Turning A Corner

It’s 4:30 in the morning, and in no way do I feel like going to sleep

Far too much time has passed since my last post here. Over 3 years, to be exact. Doesn’t feel like that long, but much has changed since October of 2011.

The Blackhawks won their 2^nd Stanley Cup in 4 years in June of 2013, capping off an incredible playoff run with a 6-game victory over the valiant Boston Bruins. The clinching game, of course, included a historic 17-second stretch that will never be forgotten in this city. Franchise cornerstones Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane were inked to long-term extensions earlier this year, ensuring that they will forever be inextricably linked with the stunning renaissance this team has undergone over the last 7 years or so.

The Bears changed both their general manager and their head coach, and currently find themselves mired in a disgusting malaise of apathy and mediocrity (which might be too kind a term).

The Bulls endured 2 season-ending knee injuries to Derrick Rose, and while Joakim Noah willed them to an impressive series win over the Nets in 2013, it’s safe to say the franchise hadn’t recovered until just recently (and even now, there’s still bated breath everywhere whenever #1 hits the deck or winces in pain on the court).

And then there are the Cubs.

Not long after my most recent blog post in October of 2011, rumors started flying that after the historic collapse of the Red Sox, general manager Theo Epstein was ready to move on. I vividly remember working my shifts as an intern at Comcast SportsNet New England the week of October 16, when word started to get around that Theo was seriously in talks with the Cubs. The infamous Starbucks sighting happened, absurd as it seemed at the time. The compensation hurdle was bandied about. And then…finally…the news was confirmed. Theo, savior of the Red Sox, architect of 2 World Champions (and as it turned out, a 3^rd shortly thereafter) was looking for a new challenge. Specifically, the daunting challenge waiting at 1060 W. Addison.

I remember when Tom Ricketts introduced Theo & Jed Hoyer to the Chicago media. Obviously, this was a big story in Boston. Most at the station in Boston were upset, either at Theo for leaving or at the Red Sox for letting him go, especially after what had happened to his team in September that season. But there I was, alone amongst the drudgery, dutifully transcribing every word of that long, loooong introductory presser, and grinning like a maniac for every second of it.

Because now, my favorite team had a direction. They had a leader whose every word was filled with both a promise and a purpose.

They had hope again.

The organization is markedly different now than when the “baseball is better…” press conference happened 3+ years ago.

3 different managers have been fired. Countless players have been signed, traded, drafted and released.

(Sidebar: how crazy is it that in one of the stories from the worldwide leader detailing the compensation talks between the Sox and Cubs for Theo, the top prospects mentioned on the Chicago side are Brett Jackson, Trey McNutt and Matt Szczur? That blew my mind somewhat. The top-to-bottom rebuild that has happened in 1000 or so days is absolutely incredible)

Just over a month ago, Theo & Co. enticed quite possibly the best manager in baseball to take over their squad and lead them to the promised land (I still can’t truly describe how awesome Joe Maddon is; his offer of a shot and a beer to everybody at his 1^st presser is destined for Chicago sports legend).

And tonight, just after midnight on December 10^th, 2014, the news broke that Theo Epstein had landed his biggest prize yet, inking former Red Sox ace Jon Lester to a club-record 6-year/$155M contract. And that news made this lifelong Cubs fan incredibly thrilled.

Thrilled because of what Lester is, which is a top-of-the-line, October-hardened ace.

Thrilled to watch a rotation led by him, followed by incipient ace Jake Arrieta and the pleasant surprise of Kyle Hendricks.

Thrilled that the team now has a veteran leadership presence with championship experience.

Thrilled that the ownership group ponied up for a clear upgrade when the opportunity presented itself.

And thrilled that the Cubs have now fired an unmistakable shot across the bow of every team in Major League Baseball. One that says, “We are ready, and we are coming for all of you.”

The final months of last season felt like a turning point. Rizzo & Castro rediscovered their forms, Jorge Soler was pulverizing baseballs everywhere, and Javier Baez showed more than a few flashes of what he can be. Meanwhile, Kris Bryant was launching everything thrown at him into the stratosphere in Des Moines.

But now, with Maddon and now Lester in the fold, it truly feels like a corner has been turned, a switch has been flipped, or whatever other metaphor you’d like to use to describe this long process. The club is closer than ever to the sustained success Theo talked at length about in that introductory presser 38 months ago. This front office has built something powerful and lasting, and they sure as hell know it. And now, so does everybody else.

There are 116 days until Opening Night against the Cardinals.

I, for one, cannot wait.