Chicago Cubs: Is Theo Epstein Headed for Cooperstown?
By Ron Juckett
As the Chicago Cubs steamroll through the 2016 season, is President Theo Epstein making a case for the Hall of Fame?
Chicago Cubs President Theo Epstein is building a career worthy of Cooperstown.
Yes, it is a brash statement. Sure, we are assuming the Cubs go farther this year than they have in a hundred. If you add his accomplishments with the Boston Red Sox to what he is orchestrating in Chicago, there is a case to be made.
Legendary general managers rarely make the Hall of Fame. New York Mets guru Frank Cashen, Boston’s Dick O’Connell and even St. Louis Cardinals magician Walt Jocketty need a ticket for the museum. Although the three won two World Series combined, you can argue their work brought great success to each team.
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Epstein took a solid team in Boston and turned them into champions his first season at 30. He spent Thanksgiving at Curt Schilling’s house convincing him Boston was the right place to be. After Grady Little managed his way out of town following the 2003 American League Championship Series loss to the New York Yankees, Epstein trusted Terry Francona to run the squad. For the first time in 86 years, the Red Sox won the Series.
He drafted Jacoby Ellsbury, Dustin Pedroia and converted Jonathan Papelbon to a closer. Trading for Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell, the Sox won again in 2007. The core of players either drafted or extended by Epstein, before his departure in 2011, grabbed a third championship in 2013. Boston made the ALCS in 2008 and the ALDS in ‘05 and ’09. His teams never won less than 86 games a season.
Switching from the semi-dysfunctional Red Sox to the perceived Siberia of the Cubs, Epstein struggled his first few years. The moves he made, however, have the Cubs now on the verge of the unthinkable. They are championship contenders for real.
Epstein drafted Kris Bryant and Kyle Schwarber. Jorge Soler came from Cuba. Anthony Rizzo arrived from San Diego in a heist. Jake Arrieta was never the pitcher with the Baltimore Orioles he is now. Jon Lester and John Lackey are fellow refugees from Boston. Oh, and Joe Maddon’s quirky managerial skills were saved from Tampa.
Without the drama from the Red Sox ownership group, Epstein–and general manager Jed Hoyer, who worked in the Red Sox front office with him–is in a position with the Cubs to do what they did in Boston. At 42, he can turn the bridesmaid into the bride.
The last Cubs title came in 1908. With Epstein pulling the strings, the Cubs are not only well positioned to win now, but for the next few years.
Sure, Carl Crawford and Jason Heyward signed long deals that look ugly. Crawford has been designated for assignment by the Los Angeles Dodgers while Heyward has yet to sparkle as he did with the Atlanta Braves and the Cardinals.
Not every move works, but as Hall of Famer Pat Gillick can tell you, get more right than wrong and good things happen. Gillick built those Toronto Blue Jays teams from the early 1990s, winning back-to-back championships in 1992 and ’93. Then, he turned the Philadelphia Phillies into contenders, winning it all in 2008. Now, he has a Hall plaque.
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If Epstein can do it in Chicago, he will have his own too.