Who will be the next GM?

[J. Walter Weatherman]

Please tell me Crane Kenney is gone with this move.

The story seems to be that Theo and Crane report directly to Ricketts with no cross-responsibilities.

According to whom?

[R-V]

Please tell me Crane Kenney is gone with this move.

The story seems to be that Theo and Crane report directly to Ricketts with no cross-responsibilities.

According to whom?

Chuck doesn't have the data in front of him.

[flannj]

The story seems to be that Theo and Crane report directly to Ricketts with no cross-responsibilities.

So Theo is not going to be Club President?
Or are the Cubs going to have two Club Presidents?

[Brownie]

The story seems to be that Theo and Crane report directly to Ricketts with no cross-responsibilities.

So Theo is not going to be Club President?
Or are the Cubs going to have two Club Presidents?

It'll be like it was when there were two Popes. They'll send Crane Kenny to Avignon, France to be president and make decisions, and Todd will be there with his French wife to ride his bike and keep an eye on Crane. Meanwhile, Theo can be President here.

[Bort]

I'm ok withTJ's plan.

[J. Walter Weatherman]

http://espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/story/_/id/7091803/sources-theo-epstein-agrees-five-year-deal-chicago-cubs-leave-boston-red-sox

According to sources, Major League Baseball expressed great concern over the compensation package because they do not want this deal to affect how other teams compete in the market for front-office personnel.

A source with knowledge of the talks told ESPN's Karl Ravech Tuesday that the compensation would involve prospects and/or cash, but no major league players would be part of the deal, following traditional precedent.

Also: nearly $20MM according to Olney's sources.

[Eli]

This is from Kaplan, so whatever. But still, it's hard not to like everything that's said here.

Ricketts outlined his plan to build through the farm system while also spending wisely on the acquisition of veteran stars who can make an immediate impact on the Cubs. In fact, sources tell us that Ricketts is not opposed to spending big money on a star player, but for him to sign a mega contract the player must fit long-term with the organization. The acquisition of Adrian Gonzalez by the Red Sox is the type of player and commitment that Ricketts is willing to take on with the Cubs. He looks at Gonzalez as a star player, in the prime of his career and a player who is solid both offensively and defensively in addition to being a person of impeccable character. When opportunities like that come along he wants his Cubs to be in a position to make a move for a superstar. It was that willingness to spend when it makes sense in addition to the increased power and salary that will come with his contract that sold Epstein on Ricketts vision for the organization.

In addition, Tom Ricketts stressed to Epstein that the family was committed to the Cubs long term and that it wanted to build the franchise the right way. Not trying to quick-fix the major league roster to improve the record. Instead, he showed Epstein his plans for a new spring training complex, a new state of the art academy in the talent rich Dominican Republic, a long term plan for renovating Wrigley Field and thus increasing revenue streams that will impact the major league payroll. Additionally, Ricketts told Epstein of his family's willingness to spend heavily in the draft and on international signings which should translate to a rapidly improving farm system.

Add it all up and sources tell me that Epstein was "blown away" by Ricketts level of commitment, research, and willingness to spend on the developmental side of the game. Add in the long term contract that he will receive along with more power than he has ever had in Boston and the move was a no-brainer from a professional standpoint.

Bring it in, Tom Ricketts. Taste the happy.

[Tony]

So is the dork thing just an act? I like this new Ricketts.

Also....is Theo going to have the power to stop all the singing at the ballpark?

[PenPho]

Please tell me Crane Kenney is gone with this move.

The story seems to be that Theo and Crane report directly to Ricketts with no cross-responsibilities.

I'm not sure how to handle this feeling.

The same way we all felt two years ago when the Ricketts took over.

No.

That day felt like a day of happiness that the last regime was over and uncertainty about the future.

This day feels like steakballs covered in titsauce.

[J. Walter Weatherman]

Also....is Theo going to have the power to stop all the singing at the ballpark?

I'm guessing no.

[Brownie]

Cubs moves that excited me:
1) Cubs sign Andre Dawson
2) Cubs draft Mark Prior
3) Cubs trade for Nomar Garciaparra
4) Cubs trade Leon Durham for Pat Perry and call up Mark Grace
5) Cubs call up Kerry Wood
6) Joe Carter and Mel Hall for Sutcliffe, Frazier, Hassey et al.
7) Cubs re-sign Greg Maddux
8) Cubs fire Chip Caray
9) Cubs hire Don Baylor/Dusty Baker/Lou Piniella
10) Cubs fire Hendry
11) Cubs fire Zimmer
12) Cubs trade for Fred McGriff
13) Cubs trade George Bell for Sosa
14) Cubs sign George Bell
15) Cubs sign Ted Lilly
16) Cubs hire Larry Himes
17) Cubs hire Jim Essian
18) Cubs trade for Scott Sanderson
19) Cubs trade Brant Brown for Jon Lieber straight-up
20) Cubs trade Ryan Theriot -- even if they had to send Lilly away too.
21) Cubs trade for Ramirez and Lofton
22) Cubs sign Randy Myers
23) Cubs fire Larry Himes
24) Cubs hire Andy MacPhail
25) Cubs sign Moises Alou
26) Cubs fire Ed Lynch
27) Cubs trade Mikey Barrett
28) Cubs sign Soriano
29) Cubs trade Crazy Julian to Marlins for Alfonseca and Clement
30) Cubs trade Felix Heredia for Alex Gonzalez

I'm sure there are others, but the point is, nothing comes close to Cubs hiring Theo Epstein.

[Powdered Toast Man]

I'm close to caring again.  Bravo, Ricketts.

[PenPho]

Cubs moves that excited me:
1) Cubs sign Andre Dawson
2) Cubs draft Mark Prior
3) Cubs trade for Nomar Garciaparra
4) Cubs trade Leon Durham for Pat Perry and call up Mark Grace
5) Cubs call up Kerry Wood
6) Joe Carter and Mel Hall for Sutcliffe, Frazier, Hassey et al.
7) Cubs re-sign Greg Maddux
8) Cubs fire Chip Caray
9) Cubs hire Don Baylor/Dusty Baker/Lou Piniella
10) Cubs fire Hendry
11) Cubs fire Zimmer
12) Cubs trade for Fred McGriff
13) Cubs trade George Bell for Sosa
14) Cubs sign George Bell
15) Cubs sign Ted Lilly
16) Cubs hire Larry Himes
17) Cubs hire Jim Essian
18) Cubs trade for Scott Sanderson
19) Cubs trade Brant Brown for Jon Lieber straight-up
20) Cubs trade Ryan Theriot -- even if they had to send Lilly away too.
21) Cubs trade for Ramirez and Lofton
22) Cubs sign Randy Myers
23) Cubs fire Larry Himes
24) Cubs hire Andy MacPhail
25) Cubs sign Moises Alou
26) Cubs fire Ed Lynch
27) Cubs trade Mikey Barrett
28) Cubs sign Soriano
29) Cubs trade Crazy Julian to Marlins for Alfonseca and Clement
30) Cubs trade Felix Heredia for Alex Gonzalez

I'm sure there are others, but the point is, nothing comes close to Cubs hiring Theo Epstein.

I was pretty excited when they signed Fukudome as well.

[Tonker]

Cubs moves that excited me:
1) Cubs sign Andre Dawson
2) Cubs draft Mark Prior
3) Cubs trade for Nomar Garciaparra
4) Cubs trade Leon Durham for Pat Perry and call up Mark Grace
5) Cubs call up Kerry Wood
6) Joe Carter and Mel Hall for Sutcliffe, Frazier, Hassey et al.
7) Cubs re-sign Greg Maddux
8) Cubs fire Chip Caray
9) Cubs hire Don Baylor/Dusty Baker/Lou Piniella
10) Cubs fire Hendry
11) Cubs fire Zimmer
12) Cubs trade for Fred McGriff
13) Cubs trade George Bell for Sosa
14) Cubs sign George Bell
15) Cubs sign Ted Lilly
16) Cubs hire Larry Himes
17) Cubs hire Jim Essian
18) Cubs trade for Scott Sanderson
19) Cubs trade Brant Brown for Jon Lieber straight-up
20) Cubs trade Ryan Theriot -- even if they had to send Lilly away too.
21) Cubs trade for Ramirez and Lofton
22) Cubs sign Randy Myers
23) Cubs fire Larry Himes
24) Cubs hire Andy MacPhail
25) Cubs sign Moises Alou
26) Cubs fire Ed Lynch
27) Cubs trade Mikey Barrett
28) Cubs sign Soriano
29) Cubs trade Crazy Julian to Marlins for Alfonseca and Clement
30) Cubs trade Felix Heredia for Alex Gonzalez

I'm sure there are others, but the point is, nothing comes close to Cubs hiring Theo Epstein.

I was even excited when the Cubs traded for Ismael Valdez, so tonight I'm going wank my balls flat.

[Waco Kid]

So is the dork thing just an act? I like this new Ricketts.

Also....is Theo going to have the power to stop all the singing at the ballpark?

If it was act then Ricketts should win an Oscar for it.

We've gone from nacho helmets to hiring Theo Epstein.