I FUCKING LOVE YOU THEO

[Cubswin11]

I keep seeing this storyline from bitter fans of other teams that Theo isn't a baseball genius because anyone can win with an unlimited budget. When has he had an unlimited budget in Chicago?

Yeah that just doesn't make any sense. Up until last offseason it was pretty well reported there were payroll constraints, whether or not you want to believe that or not as PR spin from the team/FO that's up to you but I mostly believed it. I could get the argument he was given an unlimited budget to overhaul the FO/inner workings of the team but it was somewhat at the expense of the major league team and I truly believe Lester was the exception to the rule and they only spent on him because it was him. They weren't just going to "buy" an ace that offseason, it had to be the right one.

[jersey cubs fan]

I keep seeing this storyline from bitter fans of other teams that Theo isn't a baseball genius because anyone can win with an unlimited budget. When has he had an unlimited budget in Chicago?

In about 3 years, so they better watch the F out when that happens.

[Brian]

Yes Theo/The Cubs unlimited money just blew everyone away

 

CENTRAL DIVISION

Cubs - 171,611,834

Cardinals - 145,553,500

 

NLDS

Cubs - 171,611,834

Giants - 172,086,610

 

NLCS

Cubs - 171,611,834

Dodgers - 249,781,668

 

and, oh by the way, the 5th highest paid player on the 2016 Cubs was Edwin Jackson

[Omar]

So like, does E-Jack get a ring or what?

[Brian]

I think it may be up to the team or players kind of like playoff shares.

 

Since the rings are commissioned by the team, many non-players affiliated with the team, including front office executives, coaches, broadcasters,[23] and locker room staff, also receive rings at the team's discretion.[3][7] After the 2004 World Series, the Red Sox ordered over 500 rings,[24] and the 2006 Cardinals commissioned 400 rings.[1] Players who were only briefly on the team's roster during a championship season and those no longer affiliated with the winning team also often receive rings.[25][26] Arthur Rhodes, Bengie Molina, and Lonnie Smith played in the World Series against a team they played for earlier in the season, guaranteeing them World Series rings regardless of the series outcome.[27] As both the physical size and number of rings given out has increased, teams have started producing both "A" and "B" versions, and sometimes "C" versions, that are similar in appearance but smaller in size and use cheaper materials.

 

I think Jaxon deserves a C level for the game he pitched against the Cubs this year

[Andy]

More emotional Theo:

 

Exactly three months before Halloween, Theo Epstein was so pissed off at himself he started to bang on street signs. It was July 31, the day before the trade deadline, and the St. Louis Cardinals were threatening to winnow the Cubs’ National League Central division lead, once 12½ games, to 5½. And Epstein thought it was all his fault.

A left-hander named Brian Matusz, like Arrieta a former Baltimore pitching prospect, started for the Cubs that night. Chicago was trying to build organizational depth and figured Matusz a safe risk, especially after he had pitched well at Triple-A. Matusz allowed a two-run homer in the first, second and third innings, and Epstein, hunkered down for days in trade talks, needed some fresh air. He and Hoyer decided to take a walk. They ended up going for miles – talking, self-flagellating and whacking signs out of frustration. Never again would he do this, put at risk the dynamic of the clubhouse Maddon spent so long building for a flight of fancy.

“I felt like I had personally cost the team a game in the pennant race,” Epstein said.

“He took it personally,” Hoyer said.

“I took it very personally,” Epstein said.

“We were too cute about it,” Hoyer said.

“We overthought it,” Epstein said.

In the eighth inning, Epstein headed down to the Cubs’ clubhouse, ready to own his mistake face to face with the players. He refused to run from his errors. If he wanted the respect of players, he needed to face them.

Then something happened. Chicago scored three runs in the ninth inning to tie Seattle. The Cubs didn’t allow a run for the next three innings. And in the bottom of the 12th, they won on a walk-off squeeze bunt by Jon Lester. And even though the team he assembled absolved him then the same way they did Chapman in Game 7, Epstein went up to the Cubs players after the game and promised: That will not happen again.

 

Must have been awkward for matusz

Theo was even more pissed off about that than I was sitting in the bleachers.

 

Totally worth it by the end of that game, though.

[SpongeWorthy]

http://politics.uchicago.edu/pages/axefiles

 

cool interview with theo by david axelrod

[Aaron_Kennelly]

http://politics.uchicago.edu/pages/axefiles

 

cool interview with theo by david axelrod

 

That was really good. My favorite part was when he was talking about the first few years here, when we sucked. And they were spending game days up in the box following the minor league games, and how they had to "literally wipe the smiles off their faces when they went down into the clubhouse."

[Gmoney08]

http://politics.uchicago.edu/pages/axefiles

 

cool interview with theo by david axelrod

 

That was really good. My favorite part was when he was talking about the first few years here, when we sucked. And they were spending game days up in the box following the minor league games, and how they had to "literally wipe the smiles off their faces when they went down into the clubhouse."

 

He also implied he would be here longer than 10 years despite in the past hinting 10 is how long you should stay in one place.

 

He because of the Cubs suffering they deserve a dynasty and that is his next goal.

 

He did mention interest in becoming an owner at some point. Start giving this man shares now.. it would hurt my stomach to see him with another organization.

 

Also a ton of info the first 30 min of the show on his childhood and progression through baseball. More than any article ive ever read about him. And im one who Vhasos would call a "theophile"... but yeah great podcast and this is one of the reasons i love podcasts in general.. the conversation was great.