Theo Epstein Speaks: Starlin Castro, The Cubs’ Way, Spring Training, Moneyball

Feb 19, 2012

The Chicago Cubs just wrapped up their (brief and belated) organizational meetings, and President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein met with the media yesterday, discussing a variety of topics.

On Starlin Castro: Epstein doesn’t expect the offseason sexual assault allegation to be a distraction for Castro, whom Epstein expects will report to camp on time this week. On the legal situation, Epstein says that Castro has been cooperative, but no one wants to speculate on an outcome. ‘‘It’s too sensitive an issue,” Epstein said. “I don’t want to speculate. What we said at the convention stands. There’s a lot of concern about it, and our players have a responsibility to conduct themselves in the right way off the field as well as on the field.’’

To that end, the Cubs will be bringing in experts from Northeastern University to talk to players about handling themselves off the field. ‘‘I think sometimes we take for granted these young kids, because they’re great at what they do on the field, that they know how to handle all the tough circumstances on and off the field,’’ Epstein said. ‘‘We coach them on the field and expect them to just make great decisions off the field. We need to give them great coaching off the field and give them the tools to make the right decisions.” Particularly with a younger team, the players could probably use some help adjusting to life in the big leagues, in the spotlight, and with money.

On “The Cubs’ Way,” which is an actual manual that players and coaches throughout the system will be getting: “You can’t figure this game out. There are things that we learn every year that we’ll make modifications to our teaching approach, so the manual will continue to evolve …. You can’t sum it up in one or two sentences. Everything there is about the game, how we’re going to approach it the same way as an organization from the Dominican Summer League to A ball, Double-A, Triple-A and up to the big leagues. Playing hard is a big part of it. Playing the game the right way and teaching it consistently is important …. ‘The Cubs’ Way’ really boils down to the people – the players, obviously, but everyone, all the scouts and all the people in uniform in the Minor Leagues and the big leagues. For us to teach the game the right way, it’s more than words on the page. It comes down to how deep we dig to get connected to players to teach the game the right way, how much we care, how committed we are, how hard we work. There’s a lot that goes into this and building an organization.” That all sounds great to me, and, frankly, I can’t understand how this is a “new” thing.

On Spring Training and the Cubs’ 2012 season, for which Epstein said the goal is to win the World Series: “This is what we’re all here for, is to play the game on the field. Sometimes the winter can stretch on and you forget what you’re doing for a living, and you feel like an accountant or something. We’re real happy to hear the crack of the bat and get together under the same roof and get this thing started.” Ditto, Theo.

On ‘Moneyball,’ of which Theo is clearly not a fan: “‘Moneyball’ has become a loaded term. That’s not exactly what we do. I wasn’t a huge fan when certain proprietary information was made available to the public in the first place [in the book]. Instead of a handful of clubs knowing certain things, in a year or two, 30 clubs knew it. It’s not my cup of tea. It sounds like they made a really good movie and a lot of people were entertained, and that’s terrific. But it’s baseball time, not movie time.” I’d heard that Epstein was unhappy about what was revealed in the book, but, man, he’s obviously still pretty irked about it.

written by

Brett Taylor

Brett Taylor is the Lead Cubs Writer at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at @BleacherNation and on LinkedIn here. Brett is also the founder of Bleacher Nation, which opened up shop in 2008 as an independent blog about the Chicago Cubs. Later growing to incorporate coverage of other Chicago sports, Bleacher Nation is now one of the largest regional sports blogs on the web.

more cubs news

Chicago Cubs

Enhanced Box Score: Cubs 5, Pirates 4 – May 12, 2024

It's Mother's Day. I'm hanging with the family. I don't feel like being as pissed off as a game like that threatened to make me. So I am QUITE relieved by that 10th inning (and the fact that the Cubs...

Brett Taylor

May 12, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Christopher Morel Kicks Off Mother’s Day With Some Love

I'll just presume he was sending this one out for mom. And I'll also presume that the knee is indeed feeling good. Home run number nine on the season for Christopher Morel: https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1789713524052087082

Brett Taylor

May 12, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Pre-Gamin’: Cubs at Pirates (12:35 CT) – Lineups, Broadcast Info, Game Thread

CUBS LINEUP — The Cubs have played thirteen series so far this season, and this is already their eighth rubber match. Let's see if Kyle Hendricks and the Cubs can bring this one in. Chicago Cubs Lineup: Nico Hoerner, SS...

Michael Cerami

May 12, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Cubs Roster Move: Kyle Hendricks Activated to Start Today

No surprises here, as the decision to start Kyle Hendricks this afternoon against the Pirates was made yesterday, but the news has officially hit the wire, and here it is. Kyle Hendricks Activated Kyle Hendricks is returning from his short...

Michael Cerami

May 12, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Horrible History, Morel’s Knee, Almonte’s Shoulder, Hoerner, Wesneski, Hendricks, Mervis, and Other Cubs Bullets

Happy Mother's Day to the mothers among you, and to the mothers in my life! I'll be doing some extra family stuff today, so I'm gonna cruise through these Bullets ... Up front, because this was certainly the thing most...

Brett Taylor

May 12, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Kyle Hendricks Will Start for the Big League Cubs Tomorrow

The Sunday TBD has been D'd, and it's going to be Kyle Hendricks coming back an outing early. Instead of making another rehab start at Iowa, Hendricks is going to be activated from the IL to rejoin the rotation tomorrow:...

Brett Taylor

May 11, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Enhanced Box Score: Pirates 10, Cubs 9 – May 11, 2024

The Cubs came within 90 feet of keeping that ridiculous game going. No dice. Stupid game. Early on, it just kinda seemed like the Cubs might lose a perfectly normal - bad, but normal - game. Justin Steele did not...

Brett Taylor

May 11, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Pre-Gamin’: Cubs at Pirates (3:05 CT) – Lineups, Broadcast Info, Game Thread

CUBS LINEUP — After a little tease yesterday, Seiya Suzuki is actually, officially in the Cubs lineup today. And he'll be greeted with a tough matchup against the top pitching prospect in Major League Baseball. Welcome back! Chicago Cubs Lineup:...

Michael Cerami

May 11, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Oh, Good, Yency Almonte is Now Also Hurt

Today the Chicago Cubs placed reliever Yency Almonte on the Injured List with a right shoulder strain. Jose Cuas has been recalled from Iowa to take his place in the bullpen. Almonte, together with Mark Leiter Jr., had been performing...

Brett Taylor

May 11, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Credit to Assad, Huge Ups to Brown, Hopes for Taillon, Happ’s Bat and Glove, Bellinger History, and Other Cubs Bullets

How did I not know that the Aurora Borealis was going to be visible last night?!?!? I woke up this morning to all these awesome pictures from friends and other people in the area, and I'm MISERABLE ABOUT IT. With...

Brett Taylor

May 11, 2024

Picks

Nuggets vs. Timberwolves Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats and Best Bets for Western Conference Semifinals Game 5 – Tuesday, May 14, 2024

The Denver Nuggets and the Minnesota Timberwolves take the court in Game 5 of the second round of the NBA Playoffs. The Nuggets are favored by 4.5 points in the contest, which airs on TNT at 10:30 PM ET. The...

Data Skrive

May 13, 2024

Picks

Knicks vs. Pacers Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats and Best Bets for Eastern Conference Semifinals Game 5 – Tuesday, May 14, 2024

The New York Knicks are slight 2-point favorites heading into Game 5 of the second round of the NBA Playoffs against the Indiana Pacers at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, beginning at 8:00 PM ET on TNT. The series is...

Data Skrive

May 13, 2024

NBA Picks

Mavericks vs. Thunder Predictions, Best Bets and Odds: Western Conference Semifinals Game 4 – Monday, May 13, 2024

The Dallas Mavericks are slight 1.5-point favorites heading into Game 4 of the second round of the NBA Playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder at American Airlines Center on Monday, starting at 9:30 PM ET on TNT. The Mavericks hold...

Data Skrive

May 13, 2024

Picks

NHL Playoffs Anytime Goalscorer Bets and Odds Today – May 13

Anytime goal-scorer odds are listed in this article, with two Stanley Cup Playoffs Second Round games on the NHL calendar Monday.Watch the NHL on Fubo!Today's Top Anytime Goal OddsNathan MacKinnon (Avalanche) -115 to scoreAvalanche vs. StarsGame Time: 12:00 AM ET...

Data Skrive

May 13, 2024

Picks

Oilers vs. Canucks NHL Playoffs Second Round Game 4 Prediction: Picks, Live Odds and Moneyline – Tuesday, May 14, 2024

The Edmonton Oilers are moderate favorites (-218) at home against the Vancouver Canucks (+180) on Tuesday at 9:30 PM ET.Watch the NHL on Fubo!Oilers vs. Canucks Favorite, Moneyline, TotalFavorite: Oilers (-218)Underdog: Canucks (+180)Total: 6.5Best Oilers vs. Canucks Promo CodesHow to...

Data Skrive

May 13, 2024

Oakland Athletics 2024 Schedule and How to Watch their games

MLB

How to Watch Athletics Games: Full 2024 Schedule, Live Stream and More

It's a bittersweet season for the Oakland Athletics. As they prepare to begin their move to Las Vegas for the 2028 season, the A's are looking to make their final year at the Coliseum one to remember. With a little...

Brian Twining

May 12, 2024

How to Watch

Angels vs. Cardinals: Free Live Stream, TV Channel, How to Watch

On Monday, Taylor Ward and the Los Angeles Angels (15-26) face Brendan Donovan and the St. Louis Cardinals (16-24), with first pitch scheduled for 9:38 PM ET at Angel Stadium of Anaheim.Keep reading to find out all the details on...

Data Skrive

May 12, 2024

How to Watch

How to Watch Mariners vs. Royals: Live Stream or on TV

On Monday at 9:40 PM ET, Josh Rojas and the Seattle Mariners (22-19) play Bobby Witt Jr. and the Kansas City Royals (25-17) at T-Mobile Park.Keep reading to see how to watch the Seattle-Kansas City matchup below.When is Mariners vs....

Data Skrive

May 12, 2024

How to Watch

How to Watch Diamondbacks vs. Reds: Live Stream or on TV

Jordan Montgomery will take the ball for the Arizona Diamondbacks (19-22) when they host starting pitcher Graham Ashcraft and the Cincinnati Reds (17-23) on Monday, with first pitch at 9:40 PM ET.See how to watch the Arizona-Cincinnati matchup below.When is...

Data Skrive

May 12, 2024

How to Watch

Padres vs. Rockies: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

The San Diego Padres (22-21), led by Jurickson Profar, host Ryan McMahon and the Colorado Rockies (12-28) at 9:40 PM ET on Monday.If you're trying to watch this game, keep reading for streaming and TV options for the San Diego-Colorado...

Data Skrive

May 12, 2024

Theo Epstein Speaks: Starlin Castro, The Cubs’ Way, Spring Training, Moneyball

Read More

more cubs news

Latest News

more cubs news

Most Popular

Most Popular

Latest News

Most Popular

Most Popular