Chicago, IL- It's not the first series, but the second series against the Red Sox that Theo Epstein will be spectating from the other side of the dugout as a member of the Chicago Cubs.
When Theo departed from Boston in the 2012 off-season, he left a legacy behind. He successfully ended the "Curse of the Bambino" with a 2004 World Series victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. Winning the World Series ended the 85 year drought of no World Series championships for the Boston Red Sox. Players like Manny Ramirez, Pedro Martinez, David Ortiz, Johnny Damon, and Curt Schilling helped bring a championship to Boston. Moving on three years later, Epstein's team managed to win another World Series. In 2007, The Boston Red Sox beat the Colorado Rockies in four games to earn their eighth World Series championship in franchise history. Josh Beckett, David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez, and Dustin Pedroia were some names on that 2007 championship team. Both championship teams were managed by fan-favorite Terry Francona. Despite all the grand accomplishments Theo completed as the General Manager, he left the team after a disappointing season. At the beginning of September of 2011, the Boston Red Sox entered the month with a record of 83-52. However, September was a nightmare, as the Red Sox went 7-20 in the final month of the season. Players such as Daniel Bard (10.64 ERA in September), Andrew Miller (11.70 ERA in September), and Jarrod Saltalamacchia (.162 average in September) were key contributors to the disappointing finish. The one to blame for this mess was,Terry Francona, who was fired at the end of the 2011 season. Finishing the year in an ugly slump, allowed the Yankees and Rays to make postseason berths. The Yankees ended up winning the AL East, and the Rays won the AL Wild Card. About the end of his tenure in Boston, Theo told the Daily Herald, "With some time and perspective, I think the way it ended was the way it ended. When you're somewhere for 10 years, there are going to be great moments, and there are going to be painfully disappointing moments."
Coming to Chicago, Theo realized it was not going to be a simple task rebuilding the franchise. Along with Theo Epstein, the Cubs brought in Jed Hoyer and his assistant Jason McLeod. In an interview with the Chicago Sun Times on October 3, 2012, Theo said,"We have a plan and a vision, and it's not going to happen overnight." That plan/vision for rebuilding the Cubs revolves around the following: trading veterans for prospects, choosing smart draft picks, looking overseas for good players, and building a core around Starlin Castro and Anthony Rizzo.
During the course of two and a half seasons under Theo's control, things have been wonderful not on the Major League field, but down on the farm. So far the front office of the Cubs have watched their Major League club go a combined 161-243. The record has not been the only bad thing the Cubs have endured on the Major League team, as there has been some bad free agent signings and managerial decisions. One free agent signing that has gone downhill for the Cubs is the signing of Edwin Jackson, as he has not been worth the 4 yr./52 million dollar deal that was handed to him in the 2013 off-season. The first manager hired by the new regime, Dale Svuem, was fired after two seasons due to poor development and coaching abilities. However, Rick Renteria, the new Cubs manager, has been able to get the most out of his roster along with the help of his coaching staff. Chris Bosio has done an outstanding job with pitchers such as Jason Hammel and Jake Arrieta. Bill Mueller, a member of the 2004 World Series championship team, has revived the careers of Starlin Castro and Anthony Rizzo in his role as a hitting coach.
With all the work being put in to fix the Major League team, the Minor League teams have had a great reconstruction too. Kris Bryant, who was the number two overall pick in the 2013 draft, has been tearing up every level of the Minor Leagues so far. Kyle Hendricks, who was acquired in the Ryan Dempster deal, has been outstanding for Iowa these season, as he has a record of 9-5 and an ERA of 3.52 in 15 starts according to baseball-reference.com. Manny Ramirez, who was brought in to help at Iowa, has really helped some major bats turn their game around. Javier Baez, who struggled to begin the season, is hitting .265 with 4 HR and 21 RBI in the month of June according to baseball-reference.com. In an interview with the Des Moines insider, Kris Bryant said of having the leadership brought by Manny Ramirez, "I think it's a good resource for all of us, and we're all picking his brain here." Down at the levels such as AA and A+, other prospects have been producing. Albert Almora, the Cubs first round draft pick in the 2012 draft, has hit .259 with 3 HR and 37 RBI in 71 games at Daytona according to baseball-reference.com. Hammered by injuries so far this season, Jorge Soler has hit a combined .410 with 1 HR and 11 RBI in 12 games between Rookie level and AA according to baseball-reference.com. Once he comes back from the disabled-list, the Cubs hope he can keep up the production.
Comparing the Cubs and the Red Sox, there are many similarities and differences. Both clubs play in old ballparks that have undergone changes to modernize the facilities. In an interview with the Daily Herald about having the ability to work in two old-fashioned parks, Theo said, "I'm so lucky. I'm really a traditional at heart, baseball wise." A major difference between the Cubs and the Red Sox though is the consistency of winning ballgames. When Theo & Co. took over the Red Sox, they took over a team that just finished a season with a record of 95-67. The same can't be said for the Cubs, as they haven't had a winning record since the 2009 season. However, it's not the time for the new regime to focus on the past, as the future is what is at stake for the Cubs. The World Series championships in Boston will always be a part of the regime's heart and mind, but the objective now is to make the Cubs break a long drought of a World Series championship like the 2004 Red Sox team.
-Daniel (DanielDoreCTC)
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