The Chicago Cubs may be 32 games back of the National League Central lead and officially out of any kind of MLB Postseason race, but team owner and chairman Tom Ricketts is pleased with the direction the team is headed, regardless. David Kaplan of CSN Chicago asked Ricketts about the long-term outlook of the franchise on Wednesday, and we've got the quote below:
I think we are headed in the right direction. Theo immediately came in and built out a great team of guys and we are continuing to improve on that team and we are doing the right things and really building a foundation that will carry us into the future. I sleep well at night knowing that we have great guys running the show.
"Theo" is referring to Theo Epstein, the team's general manager, who few thought the Cubs would be able to recruit in the offseason. Ricketts fired then-general manager Jim Hendry and the team began interviewing GM candidates. To coincide with this, Epstein was having many issues with the Boston management, and was looking for a new opportunity.
Leave it to a long-struggling franchise to offer a man whatever he wants, as Epstein saw the control he'd have with the Cubs and signed on the dotted line. Now, the team has one of the most prestigious men around running it, and a lot of key players moving forward. Jorge Soler and Albert Almora figure to be the building blocks for a successful franchise, but if one thing has been made clear by Ricketts and everyone else: it's a process and will take some time.
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