Could Theo Epstein Perform a Miracle for the Democrats?

[bathroommonkey76]

When Fortune magazine unveiled its annual ranking of the world’s greatest leaders last month, there was a surprise at the top of the list: Theo Epstein, the president of baseball operations for the Chicago Cubs. “Some people never heard of him,” Fortune’s Geoff Colvin said in a video introducing Epstein. (Pope Francis, a previous holder of the top spot, was third). But, Colvin added, “Baseball fans really know him well because he has done the impossible.” Indeed. In 2004, Epstein, then the 30-year-old general manager of the Boston Red Sox, presided over the team’s first championship in 86 years. Seven years—and two more titles—later, he decamped to Chicago, where he engineered the remaking of the long-suffering Cubs, and ended an impossibly longer drought, 108 years, with a World Series win last fall. (Time added to Epstein’s résumé last week when it named him one of the world’s 100 most influential people).

As Epstein has made his mark on baseball he has also been a visible figure in Democratic political circles. In 2004, he stumped for John Kerry, getting in a dig at President George W. Bush on the campaign trail. “It’s only been four years, but it sure feels like 86,” he told a crowd. Last year, Epstein attended a fundraiser for Hillary Clinton in Chicago just before the playoffs started. It is no wonder then that when the Cubs visited the White House on January 16, President Barack Obama joked of Epstein, “He takes the reins of an organization that’s wandering in the wilderness and he delivers them to the promised land. I’ve talked to him about being [Democratic National Committee] chair.”

Plenty of others have speculated about Epstein’s political future. He is telegenic, well-spoken and has a demonstrated interest in public service, having started a foundation that has donated millions of dollars to support urban youth and families. His grandfather wrote the screenplay for “Casablanca.” Epstein's father, Leslie, won a Rhodes scholarship to Oxford and is a Boston University English professor (He also happened to predict Donald Trump’s defeat of Clinton.). When Epstein was hired by the Red Sox, then the youngest general manager in baseball history, his father quipped, “At Theo’s age, Alexander the Great was already general manager of the world.” More recently, Leslie Epstein has mentioned that his son could run anything from the United Nations to the Ford Foundation after his baseball career.

Last fall, when ESPN the Magazine convened a roundtable to discuss Epstein’s place in history among baseball executives, the conversation turned to politics. “If Theo ever went into politics, I'd see him as more of an executive-branch type—a governor, rather than a congressman ... ,” wrote Buster Olney. And when Epstein earned the mantle of World’s Greatest Leader, the chatter continued. “I’ve often said that someday Theo Epstein will be a Democratic senator from Massachusetts or Illinois, and he’ll one day run for president and win,” wrote the longtime Boston Globe baseball writer Nick Cafardo.

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http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/04/26/could-theo-epstein-perform-a-miracle-for-the-democrats-215069?cmpid=sf

[WhiteTara]

1. We can use all the heroes we can find. nt

[GoCubsGo]

2. I don't see where performing a "miracle" comes into play here.

He did a fantastic job rebuilding two different failing sports teams into champions, but that didn't involve any performing of miracles. Drafting and hiring good players isn't miraculous. Could he translate his sports managerial skills into a successful political career? Absolutely! And, I hope that he eventually will. But, I fail to see how it would be any sort of "miracle" for the Democrats. Politico needs to back off on they hyperbole.

[bathroommonkey76]

3. "Drafting and hiring good players isn't miraculous."

If that were true all the teams in MLB would compete every year for the World Series.

Epstein did what every GM and owner tried before- Both curses in Boston and Chicago were stomped out by his brilliant mind.

[GoCubsGo]

5. He has a brilliant mind, but what he did was not miraculous in any way.

It was because he was smart enough to figure out the issues the team has had, and properly deal with them. That doesn't take a miracle-worker. It just makes him a great manager. He was also fortunate that the Ricketts Family was willing to shell out the kind of money it takes to bring in some of the best players--and the right manager. We don't worry about Joe Maddon ruining a young star pitcher by overusing him, as we have seen other managers do in the past. He knows what he's doing.

BTW, not every team drafts well, and they don't always hire the best players. That's why most teams wind up out of contention when playoffs time comes around. And, even when they do have a good team, they don't always have good management and coaching staff. We Cubs fans can tell you all about that.

[bathroommonkey76]

6. The Cubs and Red Sox spent millions on players

and staff long before Theo came around. And neither team came close to winning a World Series before Theo.

Epstein is a miracle worker- Name one other general manager in baseball who could do what he did in Chicago and Boston. You can't name one. Theo Epstein will go down as the greatest GM in the history of the game.

Your last paragraph only strengthens my argument about him.

Sorry, I'm just an angry Boston fan who hated seeing Theo leave the Red Sox- Dombrowski should have given him everything he wanted (and more) to stay in Boston.

[GoCubsGo]

9. He is able to put championship teams together where others have failed.

I agree that he's probably the greatest GM ever. I don't agree that he works miracles. He's just better at the job than anyone else.

[BannonsLiver]

7. Wow not a lick of gratitude toward the guy from a Cubs fan, no less

Well I guess October was a long time ago.

[GoCubsGo]

8. Huh????

What the hell are you talking about? Because I say he's a great manager, rather than a miracle worker means I'm not grateful? What the fuck????

[BannonsLiver]

10. So triggered

You spent several paragraphs diminishing Epstein's contributions to the organization. Most Cubs fans I know, insufferable as they are, are pretty happy about Epstein. You give all of the credit to Maddon, which is of course quite ludicrous. Anyway thanks for the interesting reply. I think we're done here.

[GoCubsGo]

12. Hahahahahahaha!!!!

Reading comprehension isn't your strong skill, is it? The only thing you are correct about is that we are done here. Good day.

[crazycatlady]

11. that is precisely what the Democratic Party needs to do

Our top tier farm team (well 50 of them in state capitals across the country) is not 100%.

Many state legislative races saw the GOP running unopposed in 2016. This has to change NOW.

[Initech]

4. I think the dems need to take a page from the movie "Moneyball".

That is - hire and elect anybody that can get the job done at the smallest positions possible. If it works, go for it. I hope Epstein could turn things around for us! We've suffered 40 years of GOP bullshit, constant lies and attacks, and constant, nonstop slander, and now it's payback time.