You may not believe in Cubs president Theo Epstein’s philosophy, but you have to believe he’s in charge.

It’s perfectly reasonable to doubt whether his ongoing, long-range plan – amassing heaps of top-level minor league talent with an eye on targeted signings when it all starts to blossom – is going to succeed. Prospects do fail after all, and the variables of the most human game have humbled the smartest minds. You are allowed to be unsure of whether one man’s envisioned path to sustained title contention will be realized.

What you are not allowed to do is pretend you don’t understand what Epstein is doing. This is a man unfazed by all the noisy impatience of shortsighted fans and the strange rabble-rousing from writers and commentators content to court the lowest common denominator of intellect.

Epstein told you exactly what he was going to do, and he’s in the process of doing it. He warned that people would grow anxious along the way, even going so far as to predict exactly what stories would be written about him, and he was right. Epstein has explained in detail on multiple occasions that there will be a time for splashes in free agency and that money would be invested in players entering their prime years instead of leaving them.

There is no downside to a last-place team cornering the market on the best position-playing prospects in baseball, creating a monster farm system that isn’t just among the game’s best, but is in the eyes of some now one of the best ever. Developing players are everywhere in the organization, and they’re coming fast.
This is Epstein executing the very plan he has described so transparently from the moment he joined the Cubs. It is a man running a team, in full command of the Cubs’ destiny for better or worse, in just the way that was expected when he assumed control.

Now contrast this with the backward world of the NBA at the moment, where the players tell the teams what to do. A look at the Bulls, specifically, sees a critical juncture in their quest for more championships clouded by the unfortunate cross-purposes of a team and its star.

It’s hard to tell who works for whom in this relationship anymore, with Derrick Rose collecting money from the Bulls to do what is best for Derrick Rose. Seriously, how would you like to be this guy’s boss?

He tells the team when he will or won’t play and what is or isn’t in his job description. For $95 million and while appearing in only a handful of actual games, he’s completely comfortable telling management and ownership how often he is going to work and what specific responsibilities he’ll deign to take on.

Four years ago, Rose had no interest in helping the team communicate with potential free agent targets, not wanting to help his team add talent. Not long after, his brother-keeper “representative” had the gall to take a public swipe at the organization, insisting that Derrick needn’t hurry back from his first knee injury because the Bulls hadn’t done enough to build around him.

“What have you pieced together?” Reggie Rose said in February 2013. “Have you made any moves?

“It’s up to the organization to make them better. It’s frustrating to see my brother play his heart and soul out for the team and them not put anything around him.”

Derrick Rose never publicly distanced himself from these comments. The same Derrick Rose who would quit on his rehab at the most important time, come up with ever-changing excuses as to why and actively ignore the professional advice of the orthopedic surgeons, athletic trainers and therapists who repaired him on the team’s dime while he cashed checks.

Did he want to help them recoup some of the money lost by coming back and helping them to an extra home playoff game or two? No. He didn’t feel like it.
Rose would then miss most of this past 2013-’14 season, which would lead into another free agency period that gives the Bulls the chance to build around him, just as his oafish mouthpiece once asked. Again, he said it’s not his job. Most employees would consider it an honor to be asked to attend a dinner at which two of his teammates and top management were promoting the franchise to another star player, but not Rose. Not interested. Not this star. He’ll take one-third of your available salary cap space through 2017, thanks, and you’re on your own. Good luck.

Two Chicago teams are doing everything they can to contend in their respective sports. One has real leadership, moving methodically to manage risks and rewards pursuant to an intricate, broad-based plan. The other sees its executives burdened by the selfish whims of an overpaid, damaged player who has them all working for Derrick Rose, Inc.

There is no downside to a last-place team cornering the market on the best position-playing prospects in baseball, creating a monster farm system that isn’t just among the game’s best, but is in the eyes of some now one of the best ever.

Most employees would consider it an honor to be asked to attend a dinner at which two of his teammates and top management were promoting the franchise to another star player, but not Rose. Not interested. Not this star. He’ll take one-third of your available salary cap space through 2017, thanks, and you’re on your own. Good luck.

What you are not allowed to do is pretend you don’t understand what Epstein is doing. This is a man unfazed by all the noisy impatience of shortsighted fans and the strange rabble-rousing from writers and commentators content to court the lowest common denominator of intellect.

One of the best farm systems ever?

Wow. I'd say I will bump this later on but I already know what the response would be.

Blowing Theo while shitting on Rose? You're a dirty girl, Dan Bernstein.

It's pretty funny the extent to which Dan views sports as actual 9-5 jobs.

It's pretty funny the extent to which Dan views sports as actual 9-5 jobs.

The love of Authority/Bosses is also curious. Ive never witnessed someone openly that in favor of it.

Even the actual bosses would not agree with a lot of his rhetoric about employees

Developing players are everywhere in the organization, and they’re coming fast.

LeBron also forced the Cavs to adjust their travel and even practice schedules to accommodate his entourage, but I'd assume in his case "Can you imagine being that guys's boss?" would take on more of a slashfic-type tenor.

Two Chicago teams are doing everything they can to contend in their respective sports. One has real leadership, moving methodically to manage risks and rewards pursuant to an intricate, broad-based plan. The other sees its executives burdened by the selfish whims of an overpaid, damaged player who has them all working for Derrick Rose, Inc.

I bet we hear Dan say "This is not up for debate" at least 8 times today.

Did anyone ever say that didn't understand what The(o) Plan entailed?

It is behind schedule, by his own admission. It is completely bereft of the absolute most precious commodity in baseball, starting pitching. There is also a troubling trend with most of the top prospects in being one way players, with common holes in their collective offensive game.

I think there is plenty of reason for skepticism.

Here is something that IS unknown in The(o) Plan: what is the Cub way, that was critical to success? Have we seen anything in these top prospects that shows some kind of organizationally initiated excellence in their approach?

bernstein is a terrible sportswriter... i'm shocked by how bad a writer he is for someone who portrays himself as the smart sports radio guy. My opinion may just be clouded by the fact that I dont read sportswriters in general.... I dont need someone to tell me how to feel, just present me the facts and I'll draw my own conclusions.

anyways, i'd imagine 90% of his readership hates him and hate reads just so they can satisfy their bloodlust for berstein hate.


can someone explain to me why the cubs couldnt be out there spending money on FA's now and at least being competitive/possible playoff team? The only 2 reasons I see why they can't is because Ricketts doesnt have enough money and they wouldnt be drafting at the top of the draft.... regarding the second reason... i dont think that is a strong enough reason to justify being bad at baseball for 4-5 years in a row... i mean the player they just acquired was the 24th pick int he draft... if your baseball people are good they can still get talent at the end of the first round.

I sense the Cubs addition of Addison Russell to their already great system has caused even the most obsessed Sox fan to feel like their teams future is on the bunk below the Cubs.

[PAGING RPB!!!!!

Epstein told you exactly what he was going to do, and he’s in the process of doing it.