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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsCould Theo Epstein Perform a Miracle for the Democrats?
When Fortune magazine unveiled its annual ranking of the worlds 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, Fortunes 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 teams first championship in 86 years. Seven yearsand two more titleslater, 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 Epsteins résumé last week when it named him one of the worlds 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. Its 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 thats wandering in the wilderness and he delivers them to the promised land. Ive talked to him about being [Democratic National Committee] chair.
Plenty of others have speculated about Epsteins 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 Trumps defeat of Clinton.). When Epstein was hired by the Red Sox, then the youngest general manager in baseball history, his father quipped, At Theos 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 Epsteins 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 typea governor, rather than a congressman ... , wrote Buster Olney. And when Epstein earned the mantle of Worlds Greatest Leader, the chatter continued. Ive often said that someday Theo Epstein will be a Democratic senator from Massachusetts or Illinois, and hell one day run for president and win, wrote the longtime Boston Globe baseball writer Nick Cafardo.
Read more:
http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/04/26/could-theo-epstein-perform-a-miracle-for-the-democrats-215069?cmpid=sf
WhiteTara
(29,704 posts)GoCubsGo
(32,080 posts)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
(3,827 posts)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
(32,080 posts)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
(3,827 posts)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
(32,080 posts)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
(16,370 posts)Well I guess October was a long time ago.
GoCubsGo
(32,080 posts)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
(16,370 posts)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
(32,080 posts)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
(4,492 posts)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
(100,065 posts)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.