Theo on w/Kapman

[Felix Leiter]

Theo will be on CSN Wed. Dec. 4th @ 5:30PM CST w/Kapman. I expect Kapper to do his infamous slobbering interview technique that has worked so well in the past.

 

Just to pick up on an earlier post I saw about Theo/Jed's relationship with the local media. I've noticed fewer trial balloons being sent up and tested. I don't believe the FO has gone out of their way to build relationships with Sully(when he was the beat writer), Mark G. and Gordon W.. That's OK with me, but it sure makes their job tougher to break a story.

[SouthSideRyan]

Hopefully @thekapman asks some stupid questions and Theo just eviscerates him

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Kaplan's going to spend the entire interview trying to work up the nerve to ask if the bunt tournament will still happen under Renteria, and if he can be in it.

[Rob]

I wonder if Kaplan's racism extends to the manager position.

[RammyFanny]

Hate to say it but with Friedell and Wittenmeyer next to him, Kaplan almost seems like the voice of reason.

[Felix Leiter]

OK..so here's what Theo said:

 

He didn't really understand the Cubs and Chicago until he got here. The political landscape in Chicago is different than Boston. Red Sox were able to have 10 year growth plan and accomplish alot in first two years. The business side is in sync(almost) with the baseball side. Said Hendry did not build the team each year for lasting success-more facade and just capturing short term interest. The prospects are coming but need to acquire more pitching inventory. Will be able to sign 'big nut' free agent in future years, but Cubs will win by having more Jacoby Ellsburys who produce in their first 7 years @ $30M rather than next 7 years @ $153M.

 

New TV deal will bring alot of money in---no specifics. Said that multiple outlets are involved and told Gordon W. of the ST that "you would want to be an investor". Asked why fans should continue to buy season tickets for a bad team? Renewals are up and 'when we're good' you don't want to jump back on the bandwagon. Not very convincing.

 

Keeping Shark is long-term realistic but under Cubs terms. (I hope Shark is renting this winter.)

 

There was probably alot I missed. He held up the Cardinals and Red Sox as teams that built their success with minor leaguers and added FA along the way.

[Guest]

plz let us continue to hear good things about the tv deal

[Sammy Sofa]

He didn't really understand the Cubs and Chicago until he got here. The political landscape in Chicago is different than Boston.

 

Sounds about right; I always think back to how he said he was "blown away" by Ricketts' pitch to get him to come here, and I have to think that a huge part of that was emphasizing how they'd be able to modernize and upgrade the ballpark like Boston did and how much money that would bring in. While it makes sense that Theo would be relatively broadsided by the way things have played out, it's very disconcerting how stymied the Ricketts are, and it just again makes me worried that Theo and co. could be out of here sooner rather than later if the logjam doesn't clear up soon and the team doesn't turn around pretty damn fast.

[RammyFanny]

plz let us continue to hear good things about the tv deal

I haven't got into specifics regarding the TV deal to know if this amount is expected, but Wittenmeyer expressed concern that the Cubs might not be able to double their TV deal with there being few suitors, and Theo responded that they will double it easily. Said it in a matter of fact way. And he called Wittenmeyer a "recent expert" in TV deals when he disagreed so that was fun.

[Guest]

plz let us continue to hear good things about the tv deal

I haven't got into specifics regarding the TV deal to know if this amount is expected, but Wittenmeyer expressed concern that the Cubs might not be able to double their TV deal with there being few suitors, and Theo responded that they will double it easily. Said it in a matter of fact way. And he called Wittenmeyer a "recent expert" in TV deals when he disagreed so that was fun.

 

Awesome.

 

Hopefully he means this one and not the 2019 one.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

plz let us continue to hear good things about the tv deal

I haven't got into specifics regarding the TV deal to know if this amount is expected, but Wittenmeyer expressed concern that the Cubs might not be able to double their TV deal with there being few suitors, and Theo responded that they will double it easily. Said it in a matter of fact way. And he called Wittenmeyer a "recent expert" in TV deals when he disagreed so that was fun.

 

Sassy Theo would be so fun if the Cubs were good.

[treebird]

He didn't really understand the Cubs and Chicago until he got here. The political landscape in Chicago is different than Boston.

 

Sounds about right; I always think back to how he said he was "blown away" by Ricketts' pitch to get him to come here, and I have to think that a huge part of that was emphasizing how they'd be able to modernize and upgrade the ballpark like Boston did and how much money that would bring in. While it makes sense that Theo would be relatively broadsided by the way things have played out, it's very disconcerting how stymied the Ricketts are, and it just again makes me worried that Theo and co. could be out of here sooner rather than later if the logjam doesn't clear up soon and the team doesn't turn around pretty damn fast.

 

how big of a concern would it really be if theo and the rest left?

 

i like the people we have, but it's not like they have a bunch of secrets that no one else does and are using them to exploit all the other teams' idiocy. what is their value over replacement right now? i love that we have smart people rather than hendrys, but i'm not seeing a ton of amazing moves that couldn't be replicated by another group of people who have been given instructions to try to get good prospects and don't worry about whether you finish in last place over and over again.

 

if everyone left, i assume ricketts would just go hire more smart people who want to build slowly and they would do basically the same thing as we've seen to this point.

[Sammy Sofa]

He didn't really understand the Cubs and Chicago until he got here. The political landscape in Chicago is different than Boston.

 

Sounds about right; I always think back to how he said he was "blown away" by Ricketts' pitch to get him to come here, and I have to think that a huge part of that was emphasizing how they'd be able to modernize and upgrade the ballpark like Boston did and how much money that would bring in. While it makes sense that Theo would be relatively broadsided by the way things have played out, it's very disconcerting how stymied the Ricketts are, and it just again makes me worried that Theo and co. could be out of here sooner rather than later if the logjam doesn't clear up soon and the team doesn't turn around pretty damn fast.

 

how big of a concern would it really be if theo and the rest left?

 

i like the people we have, but it's not like they have a bunch of secrets that no one else does and are using them to exploit all the other teams' idiocy. what is their value over replacement right now? i love that we have smart people rather than hendrys, but i'm not seeing a ton of amazing moves that couldn't be replicated by another group of people who have been given instructions to try to get good prospects and don't worry about whether you finish in last place over and over again.

 

if everyone left, i assume ricketts would just go hire more smart people who want to build slowly and they would do basically the same thing as we've seen to this point.

 

True, though I'd like to see what this group could do here with some big spending power.

[Guest]

He didn't really understand the Cubs and Chicago until he got here. The political landscape in Chicago is different than Boston.

 

Sounds about right; I always think back to how he said he was "blown away" by Ricketts' pitch to get him to come here, and I have to think that a huge part of that was emphasizing how they'd be able to modernize and upgrade the ballpark like Boston did and how much money that would bring in. While it makes sense that Theo would be relatively broadsided by the way things have played out, it's very disconcerting how stymied the Ricketts are, and it just again makes me worried that Theo and co. could be out of here sooner rather than later if the logjam doesn't clear up soon and the team doesn't turn around pretty damn fast.

 

how big of a concern would it really be if theo and the rest left?

 

i like the people we have, but it's not like they have a bunch of secrets that no one else does and are using them to exploit all the other teams' idiocy. what is their value over replacement right now? i love that we have smart people rather than hendrys, but i'm not seeing a ton of amazing moves that couldn't be replicated by another group of people who have been given instructions to try to get good prospects and don't worry about whether you finish in last place over and over again.

 

if everyone left, i assume ricketts would just go hire more smart people who want to build slowly and they would do basically the same thing as we've seen to this point.

 

Not to mention, you wouldn't see some mass exodus even if people left. The worst case scenario is something like McLeod gets hired away to be a GM after next year, then Theo and Jed both take off after their deals expire(as unlikely as that is). Even in that worst case scenario there's still a lot of people in the front office, and like you mention, Ricketts would just hire more smart people to replace them.

[Guest]

but I <3 theo

[Guest]

Theo has a lot riding on this as well. It's his plan. I don't see a guy like him leaving early no matter what. He's been given carte blanche with no real expectation of winning. If he jets, he's a failure. But anyway, I'm with Tree. If he leaves, thanks for the boost in making the Cubs a "real" professional organization. Good luck in your next job.

[gscool89]

Favorite part of the interview:

http://i.imgur.com/rRZJE4y.png

[imb]

He didn't really understand the Cubs and Chicago until he got here. The political landscape in Chicago is different than Boston.

 

Sounds about right; I always think back to how he said he was "blown away" by Ricketts' pitch to get him to come here, and I have to think that a huge part of that was emphasizing how they'd be able to modernize and upgrade the ballpark like Boston did and how much money that would bring in. While it makes sense that Theo would be relatively broadsided by the way things have played out, it's very disconcerting how stymied the Ricketts are, and it just again makes me worried that Theo and co. could be out of here sooner rather than later if the logjam doesn't clear up soon and the team doesn't turn around pretty damn fast.

 

how big of a concern would it really be if theo and the rest left?

 

i like the people we have, but it's not like they have a bunch of secrets that no one else does and are using them to exploit all the other teams' idiocy. what is their value over replacement right now? i love that we have smart people rather than hendrys, but i'm not seeing a ton of amazing moves that couldn't be replicated by another group of people who have been given instructions to try to get good prospects and don't worry about whether you finish in last place over and over again.

 

if everyone left, i assume ricketts would just go hire more smart people who want to build slowly and they would do basically the same thing as we've seen to this point.

 

"heh, even if ron santo retires, we'll just bring up another awesome third baseman." -- my grandpa in like 1948 or w/e

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Leaving after five years would be the perfect cover.

 

If they win after he leaves, well, he set the foundation and really that was all him.

 

If not, must be the new guy's fault.

 

Five years is the perfect length of contract because after that, blaming everything on Jim Hendry starts to wear pretty thin.

[SouthSideRyan]

He didn't really understand the Cubs and Chicago until he got here. The political landscape in Chicago is different than Boston.

 

Sounds about right; I always think back to how he said he was "blown away" by Ricketts' pitch to get him to come here, and I have to think that a huge part of that was emphasizing how they'd be able to modernize and upgrade the ballpark like Boston did and how much money that would bring in. While it makes sense that Theo would be relatively broadsided by the way things have played out, it's very disconcerting how stymied the Ricketts are, and it just again makes me worried that Theo and co. could be out of here sooner rather than later if the logjam doesn't clear up soon and the team doesn't turn around pretty damn fast.

 

how big of a concern would it really be if theo and the rest left?

 

i like the people we have, but it's not like they have a bunch of secrets that no one else does and are using them to exploit all the other teams' idiocy. what is their value over replacement right now? i love that we have smart people rather than hendrys, but i'm not seeing a ton of amazing moves that couldn't be replicated by another group of people who have been given instructions to try to get good prospects and don't worry about whether you finish in last place over and over again.

 

if everyone left, i assume ricketts would just go hire more smart people who want to build slowly and they would do basically the same thing as we've seen to this point.

 

My concern would be about who would want to come here after some of the more respected smart guys in baseball bailed from an owner for being a stupid motherfucking cheap bastard.

 

Sure you could strike it rich with the the next whiz kid, but it'd be a lot less of a sure thing to have somebody who isn't a [expletive] moron running the team.

[Banedon]

If Theo left before the Cubs were able to make an on field turnaround of some kind, I'd have to seriously re-evaluate my fandom. When Ricketts and Theo came in, I really believed things were pointed in the right direction. Despite my disagreements with the way Ricketts and Theo have gone about things, I still believe we'll get there, just not in the way I expected. But...if Theo were to leave...I dunno...

[Backtobanks]

If Theo left before the Cubs were able to make an on field turnaround of some kind, I'd have to seriously re-evaluate my fandom. When Ricketts and Theo came in, I really believed things were pointed in the right direction. Despite my disagreements with the way Ricketts and Theo have gone about things, I still believe we'll get there, just not in the way I expected. But...if Theo were to leave...I dunno...

 

If the Cubs don't make an on-field turnaround while Theo is here, why would you be upset that he leaves? If we're still floundering after 5 years, he failed and it's time to let someone else try to fix it.

[Guest]

If Theo left before the Cubs were able to make an on field turnaround of some kind, I'd have to seriously re-evaluate my fandom. When Ricketts and Theo came in, I really believed things were pointed in the right direction. Despite my disagreements with the way Ricketts and Theo have gone about things, I still believe we'll get there, just not in the way I expected. But...if Theo were to leave...I dunno...

 

If the Cubs don't make an on-field turnaround while Theo is here, why would you be upset that he leaves? If we're still floundering after 5 years, he failed and it's time to let someone else try to fix it.

 

Please go away.

[jersey cubs fan]

If Theo left before the Cubs were able to make an on field turnaround of some kind, I'd have to seriously re-evaluate my fandom. When Ricketts and Theo came in, I really believed things were pointed in the right direction. Despite my disagreements with the way Ricketts and Theo have gone about things, I still believe we'll get there, just not in the way I expected. But...if Theo were to leave...I dunno...

 

If the Cubs don't make an on-field turnaround while Theo is here, why would you be upset that he leaves? If we're still floundering after 5 years, he failed and it's time to let someone else try to fix it.

 

Please go away.

 

Well it's true.

 

If they have 5 years of not contending, that's not doing his job.

[jersey cubs fan]

I think what is much more likely is that Theo's underlings will leave well before Theo's contract is up, which is after the 2016 season. They have to be much better by then, and I would bet he would stick around to see it through, while the staff itself will have turned over.