True. But it takes a while for a GM to change the whole organization to the way he likes to run it. The scouting, the drafting, the infrastructure, the accountability (Robin Ventura)


Im not going as far as to give up the next three years as many of my cub fan bretheren have. I think competing next year is not feasible but I see no reason why the team cant be a lot better and "closer to a world series" by opening day 2013

Lotta contracts expire next year.

The whole Bernstein money thing is ultra crazy. I dont know what he's doing but he's coming of less informed each day. Has anyone flat out asked him if he's aware of the financial shape the world, country, and city of chicago are in?

Scorehead is right. In the next 3 seasons it's most important for Epstein to identify outstanding young players from High schools, colleges and other teams minor league organizations. Then he has to try to aquire as many of them as possible,(whether through the draft or trades) so as to stock the minor league teams as well as possible. Then he has to do the best job possible developing these players to the best of their ability. Then -and that should be about 3 years from now that the first wave of young players drafted and traded for this coming year, he should BEGIN to see the fruit of his labors on the field.

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Go Cubs!!!!

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More wins will be the result of an improved minor league system, improved coach's, manager, & leadership, modernized player scouting system, & better drafting. I don't care how many wins the Cubs have in the next few years...but I want to see these areas improved vastly, then the wins will follow.
Basically Theo just needs to do what he did in Boston.

Having said all that, sports are different now. A team can go from last to first & visa-versa.
The Cubs cant get any worse & can only improve.

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CSFMB 2014 Nascar Pick 'em Champion

We don’t have a trillion-dollar debt because we haven’t taxed enough; we have a trillion-dollar debt because we spend too much. — Ronald Reagan

Sign alot of guys on steroids?

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Here is a revelation for you...every MLB team had guys on steroids.

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CSFMB 2014 Nascar Pick 'em Champion

We don’t have a trillion-dollar debt because we haven’t taxed enough; we have a trillion-dollar debt because we spend too much. — Ronald Reagan

Since Sandberg is out...

Ron Cey.

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Steve Dillard.

I hope Sandberg gets hired by Stl...that would be awesome...It would look very weird, but it actually would be a great fit

St Louis loves their baseball legends and treats them well and like family...

Chicago used to be that way but it changed to the point where people are just idiots anymore...too much of the Bully mentality and garbaging people outta the organization...Im fuckin tired of it

People here need museums to cement in their heads the Cub legends...otherwise they just forget too easily anymore...St Louisans have more grit and retain their guys more

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Wow. 5 pages. I am not going to read through them as I presume 3 of them are bitching about Sandberg not getting the job. I'm sure Theo will get a good manager that fits his vision for this teams future. Sandberg sounded alot better when he was one of the better options for manager....but that was then and this is now. Its not who can you get to manage its who can't you get.

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That's my purse! I don't know you!

@BleacherNation
Brett Taylor I'm not saying the Cubs' choice is Sveum, but the timing of his "meeting" with the Cubs, and the way Hoyer talked about it make me wonder.

@BleacherNation
Brett Taylor Both Sawx & Cubs meet with Sveum last night/today, and all of a sudden, the candidate has met w/ Ricketts? That's what I mean by timing.

@ESPNChiCubs
Bruce Levine Cubs near finish line to name manager.


@cst_cubs
cst_cubs Cubs manager process nears finish. Ricketts has met with team's choice.


If true, I'm not excited as I don't see what this guy brings to the table.

Until they prove otherwise I am trusting Theo and Company to make the right choice.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

I can't tell who it is but I at least thinks its between the Phillies guy, Sveum and Maddux. I have a feeling its Maddux even though the updates seem to suggest its Sveum.

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That's my purse! I don't know you!

Maddux seems to have these "family issues" so not sure if he really wants the job, which would be a shame. Alomar will make someone a good manager. I'm not high on Mackanin or Sveum.

I would venture to say that you know very little about any of these guys, so what do you base whether you are high on someone or not?

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Yea, my thought too. How the eff does a fan truly evaluate these guys?

Fair question. Been following MLB since 1977. Everyone in the game agrees Alomar will make a good manager. Maddux has done a great job with the Texas pitching staff and I think he'd transition nicely to the manager's chair. Mackanin is old school so not sure if he's good for a young team. Svuem? The guy's been a hitting coach. OK?? Not really sure what he brings to the table.

Just one fan's opinion.

Does Mike Maddux want the Cubs job?

November 16, 2011, 8:16 pmSHARE THIS ARTICLE

MILWAUKEE – For someone who’s never managed a game before, there doesn’t seem to be much doubt that Mike Maddux could do the job. The question becomes: Does he really want it?

Nolan Ryan is a legend in Texas, one of the most intimidating pitchers of all time, someone who can see potential. The Rangers team president believes in Maddux, but isn’t sure if his pitching coach is ready to leave.

Family concerns are still weighing on Maddux. He’s building a house outside Dallas. His two daughters are now in school at Texas Christian University and Southern Methodist University. He didn’t interview with the Red Sox because he felt it would create too much distance from his wife.

“I don’t know from a timing standpoint how that works for him,” Ryan said Wednesday at the owners/general manager meetings. “Those are all things that come into play, so I just don’t know where all that shakes out.”

The Cubs met with Dale Sveum on Tuesday night in Milwaukee. The Brewers hitting coach then had lunch on Wednesday with Red Sox ownership. Ultimately, he might have to decide between these two jobs.

Chairman Tom Ricketts declined to comment on whether he’s met with a candidate yet. But the sense is that the search could be completed by week’s end.

The Cubs are very high on Maddux, knowing that pitching is the organization’s biggest weakness. Ryan gave him a strong endorsement. The Hall of Famer watched him help guide the Rangers to two straight American League pennants.

“It’s his people skills,” Ryan said. “When you look at what he’s done with our pitching staff, it’s because of the relationships that he established with his pitchers. They respect his information and respect him as a person.

“He’s as prepared as any pitching coach I’ve ever seen. I would have to think that if he was the manager he would approach his job (the same way). If he were to get that job, we’d really miss him. (He’s) a big part of what we’ve accomplished.”

Terry Francona told Comcast SportsNet New England that he won’t manage in 2012. The sense all along was that out of respect Theo Epstein wouldn’t publicly eliminate Francona’s name. But the Cubs president of baseball operations really wanted to go in a new direction after their time together in Boston.

The Cubs have reached out to their other candidates – including Indians bench coach Sandy Alomar Jr. and Phillies bench coach Pete Mackanin – for more information. Red Sox bench coach DeMarlo Hale was also given a phone interview with general manager Jed Hoyer.

Ryan has seen Maddux around the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. But like everyone else, he’s waiting for answers.

“I didn’t press him on it, because I don’t know if he knows,” Ryan said. “I’m not sure how they left it. I just didn’t want to put him in a position.”

Wait...his daughters are college age? When I heard "going to school in Texas" I guess I assumed kids...

I would like to know if Maddux shares Ryan's philosophy on pitcher lifting/conditioning (which is to do about 3 times what almost all other teams do) and putting little to no stock in a pitch count. I have no idea whether he (Ryan) has pushed that philosophy on the Texas pitching staff, whether it has been slowly integrated or whether maybe on a few select guys buy into it and use it. I'm just not sure if this philosophy is the chicken or the egg. Do pitchers that follow this like Ryan and Clemens become absolute beasts and inning eaters or are absolute beasts the only ones who can train and prepare like this without breaking themselves down to nothing.

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That's my purse! I don't know you!

If "everyone" thought SAJ would be a good manager, he'd have a gig. I'm assuming there is a good reason he hasn't gotten a job yet.

I like the idea of Maddux as the manager because the Cubs pitching staff is so horrid. So having a pitching coach AND a manager who know how to help them get better seems like a good idea to me.

Mackanin is Mike Quade 2. Not interested. I'm hoping Maddux gets the job, but only if Theo tells him to shave the 'stache!

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CSFMB 2014 Nascar Pick 'em Champion

We don’t have a trillion-dollar debt because we haven’t taxed enough; we have a trillion-dollar debt because we spend too much. — Ronald Reagan

Don't believe me. Do your own research. He just retired as an active player in 2007. I'll glady bet he'll have a big league gig within 2 years.

No. When was the last time a Chicago head coach won the title without a mustache?

They have to have smiliar philosophies I'd imagine. One thing is for sure. Maddux can sure coach up these pitchers.

It must be one helluva house in Texas or the wife must really be attached to the area. Obviously being close to the kids is a valid consideration. It seems he wants to stay in Texas. If so, that would be to bad.

@ChiTribRogers
Phil Rogers Looks like #redsox are widening their manager search, not hiring Dale Sveum. Don't jump to conclusions abt #cubs and Sveum.

Sveum Frontrunner For Cubs Managerial Opening
By Luke Adams [November 16, 2011 at 10:03pm CST]
Mike Maddux will most likely drop out of the running for the Cubs managerial opening due to family matters, tweets MLB.com's Carrie Muskat. As such, all signs are pointing to Brewers hitting coach Dale Sveum for the job, as Jon Heyman of SI.com tweets.

Sveum is the only candidate the Cubs have interviewed twice in person so far, and Heyman notes (on Twitter) that Larry Lucchino's comments about potentially expanding the Red Sox managerial search could be another indication that Sveum will end up on the Cubs' bench in 2012.

In addition to Sveum and Maddux, the Cubs are also considering Pete Mackanin, DeMarlo Hale, and Sandy Alomar Jr.