Theo says we'll suck next year too (Sorry Gato)

[turnaround3]

CHICAGO -- As a rough 2012 season nears its end, Chicago Cubs president Theo Epstein was bold enough to suggest Friday that 2013 might not be much better when it comes to playoff expectations.


That might not make the ticket department stand up and cheer but it goes along with Epstein's objective of being as forward as possible about the rebuilding project.

"I think obviously we really care about our fans and we want them to have a great experience, but we're trying to be transparent about it," Epstein said. "We have a plan and we have a vision and it won't happen overnight, but given the way of things I think this is the best way to go."

Despite the club's 56-87 record heading into play Friday, the Cubs still are outdrawing all but five National League teams after 2.47 million have poured into the gates this year. At their current attendance average, the Cubs will still draw over 2.9 million fans this year.

Even at the risk of cutting into that attendance next season, Epstein had some frank things to say about the immediate future.

"There might be some tough things we have to tell (fans) along the way, and there might be another trading deadline in our future where we trade away 40 percent of a really good rotation," Epstein said.

In July this year the Cubs parted ways with Ryan Dempster and Paul Maholm, while losing Matt Garza for the season to injury. Assuming Garza comes back healthy in 2013, the Cubs figure to deal him before the end of next July.

"You do that because there will be a day when you acquire two starting pitchers at the deadline just to cement your club and go on a run in the postseason," Epstein said. "Again, our goal from the beginning was that we were going to do what we need to do to put ourselves in position to be a contending team year in and year out. So that means no shortcuts and taking a long approach."

Manager Dale Sveum was informed during his interview last winter that the process would be slow. For that reason, he is being judged more on his ability to teach than his ability to win.

"We told him that based on where we are as a franchise, we're going to try to win but we're not going to evaluate him on wins and losses the first couple of years, to be honest, because it wouldn't be fair," Epstein said. "We knew we would be putting out a team that had too much developing talent to be evaluating him strictly on wins and losses. We will evaluate him on a number of other criteria that we shared with him and I think he has done a fantastic job to be honest with you."

If a dip in attendance comes next season, but the team is competitive as early as 2014 or by 2015, then it's a trade Epstein is willing to make. He isn't just trying build a club that can rise up and make a playoff statement one year. His objective is long-term competitive success.

Yet, stripping down a roster and loading up on young minor-league talent is one thing. Having talent that eventually emerges to be better than anybody else's is the hard part. In that sense, there is no guarantee that what Epstein is doing will bring a World Series.

The first goal is to get into the playoffs. Titles can't happen until then.

"When you acquire really young players and trade for prospects and focus on the draft, it's really obvious that it's not a quick road, but it's going to be a really, I think, rewarding journey," Epstein said.

I dig it.

[KyleJRM]

Short version: I don't care about the Cubs because I had my fun with my real team in Boston. Now I just want to chill somewhere where the fans won't pressure me and I don't have to worry about actually trying to win baseball games. I can't believe how easy this job is when people are placated by farm system rankings and vague promises that I probably can't deliver.

[terencem]

I'm glad he is being transparent about it. When you think about it, even with Hoyer/Epstein's knowledge of the Cubs from information their former teams had, this is their first full offseason with the Cubs. This is their first year entering the off-season knowing that they're in charge if this team, this group of coaches, this group of scouts. Now is the time when they can start fishing for takers for Volstad, Soriano or Garza. They've had a full year now to learn what they've got and who has interest. This off-season could be far more interesting than the last.

Short version: I don't care about the Cubs because I had my fun with my real team in Boston. Now I just want to chill somewhere where the fans won't pressure me and I don't have to worry about actually trying to win baseball games. I can't believe how easy this job is when people are placated by farm system rankings and vague promises that I probably can't deliver.

I forgot that the Cubs have a top flight farm system and there are all these young star players in free agency this offseason that will give the Cubs a discount just because.

[croce_99]

Short version: I don't care about the Cubs because I had my fun with my real team in Boston. Now I just want to chill somewhere where the fans won't pressure me and I don't have to worry about actually trying to win baseball games. I can't believe how easy this job is when people are placated by farm system rankings and vague promises that I probably can't deliver.

You don't really think that, do you?

[davell]

Or he wants to cement his legacy as the GM that broke two teams futility streaks and actually thinks this is the best way to go towards doing it. And thankfully doesn't give a crap whether it placates fans into having an average team until he gets us there. Sorry, but I trust him far more than us guys on a message board. And that's not a disrepsect to Kyle, who should know I enjoy his posts already. Same with Gato, before you pipe in, man.

[{Ron!n}]

short version: I don't care about the cubs because i had my fun with my real team in boston. Now i just want to chill somewhere where the fans won't pressure me and i don't have to worry about actually trying to win baseball games. I can't believe how easy this job is when people are placated by farm system rankings and vague promises that i probably can't deliver.

bb?

[KyleJRM]

You don't really think that, do you?

I absolutely think that Epstein was burnt out from his time in Boston, and the only reason he took the Chicago job was because he wanted low-pressure franchise where he could focus on his favorite part of the game: drafting and development.

Has he convinced himself that a long-term sustained run of making the playoffs waits on the other side? Probably. Just like he convinced himself he was doing the right thing when he loaded up on all those awful contracts in Boston, even though deep down he knew better. The funny thing about being the smartest man in the room is that you are wrong just as often, but you are *really* good at coming up with smart-sounding justifications for what doing whatever you want.

[croce_99]

bb?

Are you on a phone or something?

When you quoted him, his user name went to all lower letters.
Strange.

[Yagyu+]

Are you on a phone or something?

When you quoted him, his user name went to all lower letters.
Strange.

Can't post in all majuscules.

[croce_99]

Can't post in all majuscules.

majuscules...haven't used that word in...ever

[terencem]

I absolutely think that Epstein was burnt out from his time in Boston, and the only reason he took the Chicago job was because he wanted low-pressure franchise where he could focus on his favorite part of the game: drafting and development.

Has he convinced himself that a long-term sustained run of making the playoffs waits on the other side? Probably. Just like he convinced himself he was doing the right thing when he loaded up on all those awful contracts in Boston, even though deep down he knew better. The funny thing about being the smartest man in the room is that you are wrong just as often, but you are *really* good at coming up with smart-sounding justifications for what doing whatever you want.

What makes you the smartest guy in the room IS being right more often than other people. That doesn't make any sense at all. Also, the point of Epstein coming to Chicago was to be te president of baseball operations. Jed Hoyer is the GM. He's the guy in the trenches with the scouts and advisors. Theo's job is, by design, more about the strategic direction of the team.

[KyleJRM]

I forgot that the Cubs have a top flight farm system and there are all these young star players in free agency this offseason that will give the Cubs a discount just because.

You don't need either of those things to put together a competitive baseball team.

[Yagyu+]

majuscules...haven't used that word in...ever

The most majestic of the -cules.

[KyleJRM]

What makes you the smartest guy in the room IS being right more often than other people. That doesn't make any sense at all. Also, the point of Epstein coming to Chicago was to be te president of baseball operations. Jed Hoyer is the GM. He's the guy in the trenches with the scouts and advisors. Theo's job is, by design, more about the strategic direction of the team.

In that case, Theo hasn't been the smartest guy in the room for a long time, because he's been wrong way too often since the mid-00s.

The division of labor between Epstein and Hoyer is a bit more subtle than that. The titles are more necessities because of the details involved in extricating them from their previous teams.

[A New Era]

I can handle one more year of building up the farm. It's already much improved. I imagine by this time next year we will have quite a bit of talent to use for some big time trades.