Hollandsworths mug

No news on Theo Espstein: Check Cardinals win game 5: Check Brewers win game 5: Check Either the Cardinals or Brewers will be in the WS: Check This has been a nice day. :twisted:

Sosh poster breaking down what has caused us much grief the last 2 years. He is making his case for Theo not wanting to come here based on the horrendous team and contracts Hendry left behind. Yeah, the opportunity to look like a hero is there, but like you said it's not going to be with a few minor changes. Whoever takes over in Chicago will have a HUGE task ahead. It's amazing how badly mismanaged the Cubs have been and how Jim Hendry was allowed to keep his job so long. Check this out: LF Alfonso Soriano, 35yo, 3 years $54 million remaining, 1.3 WAR in 2011 SP Carlos Zambrano, 30 yo, 2 years $35.875 million remaining, stormed off and left team in a huff in 2011 SP Ryan Dempster, 36 yo, 2 years $27.5 million remaining, 0.8 WAR in 2011 CF Marlon Byrd, 33 yo, 1 year $6.5 million remaining, 1.7 WAR in 2011 Not ONLY do they have so much tied into bad contracts (the first three could easily cripple a poor team) but there is a death of ML talent like you mentioned. Geovany Soto had a bad year, but he's a decent player, Starlin Castro looks like a star in the making, Matt Garza is decent, the bullpen is pretty good... but other than those few positions, the team is a dumpster fire. A dumpster fire with very little help on the horizon. Maybe Theo wants that challenge. The Cubs would be a cherry job, but it's not like he's going to waltz in and be the hero. It's going to be a few years before they even start to resemble a ML quality team again.

Why do I feel he is coming here? Interestingly enough, the one guy who can end all speculation if he is staying in Boston is Theo Epstein. And interstingly enough, he has not been seen or heard from in a week.

But, but, people around the game say he will stay in Boston unless something changes. Did you know it will be 80 in Chicago tomorrow unles it turns cold? No doubt he is just tweeting just to tweet.

From all indications, Ricketts is prepared to offer Theo the moon to come here. Not only that, Henry said he would not grant permission to the Cubs if it were a lateral move. right, but I guess I missed the part where Boston actually gave Ricketts permission to talk to him. If they were told no, we would have found out by now.

From all indications, Ricketts is prepared to offer Theo the moon to come here. Not only that, Henry said he would not grant permission to the Cubs if it were a lateral move.

So, basically, Heyman says people around the game say Epstein will most likely stay put if nothing changes. First of all, the Cubs and Red Sox have not leaked a word about anything to anyone regarding Ricketts meeting with Epstein. So unless Ricketts just met with him today, was turned down and before the Cubs and Red Sox confirmed this, some outside media outlet got the news before the chief parties involved did, this is baseless crap.

We need an @thekapman tweet. He surely can shed some light on this. Eh, nothing from him, either.

I do not like this tweet.

Phil Rogers @ChiTribRogers "As this day goes on, consensus seems to grow that Henry's a.m. remarks were preparing for Theo's jump to the Cubs. Big afternoon coming?"

And I also filrmly believe Ricketts will make him the highest paid exec in Baseball. If not, he will be a close second.

I have to think that Ricketts is either talking to Epstein now or already has and made him an offer. If that's the case, we are waiting on either a yes or no from Theo and if it's a yes, are the Red Sox seeking compensation. I can't see Red Sox brass telling Ricketts he can't talk to Theo. My guess is they already have met and it's in Theo's hands now.

Rogers speculating the Theo situation could get ugly in Boston. Not sure why he thinks it, though. http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-your-morning-phil-theo-big-hurt-arod-20111007,0,1208059.story

Well, this is true. Then what are all of these rumors about hiring 3 guys to replace him. The Cubs are structuring the team differently now. Ricketts basically observed how things were run here the first two years (obviously not impressed). He is a big believer in Sabr and he has been observing teams/owners who have proven models of success. If in fact he hires three guys to run things, it has absolutely zero to do with trying to replace Hendry's brilliance.

Well, this is true.

And he loves Friedman, which I can understand.

Gregg Doyel of Cbssports is not that impressed with Epstein. He says he's lucky, not good at what he does: http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/story/15700522/epstein-isnt-a-genius-gm-just-a-lucky-one

I think that Theo is coming here. First of all, this Theo to the Cubs speculation has been going on for over a month, not just a week. There has been more than enough time for Red Sox brass to put an end to this story and the fact they haven't speaks volumes. Second of all, if something was going to be worked out, or is/was being worked out, Henry and Lucchino would have declared it to all of Boston this morning. They did not do that. Sometimes it's what not said rather than what is.

Oh boy, this has got me excited. Just now from the Boston Herald: http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/baseball/red_sox/view.bg?&articleid=1371616&format=&page=1&listingType=sox#articleFull Theo Epstein resolution draws near there were signs out of Fenway Park yesterday that all sides were working cooperatively and without rancor toward a solution "There’s no question the Cubs job holds some allure for Epstein. Those closest to him believe he’ll take the job, if it’s offered, though it’s by no means a sure thing. The long wait for any word out of Red Sox owner John Henry will end today. Henry will be a guest on the Dennis and Callahan Show on WEEI from 8-9 this morning, with Herald columnist Gerry Callahan and co-host John Dennis questioning him on everything from the circumstances that led to Francona’s departure to the future of Epstein.

This is what the Tribune calls sportswriters: http://a.espncdn.com/i/columnists/rosenbloom_steve_m.jpg http://jtmaz.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/paulsullivan.jpg?w=140&h=179 Now, besides the most important fact that they are terrible journalists, look at these mugs. Seriously?

That's what I am hoping for as well. As I said, if Epstein was staying, I think he would be part of that interview tomorrow. Not only that, I'm pretty sure it was Henry and Lucchino who set this interview up, not the other way around. If Theo is being retained, they announce it together with great fanfare.

Well, this might or might not mean jack. I just talked with a business associate who is in Boston right now. He heard that the Red Sox have 100% confidence that Cherington could do the job and would not blink an eye to promote him should Theo come here. My guess is the relationship between Theo and Henry/Lucchino is strained and they proabably feel Cherington should get the job and pick HIS manager. Theo wanted Francona to stay, upper management did not. The ball is in Theo's court and I do not think brass will stand in his way if he wants to come to the Cubs.

They have been beating around the bush since last week and certainly the last few days. They are going to address this.

Or he would be present and they would announce: "Theo has signed an extension". The fact that he is not going to be there all but eliminates that possibility. They have been behind closed doors for a few days now. There's absolutely no reason to go on the radio unless they have something to say regarding Epstein. Francona is yesterdays news and they certainly will not be talking about how much they are looking forward to 2012.

Well, when Francona was let go, ALL of them (Lucciano, Henry and Epstein) were present. I think it's signifigant. When it's Red Sox related, they are all usually joined at the hip. It's a radio interview. If any of you are expecting any valuable information in regards to Theo out of a radio interview with an owner, you're setting yourself up for disappointment. Then why are the two top guys in the organization doing the radio interview if it's nothing signifigant? Look, you could be right but they need to address this as Boston and Chicago are basically hanging upside down here.