Just like the Albert Pujols negotiations, the Cubs are purposely not trying to quash their reported interest in Prince Fielder, even though they have only a small chance of signing the Milwaukee first baseman.Yes, the Cubs presented Pujols an offer, but it was one they knew wouldn't be accepted. It was likely for five years with an average annual salary well above what other teams were offering.In other words, Theo Epstein and the Cubs were hoping that Albert would take a shorter-term contract worth more per year than the other offers.But, in reality, they knew that wouldn't happen.Still, this kept ...
Call off the "Occupy Cooperstown" protests and the cries for a boycott. Ron Santo is a Hall of Famer, and though it would have been better for it to have happened sooner, it is still worth accepting on his behalf. In case you missed it, there are Cubs fans suggesting that the Santo family refuse to accept the award in protest of the fact that it occurred posthumously. And while I agree that Santo deserved enshrinement long ago, I'm sure that the family will gain some enjoyment from the honor. Still, I must wonder what happened between the end of ...
Chicago Cubs owner Tom Ricketts announced on Friday that Carlos Zambrano would be given an opportunity to come back to pitch for the team in 2012. That is a mistake in my opinion.
Yes, I know he is under contract for this season, and yes, I also know that the Cubs need starting pitching.
But they don't need the headaches this guy causes. They don't need his temper tantrums, his bizarre behavior, and they certainly don't need bad clubhouse chemistry.
You would think that after what Theo Epstein went through during the collapse in Boston last season, that the importance of leadership and ...
With Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer taking over this club, knowing that the path to consistent winning involves young players, there really should be no players on the current roster who are untouchable. Yes, that even includes Starlin Castro, although I would want a king's ransom for him. So, in effect, he is the only player who is almost untouchable. But if I were the Cubs brass, I would listen at least. But my main focus would be on players who may have value to other teams that are willing to move young pieces in return. Some have questioned the ...
Dale Sveum hasn't managed a game yet for the Chicago Cubs, but we're already beginning to get an early indication of the kind of manager that he might be.
When asked by a Chicago sports radio station if he would bunt a guy over to third with a man on second and no one out, he said, basically, that "it depends."
Which, on the surface, makes sense. I mean, you can't really answer that question without knowing the situation—what is the score, what inning is it, etc.
Personally, I would never bunt a guy over in that situation and I am surprised that ...
According to sources, Dale Sveum has been offered the job as Chicago Cubs manager. Since he is also a candidate for the Boston Red Sox job, it is uncertain what he will decide to do. But assuming he agrees to come on board, the question is: Was he the first choice of Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer, or is he a "settle" candidate? I ask this for two reasons. First, there appears to have been a disconnect between Epstein and Hoyer over the candidacy of Terry Francona. It seems that Epstein was more willing than Hoyer to bring "Tito" to ...
ESPN reported tonight that the deal is now official. Theo Epstein has resigned as a member of the Boston Red Sox and is the new Cubs President of Baseball Operations. Bruce Levine was on ESPN TV just now saying that the threat of Bud Selig getting involved as a mediator possibly helped move the two sides to close this deal. After weeks of wrangling, the two sides have agreed to allow Epstein to come to the Cubs although no compensation has been announced. Once the compensation is determined, the two sides will announce it, and if they cannot come to an ...
If the reports are true, not only will Theo Epstein be joining the Cubs as President of Baseball Operations, but Jed Hoyer may also be coming on board as GM. Hoyer, the current San Diego Padres GM, was a senior vice president and assistant GM to Epstein in Boston from 2005 to 2009. While he is signed through 2013, the Padres are expected to be willing to let him go so that Josh Byrnes can take over as GM. Byrnes is a favorite of Padres CEO Jeff Moorad and served as Moorad's GM in Arizona. Also, Moorad and Cubs owner Tom Ricketts ...
Look, it doesn't really matter who the Boston Red Sox want, a good GM is always worth more than a single player. Especially when that single player is a former 32nd-round draft pick. I'm not suggesting that Theo Epstein will be a great GM for the Chicago Cubs. What I am saying is that a GM will impact a ballclub, positively or negatively, much more than any one player. Especially when the player in question was a very low-round draft choice. Now, this is not meant to inflate Epstein or reduce Trey McNutt, whom the Red Sox are reportedly now ...
When Theo Epstein is eventually installed as the new GM of the Cubs, I mentioned that his first order of business is firing the not-ready-for-prime-time Mike Quade. But I'm thinking that Epstein is going to want to make a splash in his first season at the Cubs helm. So what better way than to make a run at the Yankees' CC Sabathia? Yes, I know it is unlikely that Sabathia leaves the Yankees. After all, he says he loves it there and he has been very successful. But odds are he will opt out of his current contract. And while ...
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