For the bulk of my life, I've watched Cubs teams that range from very good to average to awful. More of them have been awful than good, but all of the recent non-awfulness has happened during my life: postseason trips in 1984, 1989, 1998, 2003, 2007 and 2008.Of course, all of those trips to the postseason ended badly. I was too young to really remember 1984, though I think I recall watching Leon Durham boot that grounder at first. I was in seventh grade in 1989, and the Cubs really didn't have much of a chance against the Giants. Will Clark was absolutely raking that year.
Amid the circus that was 1998, I was a junior in college. As the Cubs managed to stay in contention, my friends and I managed to watch the games, grill a lot of cheap steaks (like, $1.50 steaks) and follow along. The fact that they even made the playoffs was nuts. The sweep by the Braves sucked, but it wasn't unexpected.
It goes without saying that 2003 was awful. Despite seeing what I've seen over my time as a Cubs fan, that hurt. Like, physical pain.
In 2007 and 2008, I watched in awe as the Cubs won back-to-back division titles for the first time. But they got blasted in the first game of each Division Series and I could see the end coming a mile away.
But for all of those years in between, it's been bad. And those pockets of competency — of good, winning baseball — were likely just a case of every dog having its day. Why? Here are a few snippets from yesterday's press conference at Wrigley Field, introducing Theo Epstein — the former Boston Red Sox GM — as the Cubs' new president of baseball operations:
- "We're not looking for the lucky hit, where you get deep in the postseason and then not be very good for the next couple of years. We want sustained success."
- "The easiest way to start to change the culture is in the front office. Essentially it involves a lot of hard work, setting standards. … If you're not ready to buy into that, you're probably not going to be along for the ride."
- "Our goal is to build the best scouting department in the game, as far as player development goes. … We will define and implement a 'Cubs Way' of playing the game, and we won't rest until there is a steady stream of talent coming through the minor league system, trained in that 'Cubs Way.' "
- "I believe you pay for future performance, not past performance." — talking about free agents
Somewhere along the line, it never occurred to me that the Cubs didn't go about business in this manner. That it was just a string of bad luck and bad decisions that made them what they are. Clearly, that wasn't the case. And it's even more obvious that it wasn't just spending money that made the Red Sox into what they are.
No, it's a targeted, all-in process that starts at the ground level of the organization. And the fact that the Cubs will now be operating that way — in a way that has made the Red Sox the dominant force they are — is almost too much to even grasp.
The Cubs — the Cubs! — viewed not as an every-so-often phenomenon but as a relevant, powerful, force to be reckoned with? I can't even begin to understand what that means.
But, also, I can't wait to find out.
2 comments:
Look, man, I'm a Cubs fan, too, and all I have to say is "don't get your hopes up." Baseball really does come down to two things: money and luck (in that order). Sure, you need to be smart about who you sign, and maybe the Cubs front office isn't very good at that, but if you can't sign the players you really want or need, then being smart only helps a little bit. The Tribune Co. ain't doing so well financially and doesn't have money to throw at salaries, so the Cubbies aren't going to be able to sign top prospects or above-average free agents. So that leaves luck, and I'm cool with that. To me, that's more fun anyway. Go Cubs!
Well, the good news here is this: Tribune Co. doesn't own the Cubs anymore. The Ricketts family does. They have more than enough money.
It'll still take a bit of luck, but having better ... well, everything, to start with sure helps.
Post a Comment