Five
years in the making, 'The Plan' ends Cubs drought
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[November 04, 2016]
By Padraic Halpin
(Reuters) - The Chicago Cubs' dramatic
ending of a 108-year World Series drought was not merely a case of
baseball's "Loveable Losers" finally catching a break but the result
of a patient strategy five years in the making.
"The Plan", as it became known by Cubs fans forced to sit through a
100-loss season as recently as four years ago, was hatched when
Boston Red Sox General Manager Theo Epstein was appointed President
of Baseball Operations in 2011.
Epstein, the Yale graduate who at the age of 28 broke the Red Sox's
decades-long World Series curse, sought to "define a Cubs way of
playing the game." On Wednesday, the "Cubs Way" delivered the moment
generations had longed for with a thrilling 8-7 series-deciding win
over the Cleveland Indians.
"This is just a different place," John Baker, who played for the
Cubs in 2014 and joined Epstein's staff as a baseball-operations
assistant last year, told Reuters.
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"My first impression was wow, these guys won the World Series in
Boston, they've been incredibly successful financially but they are
ego-less people trying to provide the best possible environment for
a team of baseball players to be successful. That's the simple
goal."
The masterplan was built on a foundation of scouting and player
development, supplemented by a series of brilliant trades and when
the time was right, opening the cheque book for go-for-it free
agency signings.
Epstein said he would not rest until the Cubs had the best scouting
department in the game. His first three top draft picks - Albert
Almora Jr, National League MVP favorite Kris Bryant and post-season
hero Kyle Schwarber - all played vital roles on Wednesday.
The Cubs went against the grain by drafting bats, not arms, knowing
that they could trade for pitchers and polish some rough diamonds.
None shone brighter than 2015 Cy Young Award winner Jake Arrieta and
Game Seven starter Kyle Hendricks.
Even All-Star first baseman Anthony Rizzo was disregarded by the San
Diego Padres before reuniting with Epstein, who first drafted him in
2007, to become the Cubs' leader on the field.
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Chicago Cubs players celebrate after defeating the Cleveland
Indians. Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
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"That's the story of a lot of our guys, they weren't the best guys
right away. They faced adversity and were allowed to develop a way
through it," said Baker, who played in the minor leagues with Rizzo
and caught Arrieta's first game as a Cub.
"They're the guys that are very difficult to compete against because
they've been to the bottom, they've been beaten but are stronger
people for it and when you put four of five of those guys on a
field, you have the best team in baseball."
With Epstein and his team signed on for another five years, Joe
Maddon's young side are primed for sustained success having secured
a World Series berth with a starting lineup that had an average age
of 23.
That hunger permeates through the entire organization, says Baker,
from 16-year-olds being taught how to control their heart rate for
their World Series moment to Wilson, the groundskeeper at the
Arizona spring training complex, who, like everyone on staff, was
flown to Chicago and given World Series tickets.
The talk in Chicago's North Side is now of dynasties.
"We're building an army to win as many championships as possible,"
said Baker.
(Reporting by Padraic Halpin in Dublin; Editing by Frank Pingue)
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