Trading Curses

This is what I think has happened to the 2-7 Cubs—they traded curses, a repeat for a billy goat.  If I didn’t know better, I’d even go so far as to say the crossroads’ demon has come early to collect on his deal.

 

Consider how everything the Ricketts family did to win a World Series now seems to be working against them, starting with the moves engineered by team president Theo Epstein.  Jason Heyward and Ben Zobrist made 2016 possible; now, their salaries—along with those of Tyler Chatwood and Yu Darvish—are so much deadwood, or worse.  Aroldis Chapman was the  rent-a-player de jure in 2016, but Chapman’s gone back to the Yankees, who took Gleyber Torres while they were at it.  Then, Epstein thought Jose Quintana of the White Sox was the final piece for a second straight championship in 2017, only he was wrong, and it cost him Eloy Jimenez and Dylan Cease.  We on the South Side say thank you.

 

Remember when Joe Maddon seemed the perfect fit as Cubs’ manager?  When exactly did players start to tune out Maddon, midway through last season or at the start of this one?  Maybe if Maddon were still in full control, he could’ve gotten Kris Bryant to stop fixating on the free-agent market and play baseball.  Now, Bryant seems to be in a funk, along with the bullpen.  Maddon was such an innovator, batting pitchers eighth and sticking them in the outfield for a batter or two, but now, nothing.  He’s just a guy filling out a lineup card.

 

And once upon a time, the Ricketts were the toast of the town.  Not anymore.  Chicagoans are tired of family patriarch Joe and his racist emails.  Those folks living in Wrigleyville also didn’t take kindly to the Ricketts’ attempt to defeat Ald. Tom Tunney in the February primaries.  They might have had their way if the election had been three months after the World Series parade, but it was more along the lines of two-plus years.  So much for voters acting like loyal fans.

 

Epstein, Maddon, the Ricketts—they all seemed to have the Midas touch not so long ago.  Times change, windows close.  Dare I say Rebuild #2 looms on the horizon?