Chicago Cubs: Evolutionary phase kicks off
The Chicago Cubs lately have failed to inspire much admiration and hope owing to their lack-lustre performance. Not that they have had weak or incompetent players all along; in fact, there have been a set of reasons that have contributed in this disconcerting
show.
Take, for example, the past decade’s overall performance. The team could not win even a single wild card berth. The last time they had done it was back in 1998; a display that was complimented by the otherwise disillusioned fans.
Nonetheless, there is not much in terms of winning the World Series titles. It is here that the Chicago Cubs have hopelessly failed. While they have been able to win the Central Division title back in 2008, however, when it comes to the World Series pennant,
the record is curiously silent.
Since 1908 when the Cubs won the World Series, the club has been unable to win any World Series. That a team could take over a century and even then fail to realise this dream is unexplainable in every sense of the word.
Importantly, instead of putting a satisfying show in the past season, the team lost more than 90 of their games, managing to win only 71. This was an embarrassingly poor performance that it culminated with the dismissal of the team manager, Mike Quade, among
others.
However, much as the team has failed to live up to the fans’ expectations, there have recently been some changes that are being interpreted as the harbinger of success. The Chicago Cubs have finally decided to focus their attention on both the front office
and the roster.
In the first phase, which is at best can be described as a transition; Theo Epstein took charge as the president of the baseball operations. Jed Hoyer followed by becoming the general manager of the team.
It was their arrival in the front office that set off hierarchical changes. Interestingly, the whole change began with the dismissal of the manager, Mike Quade, as mentioned earlier. He was replaced by Dale Sveum who has remained a success in professional
baseball.
Interestingly, both Hoyer and Epstein have previously remained affiliated with the Boston Red Sox. Under their auspices, the Red Sox won their World Series title after more than 80 years. Their being at the charge of affairs in the Red Sox brought incredible
changes.
Those refreshing changes are now expected to sweep the Chicago Cubs given the extraordinary record of the duo. Therefore, the first thing they did was to bring in Dale Sveum as the manager of the team.
Dale Sveum has won laudation from every quarter. His special attention will go to pitching as it has remained a field that needs critical assessment for the Chicago Cubs. Interestingly, herein sits his expertise.
John Wehner, a game broadcaster, said, "In Boston, I was amazed at the access he had to information about outfielders' arms, and infield alignments, and all kinds of things.” Therefore, the Cubs are bracing themselves for a massive change in the bullpen.
However, he will not be occupied with pitching alone. As versatile as Sveum is, with the assistance experience of others in the coaching staff, he is expected to charge up the Chicago Cubs’ offence equally.
Now that the able leadership is what the Chicago Cubs have got, the 2012 season is being tipped as the year of success for the club; something that all the fans has waited since time immemorial.
Tags: