OT: Cubs' Theo Epstein admits there's frustration in Cubs' clubhouse over constant lineup shuffling

[Dback Jon]

https://sports.yahoo.com/theo-epstein-admits-theres-bit-154145942.html

But while Epstein did his best to put that issue to bed, he was refreshingly honest to the point that he revealed not everyone in a Cubs uniform is always happy with Maddon's methods. The team president fessed up that certain players are a little frustrated with Maddon's constant lineup shuffling, something that's been a Maddon trademark since he arrived on the North Side ahead of the 2015 season - and the Cubs' rise to the top of the baseball heap.

"Maybe a little bit, honestly," Epstein said when asked if there's frustration among the players over the lack of a set, everyday lineup. "But I also think they understand. They look around and they see the talent here. And that's how players talk about it. ‘We have so many talented players who deserve to play, and that's what makes us great, that's what makes us really good. But here's how sometimes it makes me feel, and here's how if we could communicate about it it could make things a little bit easier.' I just think it's important to hear that and to listen and to communicate as much as possible about it and to be transparent.

 

[BC867]

"Certain players are a little frustrated with Maddon's constant lineup shuffling." It's funny how managers and players use the word "little" to pretend problems don't exist.

'Sounds like the D-backs approach, too. Now that this has come out, I wonder how our players felt about the constant lineup shuffling we saw all season.

Something caused our hitting to be at its anemic worst as the pressure built. Except for Goldy, everyone else was in and out. That makes it hard to get into a groove.

 

[overseascardfan]

Fire him Theo!!! We’ll take him off your hands.

 

[Ronin]

Fire him Theo!!! We’ll take him off your hands.

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[DWKB]

Our resident expert says we don’t need another AL manager pretending to know NL baseball.

 

[BC867]

Our resident expert says we don’t need another AL manager pretending to know NL baseball.

I'm just a fan with an opinion. 'Wondering if the lineup shuffling that made the Cubs players unhappy and frustrated might have had the same effect on our players.

And I never said "pretending to know NL baseball". I said not having experience in managing it.

Something caused our offense to average two runs per game as we fell from contention at the end of the season.

I wasn't happy with that result. I hope the D-backs front office wasn't either.

 

[Willie D]

F Epstein and F Maddon. They're both "stats-first" guys who care not about looking as what's inside a player. Many moons ago, the Cardinals drafted a promising young pitcher who proved to be an abject failure throwing the ball to home plate. So they repurposed him in the minors for a while as an outfielder to great success. No, not Rick Ankiel. Try Stan Musial.

The Cubs more often practice "suck-cess."

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[overseascardfan]

Our resident expert says we don’t need another AL manager pretending to know NL baseball.

A World Series winning NL manager who came from the AL....right.

 

[DWKB]

A World Series winning NL manager who came from the AL....right.

Kinda like all those Cardinals WS won with a former A’s and ChiSox manager.

Kinda like that Phillies WS won with a former Tribe manager.

I mean, it’s obvious AL managers can’t win in the NL.

 

[BC867]

Kinda like all those Cardinals WS won with a former A’s and ChiSox manager.

Kinda like that Phillies WS won with a former Tribe manager.

I mean, it’s obvious AL managers can’t win in the NL.

My concern is not the Cardinals or the Phillies. I am not trying to win a debate. I am reacting to our current Manager, whose team fell short in two specific areas.

His mandatory resting of position players all season long, no matter how hot they were, to keep them refreshed at the end of the season, when they produced an average of two runs per game. The plan failed.

I maintain that allowing players to know their roles from game to game and staying in the groove (vs. mandatory resting) produces better results. And I posted it because, ironically, it is a current issue with the Cubs and a topic of conversation. And what this thread is about.

And, as is necessary with pitchers in the batting order in the National League, which requires removing pitchers for pinch hitters, the inability to have an effective bullpen as the season wore on. The bullpen became predictably undependable.

Tory Lovullo's team failed when it mattered the most. During the stretch run. And he had no previous managerial or National League experience.

If the team didn't blow the lead, we wouldn't be talking about it.

I don't intend on posting this opinion again. Our General Manager made it clear in interviews a week or so ago, that he and the Manager are a package. It is what it is.