Chicago Cubs: You’ve got to trust in the plan, even now

When Theo Epstein took over the Chicago Cubs in 2011, he set forth “the plan”. It would mean several years of heartache and losses. But it would culminate in the Cubs winning it all in 2016.

So maybe Chicago Cubs‘ fans simply need to trust in the plan, even after all this time. The season after Theo Epstein took over; the Cubs lost 101 games. The following year, 96 games. At that point, many fans didn’t believe that the “plan” was working. But you have to remember; the Cubs hadn’t been a great team the year before. Epstein was building the minor league system through any means necessary. Often, that meant sacrificing the talent of the big league roster for guys you wouldn’t know.

2015 brought hope. The Cubs would get hot in the second half of the season, winning 97 games and grabbing a Wild Card spot. They beat the Pittsburgh Pirates, only to get swept by the New York Mets in the NLCS. But that series says a lot about what Epstein has done with the organization. The Cubs followed the next season by winning their first World Series in 108 years, and are currently in first place now–although many were concerned. The Mets? It’s only gone downhill from there. A loss in the NL Wild Card in 2016 and this year will likely finish fourth in the NL East.

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Built for the long haul

Epstein and Jed Hoyer built this team for longevity. The plan of acquiring draft picks and talent through trades was brilliant. While most teams were fighting over the acclaimed arms of the draft, the Cubs were picking hitters. Players that they saw as high potential, not a gamble. The last five five first-round picks of the Cubs have been position players, with only Javier Baez being part of the previous regime. All five of those picks are currently on–and producing for–the Cubs roster.

Players that they saw as high potential, not a gamble. The last five five first-round picks of the Cubs have been position players, with only Javier Baez being part of the previous regime. All five of those picks are currently on–and producing for–the Cubs roster.

Frustration is okay, but pump the brakes

As this season went on, the frustration of the fans began to show. In 2016, most fans were #Hatstotheleft when Pedro Strop came in. This season, not so much. But since a rough outing in Cincinnati, Strop has posted nine consecutive scoreless outings. And Kyle Schwarber? People have been on the “trade train” all season long for him. But since the calendar turned to September, he’s slashing .289/.341/.632 with four home runs in 13 games.

The point is, maybe we need to trust in this thing the Cubs have. No, it’s not as great as the last two seasons as far as their record goes. But I think many people have jumped the gun on calling the Cubs out of it. You know who you are. Trade this guy, that guy. We gave up so much for Jose Quintana. Which, by the way, he has a 2.92 ERA in his last four outings, and the Cubs have won all of those starts. But what we gave up were prospects. I can give you a list of guys that were fire in the minors and flamed out in the majors. Seriously, I can.

Next: Hendricks has turned it around since AS break

I don’t know if the Cubs have what it takes to win it all again this year. They’re playing great baseball now, and if they get in they have a chance. So you can be frustrated with the team, but we really need to drop the “get rid of this guy” stuff when someone has a bad game. It’s a game of averages. It will all level out in the long run.