Other Sports Epstein on the "cusp" of deal with Cubs - Page 3

Carlota69 · 10-11-2011, 05:23 PM

http://jacobsmediablog.com/2011/10/10/kickass/

By Ben Nicholson-Smith [October 11, 2011 at 5:44pm CST]
Boston GM Theo Epstein is "on the cusp" of leaving the Red Sox for a job with the Cubs, according to Steve Buckley of the Boston Herald. Red Sox ownership still hopes to retain Epstein and if he is to leave, Boston will demand "something real" as compensation.

Epstein's proposed deal with the Cubs would include more power than he has in Boston, according to Buckley. The teams could make an announcement within a day or two and the situation will be "resolved very soon."

When Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts outlined his ideal GM candidate after firing Jim Hendry, he said he wanted someone with a commitment to player development and a strong analytical background who came from a background of success. Epstein, who became Boston's GM in 2002, certainly qualifies.

The Red Sox won two World Series titles under Epstein (2004, 2007) and have made six playoff appearances since 2003. They missed the postseason for the second consecutive year in 2011 after a September slide that cost manager Terry Francona his job. Our Transaction Tracker has every one of Epstein's moves as GM. Check out Tim Dierkes' look ahead to the Cubs' offseason for a preview of Epstein's first winter in the Windy City.

If this happens, guess where Pujols is going....

JD10367 · 10-11-2011, 09:45 PM

I'm a Red Sox fan, and even I think Theo has been overrated. The Cubs can have him.

jd1020 · 10-11-2011, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JD10367

I'm a Red Sox fan, and even I think Theo has been overrated. The Cubs can have him.

I'll gladly take him 100x over over Hendry.

Hoover · 10-11-2011, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jd1020

I'll gladly take him 100x over over Hendry.

This

jd1020 · 10-11-2011, 09:52 PM

Just off the top of my head... Dustin Pedroia, Clay Buchholz, and Jacoby Ellsbury were all drafted by the Red Sox. Something Hendry can only dream of, dude was a bafoon.

chiefzilla1501 · 10-11-2011, 10:19 PM

Theo's made some horrendous decisions. Lackey was stupid. Crawford was really stupid.

But you can't take away the fact that Epstein when he first came to Boston pieced together one of the most impressive rosters in baseball. Great value guys like Papi and Millar. Built internally with guys like Pedroia and Youkilis. I don't know if he got cocky or just inherited a big pocketbook. But if he goes back to basics, he could do real well inChicago.

chiefzilla1501 · 10-11-2011, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 58kcfan89

I don't pretend to know as much about baseball as a lot of people, but I'd like to see Beane try the Moneyball approach in a big market with some more cash to spend. I know the A's have been bad for the last few years, but whatever.

I'm not a fan of the Cubs, but I hope Epstein gets them a title so they can shut up with all the "lovable losers" crap.

money ball is dead. Beane knows it's dead. That's why he's lost his edge. Because GMs saw it worked and now they're doing it too. Beane tried something new by focusing on defense. It hasn't worked. Now he's not very good at all.

jd1020 · 10-11-2011, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

Theo's made some horrendous decisions. Lackey was stupid. Crawford was really stupid.

But you can't take away the fact that Epstein when he first came to Boston pieced together one of the most impressive rosters in baseball. Great value guys like Papi and Millar. Built internally with guys like Pedroia and Youkilis. I don't know if he got cocky or just inherited a big pocketbook. But if he goes back to basics, he could do real well inChicago.

I believe Youkilis was drafted before Epstein got there.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 10-11-2011, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

money ball is dead. Beane knows it's dead. That's why he's lost his edge. Because GMs saw it worked and now they're doing it too. Beane tried something new by focusing on defense. It hasn't worked. Now he's not very good at all.

Moneyball isn't about valuing any one specific trait, it's about finding inefficiencies in the market. If defense is undervalued and saves you runs, go after defense. If OBP is undervalued, go after OBP. If *gasp* speed actually gains you more bases than it costs you, go after it.

Very few people in the general population ever understood the concept. It's just like an opening line in Vegas. Sharps go after the inefficiencies in the market, not a specific trait.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 10-11-2011, 10:41 PM

FWIW, Epstein didn't draft Youkilis. He also didn't acquire Beckett, although that was probably a bad trade for the Sox given what Hanley Ramirez turned into.

He signed Renteria to a horrible deal, in the process forfeiting the pick that the Cardinals used for Colby Rasmus.

He destroyed his office after failing to sign Jose Contreras.

He signed Brad Penny, John Smoltz, Julio Lugo, Mike Cameron, JD Drew, and Dice K.

That's far beyond Carl Peterson levels of FAIL in FA.

Hootie · 10-11-2011, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

FWIW, Epstein didn't draft Youkilis. He also didn't acquire Beckett, although that was probably a bad trade for the Sox given what Hanley Ramirez turned into.

He signed Renteria to a horrible deal, in the process forfeiting the pick that the Cardinals used for Colby Rasmus.

He destroyed his office after failing to sign Jose Contreras.

He signed Brad Penny, John Smoltz, Julio Lugo, Mike Cameron, JD Drew, and Dice K.

That's far beyond Carl Peterson levels of FAIL in FA.

all that said...he must have done something right...

and he'll have all that $$$ to **** up with in Chicago, too...can't do worse than Hendry

Amnorix · 10-12-2011, 05:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

No more overrated GM in sports. The guy piggybacked the ideas of James and Beane with 5 times the payroll and pawned himself off as a genius in doing so.

Wow, we agree on something!

He's had some TRULY disastrous signings. Some I don't much fault him for (Renteria), but some you could pretty much see coming a mile away (Lackey, JD Drew).

Amnorix · 10-12-2011, 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

FWIW, Epstein didn't draft Youkilis. He also didn't acquire Beckett, although that was probably a bad trade for the Sox given what Hanley Ramirez turned into.

Well, for all his talent on the field, word is Ramirez isn't a great model for guys off the field. RS seem to have enough issues in that area without adding to it. Can you imagine the dysfunctionality with Hanley and Manny? Might have been ugly.

Besides, Beckett = 2007 WS. Hard to argue with it, though obviously he's been very inconsistent over his career with the Sox.

Quote:

He signed Brad Penny, John Smoltz, Julio Lugo, Mike Cameron, JD Drew, and Dice K.

That's far beyond Carl Peterson levels of FAIL in FA.

Agreed, total fail overall in FA. He's pretty damn good in the draft though. But on balance, GREATLY overrated IMHO.

Amnorix · 10-12-2011, 06:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Meat Dragon

all that said...he must have done something right...

Drafting, mostly.

Carlota69 · 10-12-2011, 06:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sannyasi

Couldn't find a link, sorry. I've heard Bill Simmons say on his podcast multiple times that ownership forced the Lackey signing on Epstein in order to generate hype for the team. I wasn't aware that this was just a rumor/his opinion. Apologies.

No apologies necessary. I belong to an Angels forum and we were debating epsteins qualifications for the GM gig in Anaheim and people were using Theos' signing of Lackey as a reason he wasnt qualified. I just wanted to put some fire on it

Carlota69 · 10-12-2011, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rams Fan

Anthupolos has been the GM full time since 2010.

Anthupolos deserves a bunch of credit for dumping Wells' contract, but he got rid of Napoli for Francisco.

OK, Im confused. All the same Reagins is the laughing stock in that chain of events...

10-11-2011, 05:23 PM
Carlota69 MVP Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Las Vegas Casino cash: $9925282	Epstein on the "cusp" of deal with Cubs http://jacobsmediablog.com/2011/10/10/kickass/ By Ben Nicholson-Smith [October 11, 2011 at 5:44pm CST] Boston GM Theo Epstein is "on the cusp" of leaving the Red Sox for a job with the Cubs, according to Steve Buckley of the Boston Herald. Red Sox ownership still hopes to retain Epstein and if he is to leave, Boston will demand "something real" as compensation. Epstein's proposed deal with the Cubs would include more power than he has in Boston, according to Buckley. The teams could make an announcement within a day or two and the situation will be "resolved very soon." When Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts outlined his ideal GM candidate after firing Jim Hendry, he said he wanted someone with a commitment to player development and a strong analytical background who came from a background of success. Epstein, who became Boston's GM in 2002, certainly qualifies. The Red Sox won two World Series titles under Epstein (2004, 2007) and have made six playoff appearances since 2003. They missed the postseason for the second consecutive year in 2011 after a September slide that cost manager Terry Francona his job. Our Transaction Tracker has every one of Epstein's moves as GM. Check out Tim Dierkes' look ahead to the Cubs' offseason for a preview of Epstein's first winter in the Windy City. If this happens, guess where Pujols is going....
Posts: 6,592

10-11-2011, 09:45 PM	#31
JD10367 Cheaterlover* Join Date: May 2009 Location: RI Casino cash: $10010716	I'm a Red Sox fan, and even I think Theo has been overrated. The Cubs can have him.
Posts: 12,916

10-11-2011, 09:52 PM	#34
jd1020 In Search of a Life Join Date: Nov 2010 Casino cash: $7692645	Just off the top of my head... Dustin Pedroia, Clay Buchholz, and Jacoby Ellsbury were all drafted by the Red Sox. Something Hendry can only dream of, dude was a bafoon.
Posts: 24,341

10-11-2011, 10:19 PM	#35
chiefzilla1501 In Search of a Life Join Date: Aug 2008 Casino cash: $1554497	Theo's made some horrendous decisions. Lackey was stupid. Crawford was really stupid. But you can't take away the fact that Epstein when he first came to Boston pieced together one of the most impressive rosters in baseball. Great value guys like Papi and Millar. Built internally with guys like Pedroia and Youkilis. I don't know if he got cocky or just inherited a big pocketbook. But if he goes back to basics, he could do real well inChicago.
Posts: 48,666

10-11-2011, 10:41 PM	#39
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $7919572	FWIW, Epstein didn't draft Youkilis. He also didn't acquire Beckett, although that was probably a bad trade for the Sox given what Hanley Ramirez turned into. He signed Renteria to a horrible deal, in the process forfeiting the pick that the Cardinals used for Colby Rasmus. He destroyed his office after failing to sign Jose Contreras. He signed Brad Penny, John Smoltz, Julio Lugo, Mike Cameron, JD Drew, and Dice K. That's far beyond Carl Peterson levels of FAIL in FA. __________________ "When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read 'all men are created equal, except negroes, and foreigners, and Catholics.' When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretense of loving liberty – to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocrisy.”--Abraham Lincoln
Posts: 74,860