Elrhino

He's an idiosyncratic guy. He seems to be really happy and content in Texas (gun laws included). He's also a fan favorite. I would be surprised if he leaves Texas as long as he gets a fair market offer. The Rangers new deep pocket owners are still smarting after losing out on Cliff Lee, and don't want to go back to back offseasons of losing their staff ace in free agency, so I don't think that will be an issue.

So Ricketts is opposed to bringing in a pool of intellectual talent and just wants one monolithic authoritarian "baseball guy" to command from high? Seems like Epstein's success in Boston, particularly in the first 5-6 years, was based on having a community of smart people in the front office with him. I can't imagine why he would want to stray from that.

The collective braintrust is what's important, the individual titles are irrelevant. I want the Cubs to have a collection of smart people and a pool of intellectual resources, not just Theo.

My predictions... Theo - President Josh Byrnes - General Manager Peter Woodfork - Asst. GM/Director of Baseball Operations

Doesn't Epstein have a contract option due on Oct. 8th (Saturday)? Seems that would be much more of a pressing factor on getting this done quickly than Yom Kippur.

I think Boston ownership is confronted with a dilemma. Ricketts is going to offer Theo his dream job (albeit in Chicago, not Boston). Boston can offer him an extension and more money, but can they promote him substantively vs designating a fancier title? Unless Lucchino is ready to ride into the sunset, I'm not sure they can. Doesn't mean that it will happen, and Theo could be using this as leverage in Boston. Still, Ricketts will land one of his top picks. If you pass up an opportunity like this, you may never get another. Here's the thing though. Theo is established in Boston, beloved by the ownership and has a long rope with the fans even if they are antsy about the last 2 seasons. He also grew up in Boston as a Red Sox fan. His original dream was likely to play for the Red Sox, and then be the GM for the Red Sox when his athletic dreams died like they always do. The Red Sox hold a significant advantage there. He may not be able to get a higher title right now but if he sticks around Boston long enough he will get the opportunity most likely. He's not even 40 yet so he can afford to be patient. Have you seen what the public sentiment has been? Not just the insane people who comment on blogs and articles, either. The fan base seems to be indifferent at best on him leaving. The radio call in shows have been somewhere along the lines of the blog comments, too. I've listed to the radio shows. A majority seem to be ok with him leaving but aren't exactly running him out of town. Most of them respect that he was able to bring two titles and wouldn't be upset if he stays. You are right that they aren't flipping out saying 'we've gotta keep Theo' but given that they are 8 days removed from a historic Red Sox collapse that kept a heavily hyped team out of the playoffs, I can understand fans being ok with change even if it involves their highly regarded GM who has brought them 2 titles in the last 8 seasons. What's the sentiment next year if the Red Sox fail to make the playoffs again? Or even if they can't make it past the divisional round in the playoffs? They won't have Tito to throw under the bus to sacrifice to the mob the next time.

Epstein may be trying to leverage this into a Lucchino ouster.

I could see that Beane would really covet the Angels job, but he's so so committed to family and lifestyle in California that I don't see him overly craving the Cubs job.

That is one confusing quote. Another thing that happened in the last couple of months is that Rickets fired the Cubs GM and began sending out feelers around the league for his replacement. Maybe the reason Theo became more amicable towards Lucchino is because he knew he was a short timer?

It's ok to admit that they are in trouble. They likely will be paying Z to play elsewhere so they will need to find three 2 and possibly 3 SP. They are paying Soriano lots of money to play near replacement level. They likely will need to find a 3rd, 1st, and 2nd baseman (at sme point) Who is going to play RF? There closer looks like he suffering the same malady as Brad Lidge. They have no game changing talent in the upper level of the minor leagues. The system has to be flushed and mostly rebuilt. They started with this draft, but there is a long way to go. They certainly have some difficulties but with all the $$$ coming off the books by the 2013 season there's no reason why this team can't contend for the division while you rebuild the farm. We just need a GM who'll spend wisely. This is assuming that there will be significant difference making options out there to spend the money on, especially when it comes to starting pitching. There's more money to go around in baseball than good starting pitchers. The Yankees have as much money as anyone, and they can barely field a 4 man rotation and have to take fliers on Bartolo Colon. A lot of people act like we might as well just pencil in CJ Wilson into the Cubbie rotation next year. I would be very surprised if he doesn't resign with the Rangers. He and the organization have a deep mutual respect, he's a huge fan favorite and the Rangers new ownership has very deep pockets and are still smarting after Cliff Lee left them. Just because you have the means to make it happen doesn't mean it's going to happen. It just means the Cubs can put in their bid with the other 5 or 6 big money teams who also desperately need starting pitching.

The stadium excuse is pretty poor for the lack of attendance. I don't care they playing in a dirt field in an abandoned lot, you should draw to a contending team in the most competitive division in baseball. The problem is they're playing in a retirement city where most of the fans are 80+ year old former east coasters and mid westerners who already have life long allegiances to other teams.

Hahhahahahaha .. my reference wasn't obscure enough for teh interwebbings. LOL. LMAO. ROFL.

I'll always remember this Glenallen Hill HR. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3017957919029122909

We've heard it speculated before but we haven't really heard that it's likely. I think it's most likely if we land either Cherington or Epstein that Francona will be the manager. I found an interview with Cherington where he was asked about his day to day routine. He said everyone in the front office takes turns traveling with the team on road trips, and that part of the job was meeting with Francona daily to get a pulse of the lockerroom and listen to his input and concerns. If you have that kind of day to day personal working relationship with someone over the course of years, and it's proven to be a successful relationship, it's hard to imagine you wouldn't replicate it if the situation were available at your next job, rather than taking a shot in the dark on some new person that you have no history with and hoping it works out for the best. It just removes one more potential risk out of the equation.

I certainly wouldn't be upset if we hire Epstein, I just don't think it's worth it if he's going to demand a ton of salary that could be divided up around the front office/scouting department to lure him away. I especially don't believe it's worth it if it means significant trade compensation. He brings a recongizable (ie marketable) name for media and fans to get behind, but more importantly from my general manager I want someone who has a proven winning front office blueprint, high intelligence and great decision making skills. I believe Cherington would bring over the same front office blue print as Epstein, is also highly intelligent and quite frankly Epstein's decision making skills have been questionable recently. I appreciate that Epstein uses advanced statistical models, but I suspect everyone else on Rickets list will as well. It's not really something that sets him apart. On a more intangible note, I don't really like "celebrity GMs". This organization needs a lot of work and time, and I'd just as soon have a smart guy quietly working in the background than a hailed "front office messiah" that's instantly going to put the Cubs in contention. We've seen Epstein's spending habits and decision making skills when he feels the pressure to win immediately from the fanbase.

Frankly, I'd be just as happy with Cherington. Epstein brings the sizzle and the celebrity, but the parts of the Red Sox organization that I admire were under Cherington's command. The Indians organization he came up in was filled with good people as well. He's been around a lot of good baseball people, should have a good idea what a good front office philosophy should look like and how it's structured.

Listening to WEEI yeterday, a lot of the Red Sox fans were suggesting that the Red Sox trade Theo to the Cubs in a package deal along with Lackey and Crawford, so Theo has to take his garbage contracts with him.

Pretty much this. Maybe like. Carl: Man, I love the thought of playing for the Angels. I love LA. I love the warm weather. Torri Hunter is my best buddy. It would be the perfect fit. Theo: Here's $145 million. Carl: Man, I love the thought of playing for the Red Sox. I love Boston. I love cold weather. I can skype Torri. It would be the perfect fit.

Ths is crazy, the results speak. He wouldn't be battling the evil empire and need to win 95 games every year to win the division. The results are he's been beat out in two consecutive years for a wildcard spot by a franchise with a fraction of the payroll. It's disingenuous to say the only reason his team hasn't made the playoff is they have to compete with the Yankees. He spent $300 million in the offseason and had the 5th best team in the AL.

It's fair to point out his previous accomplishments, and also fair to point out he hasn't made the playoffs in back to back seasons despite a near $160+ million payroll and after committing $300 million in contracts over this past offseason.

The Crawford signing was strange to me because he's really not that valuable as a corner outfielder. Kinda struck me as just assembling pieces rather than constructing a well formed team. And as Bill Simmons put it ... a rich person just buying a yacht. No real practical need for it, but it's cool to own a yacht. Bobby Jenks was an atrocious contract from Day 1. But as pointed above ... I love their player development, and I would love it if he came over here.

That's because 95% of people who listen to and call into sports talk radio shows are morons. Particularly on the day after, when knee-jerk stupidity is at its highest level. Heh, yeah, they're definitely not like us winners who post on internet messageboards with our cool, even keeled analysis.

I've been listening to Boston Sports Radio all day ... man, they are mercilessly ripping Theo. Must be at least a 20:1 ratio of callers wanting to run him out of town vs. those that want him to stay.

He's at 59 AB now, and he's hitting .288/.377/.885. .914 OPS split against righties. Since the corner outfield free agent market is dismal, I guess I'd be okay heading into next year with a Soriano/LaHair platoon at LF. Once you merge their lefty righty splits and salary into a mean average the cost for the production at the position is something I could live with (especially considering the alternatives are few and far between). As long as there is money spent on a superstar 1B and CJ Wilson, and the next GM/Manager isn't afraid to be direct enough with Soriano to let him know he is strictly a platoon player from this point on.

I think Wilson most likely stick with Texas. He really likes it there, and the Rangers' new ownership isn't going to let him leave after they couldn't resign Lee last year.