When Theo Epstein Talks, You Listen.
Theo Epstein went on 670 for an offseason update for the Cubs and it couldn’t come at a better time. Just this week I expressed general confusion about the status of things. Overall, the Cubs are seemingly the least interested in a marquee free agent since a 2012 offseason that netted my all time favorite Cub, Edwin Jackson.
In total, Theo took 11 questions over 20 something minutes and in the process of answering, he shed a lot of light into where our collective brains are at as Cubs fans. Here’s the conversation, generally along with my general commentary:
1. How individually did you challenge yourself (this offseason) going forward? – As a whole we need to do a better job with decision making but really it’s more about the off-field process of continuing to build competitive advantages in anyway they come. Then as a group there needs to be a sense of urgency because if you chunk the rebuild into two groups – the first 5 years really is a rebuild with the Championship coming at perfect timing. And then the last 2 years (2017 and 2018) since the talent has manifested there’s been a division title and a division series win and then a 95 win season. Overall the organization and club isn’t super proud of the totality of work the last two years. It’s not what they want and they only get one crack at it. No one is saying it’s easy but there’s definitely a special opportunity here so we need to put best foot forward including myself and everyone in organization. Talking to everyone, the theme is that we’re Hunkering Down and that no one leaves a stone unturned and we’re all doing our jobs best we can and we live lives where nothing is undone.
Kind of a heavy question to start – hey leader of the free world how are you getting better than already being considered the best to ever do what you do? This is the kind of meatball stuff that would make my skin crawl as a GM. In any event, it’s clear off the bat that Theo is looking internally to solve a problem which is quite rare and refreshing, especially when you now sit next to White Sox Dave in a 150 square foot office for 50+ hours a week. HUNKER DOWN.
2. When you talk about the need for internal improvement for the players, I wonder if that’s something you can count on? – No you can’t. You can’t ever count on a young player’s improvement. There are few things in baseball you can actually count on. Nothing is promised or given and everything has to be earned and worked for and supported and accomplished but no you can never count on that.
Yeah but is it going to rain on opening day? What’s the next powerball?
3. So how can you try to make it more linear? More predictable? What are the specifics you can work with hitters to spur the development? – We can add a little more structured work – you need routine – you need to develop routine and consistent work that puts you in the best position to get better every day. It’s more subtle changes behind the scenes. You need a real self awareness about areas that need improvement and you need to consider what the league has done to adjust to you since you came in and then put in the work to beat it…. Nothing is guaranteed… there’s great opportunity here but nothing is guaranteed. You know some guys won’t take a step forward – some guys will – some guys may stay the same – you hope everyone gets better but you know it won’t always happen.
How can you make that wildly unpredictable thing that you have blatantly made clear is wildly unpredictbale… how can you make that thing more predictable? HOW YOU GONNA DO IT THEO?
4. Cubs will be in the top 5 in spending no doubt – is it possible we missed the point and it’s not necessarily where you hit on it but just improving the team and the players on the team and maybe reshuffling the expenditure as opposed to us not focusing on you going over the threshold this year? – I’m not sure I fully got that, but the competitive balance or luxury tax does not impact us at all. At times you need to be strategic and stay under. That’s mostly not the case. This is more traditional budgeting just a business. Some years it should be a strategic influencer but certainly not this year so it’s not really worth our time to talk about it.
I’m willing to look past the fact that’s the worst question ever asked to simply say that Theo has been clear for 2 months now that the luxury tax is not a consideration at all.
5. To clarify the question, reshuffling the assets (players) and making a more productive outfield for a change. I’m sure you’re not happy with the slugging from the outfield last year. Projecting that and maybe adding a piece along the way is something you’re able to do if you’re creative enough and as you’ve talked about recently, being patient to respond to the offseason properly… That would be one thing you’d conceivably like to do whether you can do it or not. Look I think you just take an honest look at the point in time where you are. When you have guys coming off good years you have more flexibility to make moves. When you have critical players coming off down years you don’t have a tremendous amount of flexibility when you look at your payroll. The offseason is where you’re set up to be active and you have to work really hard to even make the smallest pieces fit. Just being honest with you guys, majority of improvements are coming from internally working hard with the whole organization to get really talented players to play up to their whole level.
Theo’s saying the creative move to open up room for Bryce isn’t available because there’s a discrepancy between what the Cubs think and how the market views the younger guys. Because they generally and collectively were down last year, the market is undervaluing them and if we know anything about Theo, it’s that he makes decisions based on value and where there’s a discrepancy he’d rather sit out like this.
6. You said the luxury tax is not dictating… I’ve said that all along. it’s like any business. There are budgets. You can’t ignore it and you can’t spend what you don’t have and you need to be mindful of it by not going over it by a touch – that matters – this just isn’t one of those offseason so don’t waste too much time thinking about it.
STOP
7. Fans are refusing to give up the dream of a big ticket player. Sh0uld they stop? I’m not going to tell fans how to consume their offseason. I’m respectful of how they choose to root for the team. We’re lucky and privileged to have people who care so much about them so however they want to relate… they can have big expectations if they’d like and that can be fun following along and being critical. Ultimately, once you start playing there’s a natural exhale and return to focusing on the games and trying to win and that’s what’s most important. One we start playing again we can return to focus on the field. for this winter though I’m not telling people what to expect. Anything is possible. Some things are extraordinarily unlikely. Some are realistic and sometimes those moves lead to winning and sometimes they don’t. It doesn’t mean it won’t be a wildly successful and entertaining season. The bigger the vacuum the more attention and analysis it gets. You guys have a job to do and i’m honored the fans want to follow along.
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Could you tell someone to shut the fuck up any better than this? Love Theo. Here’s a guy who gets the fan experience and how some of us are just complete whack bomb psychos.
8. Theo the Cubs will be announcing a new regional sports network. Predominantly most of the games on this network. How will this impact baseball operations as far as economics of what you can do going forward? Has it been figured out? Is it something you can work on for projecting future payrolls? Not as much as you would think. Nothing is finalized yet. Way this came together is that my understanding is first few years would be similar to what we have had in past with the revenue coming in. With continued growth and as things develop, you can see potential for greater growth. The business side is working hard at it and from our standpoint we’re excited to see consistency of dollars coming in. We want fans to have a good product as well and a tv broadcast they can enjoy.
Tell me more about the proposed TV network. Great coverage, guys.
9. Sounds like Mark Loretta uprooted family and life to be here and it seems like someone the front office/coaching staff wants with Jed reaching out – seems that the front office is involved is this to see the front office vision is executed on the field? NOT AT ALL. Mark is Joe’s bench coach. Joe interviewed him. We did too. All of us had history with him. Loretta wasn’t hired for any one reason. Just a smart guy with a form player’s perspective and he fit best with joe Joe fits his job. High emotional intelligence and we think he’ll be a big asset.
Joe Maddon approved bench coach. That’s a nice punch Theo. He’s not a threat when Joe is the one picking him.
10. Anything you can share on Darvish and Morrow? Both doing well. Darvish farther ahead … traditional build up for throwing program. In great shape and will be full go on normal schedule. Morrow doesn’t think he’ll be too far behind at all. If you ask him he’d say Opening Day but probably unrealistic if we want to do it the right way and take him slow.
But what about the TV deal?
11. Mark Loretta talked about collective offensive approach – how do you feel about hitting against the shift – are you more pro-contact or how do you get the player to think about that balance? I want them to be themselves. Baseball essentially is that balance. If you want to hit for power, you really have to pull the ball. If you want to play good situational winning baseball, especially with 2 strikes, you have to use the whole field against the whole field. Really consider hitting where the defense isn’t – you need to be open minded. Again, it really is just a balance. One area where guys can progress is just having a two strike approach where you can be aggressive as you should and try to get it in the air and through the gaps and out of the ballpark but when you get to 2 strikes especially with runner on in a close game and they’re shifting against you then you definitely would want to consider changing your approach and that’s something we can work on always. some guys do a great job Rizzo in particular but overall our players are really hard at work with this. Just keep being a tough out when you get to 2 strikes.
Rizzo is a perfect example of hitting with two strikes. Really Rizzo is just a perfect example of everything you want from a player. So last question is when does he get the C on his chest?