Cubs News and Notes: Epstein's Press conference, Maddon's future, offseason is here, more
Charles LeClaire - USA Today Sports

Cubs News and Notes: Epstein's Press conference, Maddon's future, offseason is here, more
by - Columnist - Mon Sep 30 17:49:29 GMT-04:00 2019

The season may be over, but the Cubs’ new continues to flow as part of the fallout from the announcement that Joe Maddon won’t return in 2020. The biggest news of the day would undoubtedly be the much anticipated “postmortem” press conference from Theo Epstein

THEO EPSTEIN’S PRESS CONFERENCE

Lots of info here, so forgive the erratic nature of the quotes and comments below- I wanted to give you as much as I could… Credit to Mark Gonzales (Tribune), Tony Andracki (NBC Sports Chicago) and Jordan Bastian (MLB)- those guys saved me a TON of typing…

“Joe was the best manager in Cubs’ history” … “…changed the franchise forever.”

“I’m not going to blow things up, but we’re going to real changes at several levels in our organization.”

“Recognize that Joe is a Hall of Fame manager, and his methods work.” … “He was the perfect guy at the perfect time for this team.”

“I think the next manager will be a success, as long as he can get the most out of each player.”

Theo says the Cubs’ front office will NOT take an active role in lineups or baseball ops on the field.

“We're looking on our list (of managers)." "We also want to be thorough." Haven't gotten permission to talk to any managers- meaning that at least one active manager is on the Cubs’ list of potential replacements for Maddon. By process of elimination: Roberts, Martinez, Shildt, Counsell, Snitker, Hinch, Boone, Baldelli, Cash, and Melvin.

Epstein on Ross: "David Ross has a lot of great things going for him. His connection to players on the team and 2016 team are not necessarily assets that distinguish him." Still will be evaluated on merits.

Theo praises Daniel Descalso for having team presence, according to other vets. Sounds like Daniel may be packing. I said this would happen- now watch as the Cubs eat his 2.5M salary to clear a roster spot.

Theo says the Cubs have remained “stubborn” with this group.

“With regard to payroll, you shouldn’t make any presumptions.” … “It’s not wise to tip your hand to the rest of the industry.”

”We’re still a team that can be game-planned for.”

“Not determined yet where Nico is going to start next season.”

Leadoff results produced “unacceptable numbers this year.”

"We have to do a better job of having more diverse offensive skill sets."

“We have high standards, and we want to win the World Series next year.”

“We have to maximize this window while preparing to open a new one.”

"We have to create a winning culture for now. Not what was a winning culture a few years ago."

Theo says Rizzo more mindful of being a proactive leader this year. Theo said, “…returning from a six-week injury in three days was amazing.”

Theo on the bullpen: “Our inability to pitch in high leverage was a real problem.”

Very complimentary of Willson Contreras. Says pitch framing has improved- especially during the second half. Also said he makes his pitchers better.

“We have no problem paying [an experienced] manager at the appropriate level.” Says that Joe’s high dollar contract was never an issue as to why he was released. (I still think the Cubs seek a cheaper route.)

"I'm up for everything that comes up with this role. I'm up for high expectations." … “I’m ready to build the Cubs’ next championship team.”

“I love everything about Nick Castellanos.” Says no team could ask more from an in-season trade acquisition than what Nicholas Castellanos gave. “You’d love to have the guy back.” … “He knows that we’d love to him back, but he knows it’s not as simple as that.”

Theo says in a different scenario, he’d hire Maddon back in a second, but says Joe just isn’t right for this group anymore. “Joe’s going to go somewhere else and dominate.”

"Overall, we've been pretty aggressive" when moving talent for needs. "there are times we've done it artfully," and times we've been "dumb." "We've been aggressive in-season."

Manager search won’t be made public, but interviews should start next week. “We have an open mind.”

“I’ve been trying to use really boring language so that I didn’t get anything thrown back at me for a year.”

That’s it for another year, let’s see if this becomes empty rhetoric, or his words and promises are made good. He said he never wanted to relive last year, and not only did they do so this year, but things also got even worse.

The window may still be open, but it won’t be that way for long, and Theo needs to step up his assault on turning this team around. No one is “untouchable,” though he did say that last year, so let’s see what this year holds.

CUBS NEWS AND NOTES

Let’s just start with this… Not only didn’t it seem that it would take Joe Maddon long to find his next job, but it would appear that the Angels are clearing a path, hoping that they can lure Maddon back to Anaheim. According to the LA Times, Maddon has already expressed interest in the position.

Angels GM Billy Eppler on Brad Ausmus: “He navigated this franchise through one of its most difficult seasons with class and professionalism. This was an incredibly difficult decision, but after significant consideration, we’ve decided it is necessary to go in another direction.”

Way to go, Happ: Hard to believe- well, maybe not considering how he played over the last week- but Ian Happ was named the NL Player of the Week.

Zo on pitching: The eighth inning of yesterday’s Cubs/Cards game marked the first time in Ben Zobrist’s 14-year career that he ever took the mound. Ben said the best part was getting out there and playing like a kid again. (Note to self: I’m going to miss the hell out of Ben Zobrist.)

Zo fanned Yadier Molina to end his pitching debut and- quite possibly- his MLB career.

Maddon’s final thoughts: Joe Maddon shared his final thoughts as the Cubs’ manager. The choice to replace him was a move that will be questioned for years, if his successor doesn’t show immediate progress. No, that’s not fair to David Ross, Mark Loretta or whomever else takes the helm, but baseball is a cruel and unforgiving sport.

The next three quotes are from Sahadev Sharma’s article in The Athletic, entitled ’It’s going to be a zoo’: David Ross seems like the obvious choice to replace Joe Maddon as the Cubs manager (subscription required).

Theo Epstein: “It’s just about looking forward to the next five years. Like Joe said, sometimes it’s just time. We’re in transition at different levels of the organization. Sometimes you’re left with a choice between status quo or change, and you feel like change is necessary. This status quo was a great status quo. It’s status quo with a Hall of Fame manager. Sometimes change can still beckon. And that’s where we are.”

“There’s going to be rumors flying everywhere. “There’s going to be sources. There’s going to be no sources that say they’re sources. It’s going to be a zoo. Rightfully so.”- Anthony Rizzo

Lester on David Ross as a manager: “If that happens, it’s just something you have to learn as you go,” Lester said. “I would like to think that Tito (Terry Francona) was a pretty good friend of mine, but still my manager. Obviously, the dynamic is different. I didn’t play with Tito. But when it came down to it, he was my boss. So, if it is Rossy, I’m sure we’ll butt heads just like I butted heads with Joe. But at the same time, I’ll respect the hell out of him. He’s my boss, so when he makes a decision, you have to respect that. At the end of the day, you want a genuine person who will shoot you straight and try to win every game.”

To be, or not to be? David Ross, last night, on Baseball Tonight: "I think it's one of the best jobs in baseball. I've got a lot of close ties with those guys. I think the interest would be there. I think my heart is drawn to that dugout a little bit." Ross went on to say, "The rumors are flattering. It makes you think about a lot of things. I've got a nice job here at ESPN that I enjoy and gives me a lot of free time with my three kids."

Bryant on Rossy: "I've always looked at Rossy as a coach when he played here. Yeah, it was goofy, it was fun. It was energetic, but when he needed to tell you something, he let you hear it. From the very get-go, I felt like this guy will be a manager someday for sure."

Rizzo on Maddon: "He's a living legend in this game. He's a bridge to the old and to the new. Talking to him, and guys he's with and coached in his career and coming to this big market, breaking the curse and being the leader of the pack, it's not like he's being run out of town. He already is a legend. It's tough for me and the guys. Losing 100 games [before Maddon came along] to winning 100-plus, Joe's changed my life and changed my career. I love him like a dad. I'll be forever grateful for him."

Maddon’s parting shot: To anyone that has ever questioned Joe’s in-game decisions (guilty), Joe says, “I know what I believe, I know what I think, and I know why I do things. I promise you, for those that say those things, if you were in the other dugout, I would kick your ass. That’s pretty much how this whole thing would work out. Just know that. Your ass would be kicked.

Javier Baez: “I think we have to do more adjustments as a team, not really the manager. The game is changing a lot. As a team, we have to make adjustments. You see a lot of teams playing different, getting better every day and doing the small things. That’s a conversation that we’ve been having with the players. Trying to see what those changes are and make those adjustments for next year.”

Longevity issue in the NL: Wow. It’s bizarre to see the managerial landscape change so much over the last couple of years. Who’d have thought that Craig Counsell would be the most senior man on the job in the National League?

Baseball History: Roberto Clemente will be forever missed. I was only seven when he died in a plane crash (on New Year’s Eve) in 1972, but I remember to this day, how stunned the baseball world was over his untimely death. You were among the best, Roberto.

Baseball Quotes: “It never ceases to amaze me how many of baseball's wounds are self-inflicted.” -Bill Veeck

Cubs’ Birthdays: Celebrating yesterday, were ex-Cubs Curtis Goodwin (47), Yorkis Pérez (52), Doug Jennings (55), David Magadan (57), Carlos Lezcano (64), and posthumously, Robin Roberts (93), Alex Hardy (143), and Patrick "Hal" O'Hagan (150).

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