Boston media is blaming Kenney (gee, wonder which side leaked that information), while wasn't it Leviine the other day that was blaminig Henry?

 

I'm pretty dubious of a claim that Crane Kenney either was holding up negotiations without Ricketts's knowledge, or that Ricketts was ok with it.

 

I'm also dubious that Kenney would be "in hot water" with the commissioner because of the talks being held up an extra day.

 

I still think the Chicago reports are more likely true - that Henry was holding things up otherwise the deal would be done. I mean, Kaplan and Levine were close to right about things being done on Friday, so it sure feels like pressure from Selig came down.

 

Sullivan's article says that the joint announcement was made after 'cajoling' by MLB.

 

A major league source told the Tribune, "This had to be done. Theo wasn't going back to Boston. At some point you have to set a deadline."

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-chicago-cubs-hire-theo-epstein,0,2913884.story

 

The way this deal goes down is fascinating to me -- I'm looking forward to Crane Kenney leaking the play-by-play.

[Hollandsworths mug]

[expletive] awesome!

 

http://espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/story/_/id/7093943/chicago-cubs-chairman-tom-ricketts-hit-first-home-run-finalizes-hire-theo-epstein

 

But with Epstein and his golden-boy sheen on his way, everything has suddenly changed for the franchise. For now, anyway. False hopes have been raised before. See: Baker, Dusty; Piniella, Lou; Soriano, Alfonso, etc.

 

The Ricketts family are good people, and well-liked in baseball circles and among their employees, but this organization needs an infusion of "baseball guys," and Epstein is the perfect blended executive who appeals to old-school types, has the respect of players and is adored by the Tom Rickettses and Wally Haywards of the world.

 

As they say in Wally's World, Epstein has crossover appeal. He has baseball credibility, which is sorely lacking now that general manager Jim Hendry is gone.

 

Team president Crane Kenney is the kind of guy who refers to lawyers and marketing executives as "rock stars," but Epstein actually is one. He famously plays guitar, and after two World Series titles, he was more popular in Boston than Steven Tyler.

 

Landing Epstein, which isn't official as of this writing, is surely a franchise-shifting move, perhaps the first meaningful hire in the Ricketts era.

 

It's a sign that Tom Ricketts, the sole Ricketts in charge, can get big things done. His reign thus far has been judged harshly, and sometimes unfairly, but this is a home run and Tom deserves to doff his cap to the crowd

[Mark Priors Calves]

More popular than Steven Tyler!

[TruffleShuffle]

i randomly just wondered what will happen to ari kaplan... seems like a good stats guy who probably had no voice with the hendry and fleita types playing significant roles in the system, but now with a more stats-oriented approach, does he play a bigger role? or is he really not needed with epstein/hoyer/mcleod and probably some other of "their guys" coming in.

[Hollandsworths mug]

CHICAGO -- They need to make a T-shirt. Check that, T-shirts plural, thousands of them. The Cubs need to turn Wrigley Field into the world's largest beer garden/printing press.

 

Obama campaign-style "Believe" T-shirts; Theo Epstein T-shirt jerseys with his name and 12 on the back; Epstein kicking a goat right in his goat tuchus.

 

This is no time to be shy. The Cubs need to dress this city in Theo Epstein's face and remind everyone this is a Cubs town.

 

 

With two World Series titles under his belt, Theo Epstein gives the Cubs a solid "baseball man."

And trust me, the Cubs suits aren't shy. They'd sell naming rights to the players if they could.

 

Starlin Castro and Wrigley Field used to be the franchise's only marketable assets, but once the five-year, multimillion-dollar deal is final, it's Epstein's team and Epstein's town.

Edited October 22, 2011 by Hollandsworth's mug

[Yeti]

More popular than Steven Tyler!

more popular than liv tyler would be more impressive

[imb]

im on such a cubs high that i wouldn't even care if they hired sandberg at this point.

[toonsterwu]

i randomly just wondered what will happen to ari kaplan... seems like a good stats guy who probably had no voice with the hendry and fleita types playing significant roles in the system, but now with a more stats-oriented approach, does he play a bigger role? or is he really not needed with epstein/hoyer/mcleod and probably some other of "their guys" coming in.

 

Seems likely he'll stick around if he wants to. Ricketts specifically hired him, so I'm sure there's a way to fit him in. Ricketts has been good to guys he likes, like Fleita and Wilken, so I imagine Kaplan will have a chance to stick if he wants. Furthermore, Boston is likely to limit guys leaving with Theo, so he'll need some outside hires for awhile

[LeftCoastCubFan]

Raffy Palmiero as hitting coach?

He'd make a better trainer

[Brian]

Bring on free agency! Even the small moves that need to be made, I can't wait for. Hendry was so predictable we pretty much knew what was going to happen, this is exciting.