Theo definitely seems to have that "it" factor. I've been pretty impressed, even though I'm still a little sour on Sandberg not being considered, but that's mostly emotions and I have confidence Theo will bring in the right guy.

It's one thing to have some questions lobbed at you during an off-season interview, and another to have actually lost your 5th straight or being 8-10 out at the AS break and have guys who just wrote hit pieces on you asking much different questions.

Here's an article, to me, that sums up what the Theo backers are thinking:

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/chicago-cubs-ryne-sandberg-theo-epstein-legacy-of-losing-needs-to-stop-completely-overhaul-everything-about-franchise-110311

Out with the old, in with the new. Theo Epstein is flawless and he'll get rid of our "losing ways", and since Ryno was part of that before, he isn't a "numbers guy" and doesn't get the new system.

This guy nails it, in my opinion:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/04/us/epstein-co-pass-over-the-obvious-choice.html

quote:

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In fact, it’s heresy to offer Sandberg to a Cubs Nation so awash in Theo Love that the team’s hapless history must be rewritten, if not eliminated.

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quote:

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Just as important, he played the game “the right way,” in scout-speak: always hustling, ever alert and observant, no detail too small to master, be it base running or positioning in the field.

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quote:

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Tony La Russa, who had no use for the National League during his 17 years as an American League manager, told me once that Sandberg was his ideal ballplayer, for his attitude and his approach as much as his ability. That’s a strong endorsement.

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quote:

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“He has so much knowledge you’d be an idiot if you didn’t listen to him or go to him, but he listens, too — he knows that you never stop learning in this game,” Scales said. “He’s a Hall of Famer, but he’s totally approachable. I loved playing for him.”

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That's my last word on it. I know there are other capable managers out there and Sandberg isn't guaranteed another job, but I think the way Sandberg has been treated before Theo was embarrassing, and the current reasoning behind their passing him over now is equally as asinine. Rough to see your HOFer treated that way.

I'm disappointed Sandberg's not in the running, but I will say that I'm glad that it appears bridges have been rebuilt with him. I'm sure he's not done with the Cubs for his career.

Dr Cub... if you want to meet up in lawrence in january send me an email texag06 at mchsi dot com

E-mail sent.

is Theo just lining up an all star coaching staff with this "manager search"?

manager: Joe Maddon
bench: Mackanin
pitching: Mike Maddux
batting: Sveum

clearly Mark Riggins isn't exactly a hot commodity, but I don't have a good read on the Rudy Jaramillo situation. he's got the track record, but the results have been underwhelming in Chicago... does he make the cut?

joe Maddon would be awesome

Dear god that coaching staff would make me wet my diapers.

Chicago radio just reported that Jon Heyman from SI is reporting that Maddux has removed himself from consideration for the Boston job because he is believed to be the leader for the Cubs job.

Greg + Mike =

If Mike is our manager I fully expect Greg to be the Pitching Coach.

Maddux is cited as saying he doesn't want to uproot family. We'll see if that is true or not and how he handles the Cubs' interview.

If he doesn't want to uproot his family then he would cancel his Cubs interview as well.

You guys know anything about Sandy Alomar, Jr.'s recent career. I admit I'm no expert, but he seems like a pretty underwhelming candidate.

Anyone going to the Cubs convention? I'm only 3 hours away but don't wanna go alone. My wife would hate it if I dragged her along.

I know nothing about Alomar as a manager candidate.

Someday I will make it to the Cubs Convention, but this will not be the one. Should be an intersting one, though.

the only time I went was 1998. all the greats were there... Robin Jennings, Bob Patterson, Kevin Orie, Kevin Tapani, Mickey Morandini...

That's a "WHO?" of former Cubs.

lol, those are some names I haven't heard in a loooong time.

quote:

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Mike’s family considerations might determine whether he’s the Cubs’ next manager. This summer concluded the Milwaukee-to-Dallas transition for his family, including two college-age daughters now in school in Texas.

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not at A&M i assume?

in a related story, in high school i was wearing a Cubs hat in the hall between classes and this girl i had never met came up to me and told me she could get me Cubs tickets... being the middle of winter, i thought she was full of s**t, so i was kinda like whatever... then she told me she was Don Baylor's neice and walked off. fail.

If they are, they aren't in the directory.

i wonder if theyre hot?

MOTHER OF GOD

quote:

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JIM BOWDEN (@JimBowdenESPNxm)
11/10/11 2:41 PM
There is strong sentiment in the Cubs offices that their best team in dugout will be Mike Maddux as MGR and Greg Maddux as P-CCH..FABULOUS

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quote:

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In Albert's case, this was a landslide. All but one of the execs we polled predicted this guy won't even have to bother forwarding his mail -- because he's not going anywhere (except back to St. Louis). But the AL exec who disagreed (and picked the Cubs) made a case worthy of serious reflection.

"I've always had a feeling," he said, "that the people in St. Louis were putting up a front, that, 'We really, really want him back,' but down deep, they wouldn't mind covering their tracks by saying, in the end, that, 'The price just got so high, we couldn't compete.'

"If they were always going to do whatever it took to sign him, I don't think they would have done the [Matt] Holliday deal at the level they did it, or some of these other deals they've done. I think they've been positioning themselves to move on. It just seems to me that if they were always willing to step up and do whatever it took, they already would have stepped up and done it."

Hmmm. Makes you think. Doesn't it? He just might be right that if there's any other team willing to go eight to 10 years, at $28 to 30 million, the Cardinals might very well wave sayonara. But it's too early in the game to know if those teams are out there, only that the buzz in the industry is that the Cubs, Marlins and Rangers are gearing up to make a run at this man.

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http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/page/rumblings111110/exploring-market-free-agents-albert-pujols-prince-fielder

[This message has been edited by Dr. Cub, Esq. (edited 11/10/2011 3:31p).]

Maddux bros at the helm would be very cool.

As for Pujols, I like the guy but I'm just not excited about the prospects of him being a Cub next year. Watching the series made me think of Soriano. The guy is not pain free and that was evident when he was running the bases. Very much the same with Soriano.

I think we need to stay away. He's had his best years. There's probably a reason the Cards haven't wrapped him up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADXs2C4Vmho

I wonder what sports book will actually have odds out that the Back to the Future prophecy comes true now that Miami is the team name.

which team will switch divisions?

A friend of mine that has season tickets said she just saw Theo & Zambrano having lunch at a place a block away from Wrigley.

The meeting is over. My friend said she shook hands with them on the way out and that Z still looked nervous.

McDonalds?

Goose Island Brewery

i still haven't made it there, but do I love me some

Ate there a couple summers ago after a Cubs-Cards game. Consumed a few 312 pints as well.

Does Theo have to renounce his Sam Adams now?

Cubsin09, I always gotta do a double take when I see your new name on the forums screen: "Theo is a Touch"

I wonder who has something against Theo and then realize who the poster is.

PS. Was this Theo sighting after he went to the local starbucks? I actually heard that he and Hoyer were meeting with Z, so I guess it's not surprising