Two other people who need to be thanked for the Cubs success last year would be the team’s President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein and the club’s manager, Joe Maddon. Epstein was the mastermind behind creating a roster that was chalk full of young talent, outstanding starting pitching, and a perfect mix of veterans and youngsters.
In the last five years the Cubs have completely turned over their major league roster from 2011 (when Epstein took over), and only one current player played for the Cubs in 2012 — Anthony Rizzo. In just five short years, Theo overhauled a roster and made moves that included 140 players, 37 trades, 80 signings and 85 departures.
Theo handed the keys to Maddon in 2015 and the Cubs skipper quickly made a huge impact. His laid back, quirky, unpredictable managing style was exactly what the young Cubs needed in both 2015 and 2016. While he wasn’t always perfect in his managerial decisions (I’m looking at you Game 7 of the World Series), everything always seemed to work out for Maddon.
Phil felt that Cubs fans should know that we shouldn’t “feel entitled” or “turn on our manager” during the 2017 season. He shares that another 100-win season isn’t guaranteed (no shit?), there will be injuries (remember Schwarber?), and there will also be slumps. This is stuff that we’ve ALREADY gone through in 2016 Phil, so there’s not a whole lot that can happen that true Cubs fans won’t be prepared for.
Then he drops a line that literally made me shake my head.
More to the point, enjoy the wins just as much as you did before Game 7 of last year’s World Series. Don’t micromanage the fun out of success.
First off, there will be NO WIN that will be as important as the ‘W’ after Game 7 of the World Series so you can take that nonsense else where. Second, who in their right mind would “micromanage the fun out of success?” So because the Cubs won it all in 2016, fans are assuming that every team that shows up will just lay down and let the Cubs win?
Every time the Cubs win, I genuinely feel happy. So because I’m not crying and in a fetal position (like I was after Game 7) after the Cubs win a meaningless game in May that’d be “micromanaging” success?
Stop it Phil.
