The Rebuilding Wreck that is the Cubs

Wrigley Field

Political and economic wrangling makes it difficult for Chairman Tom Ricketts to improve Wrigley Field.

When the Ricketts family announced details in January of its plan to pay for Wrigley Field renovations, the outlook they unveiled for the creaky stadium was as sunny as Anthony Rizzo's long-term future in the middle of the batting order: A new home clubhouse, renovated bathrooms, new ballpark restaurants and outfield ads to raise money.

Now the offseason looms with Rizzo's batting average hovering around .230 amid questions about his status as a key part of the team's rebuilding plan. And summerlong political fisticuffs over the ballpark repairs have left the team facing a different timeline than it projected at the Cubs Convention.

Reference:  Wrigley renovations in limbo.

Theo Epstein

President Theo Epstein either knows what he's doing, and we fans can expect a much better Cubs team in a a couple of years; or he doesn't really know what he's doing, and we end up with a team that falls in step with its long history of mediocrity (at best).

From the standpoint of business management, it's really questionable practice what Epstein is engineering.  He's often referenced their rebuilding plan vis-a-vis the Cubs poor play.  But what respectful team in any league openly rationalizes losing for the sake of rebuilding?  Losing not just for one, or even two, seasons, but over five years.  Seriously?  What reputable company chucks its existing products and services, which customers buy, for the sake of manufacturing better products and services in a few years.   

No matter how smart, confident and optimistic Epstein, there is simply no way for him, or anyone else for that matter, to ensure that a rebuilding plan will actually work out.  As in business, there is so much complexity and unpredictability in sports that the best senior managers can do is focus on winning in the present or at least in the near-term, not five years out. 

For sure, Cubs fans are sounding-off with their feet:

The Cubs saw their paid attendance drop for the fifth straight season, drawing the lowest numbers since 1998. They're assured of a second consecutive last-place finish under Epstein as they rebuild the organization from top to bottom.

Reference:  Epstein impressed by fans' commitment.

Dale Sveum

The day after the curtain closed mercifully on the 2013 season, Cubs manager Dale Sveum was no longer Cubs manager.  A 127 - 197 record will do that to anyone:  That's a whopping 70 games under .500, over two years.

How ever does he clean up that train wreck from his managerial docket?    

Joe Girardi

The Cubs' baseball operations department has only begun its search for the next manager and isn't locked into [Joe] Girardi - or anyone else - as its primary option. 

But sources say that Cubs ownership wants Girardi, is making a strong internal argument to hire him and intends to make him a serious contract offer, if given the chance.

Reference:  Cubs interested in Joe Girardi.

The likelihood of Girardi coming to manage the Cubs is small, as both he and the Cubs have stated their positions. But is he even all that much of a fit for the rebuilding wreck that the team is?

The Cubs need a Tom Thibodeau (Bulls) or a Marc Trestman (Bears):

• Both were first-time head coaches when they came onboard, and were relatively unknown.
• Both are "lifers" in their respective sport, and thus know how the game is played.
• Both clearly possess coaching talent and people management skills.

Such a manager would develop talent effectively, inculcate a winning attitude, and actually win games. What's more, he'd go on the cheap, as he builds his managerial career with the Cubs.

Girardi is not that man for the Cubs.

Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!

Ron Villejo, PhD