Rambling with Alex

Once upon a time, not too long ago, the Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox were seen as very similar franchises.

Both were viewed as loveable losers-the Red Sox from the American League and the Cubs from the National League. Most living people had never seen either of them win a World Series. Both played, and still play in antique, quirky little ballparks that some
people want to blow up and some want to gild.

Both were cursed; the Cubs by a Billy Goat and the Red Sox by the Great Bambino.

In mid-October of 2003, it looked like that was all about to change. While the Red Sox were getting ousted by the Yankees in the ALCS, the Cubs were hot, on a roll, the world was behind them. They were five outs from the World Series.

Then a foul ball was hit into the right field bleachers and some fan interfered. Cubs’ shortstop Alex Gonzales then committed an error on a play that would’ve ended the inning. The Florida Marlins scored eight runs before the inning ended and the Cubs lost
that game and the next. Season over.

The next year, the Red Sox won their first World Series since 1918. They won again in 2007.  Curse over.

The Cubs? Nothing. Never.

One of the main reasons the Red Sox have had so much success the past decade, is because they have arguably the best General Manager in baseball. His name is Theo Epstein.

The Red Sox hired Epstein in 2002 when he was a mere child, only 28-years-old, which made him the youngest General Manager in baseball history. Since Epstein took over, the Red Sox have been the most successful team in baseball, undoubtedly the team of the decade.

They’ve won two World Series, made the playoffs six times and never finished below .500. For a few years they overthrew the Yankees as the dominant franchise in baseball.

Sure, Epstein has made some bad moves, but every General Manager does at some point. And yes, the 2011 Red Sox just suffered the biggest September collapse in baseball history, but even with that collapse the team Epstein constructed still won 90 games.
There certainly have been much worse teams put together.

After the Red sox choked away their massive wild card lead in September, they let manager Terry Francona go. With that, there has been speculation that maybe Epstein is sick of Boston, and maybe the Red Sox aren’t as fond of Epstein as they once were.

The Cubs of course, are looking for a General Manager after they recently fired Jim Hendry. If the Cubs want to put an end to their curse and win their first World Series since 1908, they need to hire Epstein away from the Red Sox.

Multiple reports in recent weeks suggested Epstein won’t leave his hometown team. Other reports said he told friends he would embrace the challenge of being General Manager of the Cubs.

Tom Ricketts, the chairman of the family-owned Cubs, has long admired the model the Red Sox have used for success, and the word is Ricketts wants Epstein

Ricketts has asked permission from the Red Sox to interview Epstein, who still has one year left on his contract in Boston.
The Red sox have yet to respond to Ricketts.

Ricketts needs to try harder, given the current situation of the Cubs.

They just finished twenty games under .500 and averaged about 2,000 less fans per game than they did in 2010. They have a manager in Mike Quade who is as popular with Cubs fans as Screech was in Saved by the Bell.

Cubs’ fans are getting restless. The curse needs to end.

There is only man who can save them.