The Plan: Epstein, Maddon, and the Audacious Blueprint for a Cubs Dynasty

by David Kaplan, Anthony Rizzo (Foreword by), Bud Selig (Introduction)

Overview

On October 12, 2011, Theo Epstein became the new Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations, flipping a switch on the lovable-loser franchise and initiating a plan to accomplish in Chicago what he'd succeeded in as general manager of the Boston Red Sox: ending a World Series drought. It would require a complete team tear-down and turnover, a new farm system foundation of young talent which Epstein and Cubs GM Jed Hoyer gradually added to with gutsy trades and timely signings. After years of rebuilding, Epstein's crystalline vision has been unquestionably realized in the form of one of the most exciting and talented teams in baseball, led by heavyweights like Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant as well as visionaries like manager Joe Maddon. In The Plan, David Kaplan of CSN Chicago and ESPN Radio goes behind the scenes with the Cubs and their front office, walking the steps of their captivating rise to becoming 2016 World Series champions. Featuring exclusive interviews with Epstein, owner Tom Ricketts, and other team insiders, this is the definitive account of a new era on the North Side.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781629373263
Publisher:	Triumph Books
Publication date:	05/01/2017
Pages:	304
Sales rank:	696,180
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.30(d)

About the Author

David Kaplan is a three-time Emmy Award winner. He currently hosts Kap and Co. on ESPN Radio 1000, and co-hosts Sports Talk Live and the Chicago Cubs pre- and post-game shows on Comcast SportsNet. You can follow him on Twitter at @thekapman.

Table of Contents

Foreword Anthony Rizzo vii

Special Introduction Allan H. "Bud" Selig ix

Author's Note xiii

Chapter 1 Tom Ricketts and the New Cubs 1

Chapter 2 Worse Than They Thought 17

Chapter 3 The GM Job 33

Chapter 4 The Money-Mesa, Wrigley, and the Rooftops 53

Chapter 5 Getting Theo 79

Chapter 6 Building the Best Front Office in Baseball 95

Chapter 7 Doubting the Plan 109

Chapter 8 The Arrieta Trade 131

Chapter 9 The Odd Arrival of Joe Maddon 149

Chapter 10 Jon Lester Takes a Leap of Faith 171

Chapter 11 The Three-Headed Monster 183

Chapter 12 2015-The Kids Are Ahead of Schedule 197

Chapter 13 2016-That Magical Year 213

Chapter 14 There Never Was a Curse 231

Chapter 15 Celebration Time in Chicago 255

Afterword: The Inside Story of What Went Wrong After 2016 265

Appendices 283

Acknowledgments 305