I truly believe that Theo Epstein had interest in hiring former Red Sox manager Terry Francona as manager of the Chicago Cubs. Francona was the kind of guy he wanted to hire for the Red Sox before the 2004 season. In his eyes, I bet, a man who managed a Phillies team that lacked talent and would be more than grateful for another chance to be a major league manager. A person who would take the Red Sox job at Theo's terms, which is essentially to control the players and write out the line-up cards. (Obviously there would be irony in the fact that the 2011 Red Sox players lacked control, which lead to Francona's demise.) Francona fit the mold of the type that Epstein would want to manage his team, a manager that would just manage the team, would want no say in personnel decisions, and would be paid among the lesser end of managers in baseball until he had proven himself. Of course, winning the World Series in his first year as manager, started his legend. (also Theo Epstein's) And after winning the Red Sox second World Series in 2007, Francona suddenly had a reputation as one of the higher profile manager's in the game.
Francona was not hired by Epstein for the Cubs, not because of any animosity over their breakup in Boston, but because Francona now has a proven track record and with that, comes a sense of entitlement that Epstein is not looking to give a manager. Add in the fact that the Cubs may not be competitive in the first year or two, and that lessens the need for a proven manager- even if that was Theo's way- and it isn't. Dale Sveum will hold the title as manager of the Cubs, but nothing more. He will do whatever Theo and his staff says and will simply gameplan and write out the lineups. And he will come with no sense of entitlement, just like Francona in 2004, and be grateful to be hired for the job. Hiring Francona for the Cubs job now would have been like the Red Sox hiring Cito Gaston or Tom Kelly in 2004, both good managers with a track record that has to be respected by any front office that hires them. Also, Francona would want to get paid like a two- time World Series winning manager. I assume Sveum will get paid at the lowest levels of major league managers because its his first MLB manager job. Once again Theo wants the organization, just like in Boston, to be run by the front office and all its different branches and not by the manager and Sveum fits the mold as the one to just lead the players on the field.
Francona was not hired by Epstein for the Cubs, not because of any animosity over their breakup in Boston, but because Francona now has a proven track record and with that, comes a sense of entitlement that Epstein is not looking to give a manager. Add in the fact that the Cubs may not be competitive in the first year or two, and that lessens the need for a proven manager- even if that was Theo's way- and it isn't. Dale Sveum will hold the title as manager of the Cubs, but nothing more. He will do whatever Theo and his staff says and will simply gameplan and write out the lineups. And he will come with no sense of entitlement, just like Francona in 2004, and be grateful to be hired for the job. Hiring Francona for the Cubs job now would have been like the Red Sox hiring Cito Gaston or Tom Kelly in 2004, both good managers with a track record that has to be respected by any front office that hires them. Also, Francona would want to get paid like a two- time World Series winning manager. I assume Sveum will get paid at the lowest levels of major league managers because its his first MLB manager job. Once again Theo wants the organization, just like in Boston, to be run by the front office and all its different branches and not by the manager and Sveum fits the mold as the one to just lead the players on the field.
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