Theo Epstein Introduced to Chicago: Why Cubs Snub World Series Spotlight

This year is significant to Cubs fans because it is the last time Chicago could call themselves champions of baseball. Of course, for many fans, they weren’t even alive to see it.

After all, a lot has happened since player/manager Frank Chance defeated the Detroit Tigers in just five games to clinch their second consecutive World Series title.

The Cubs have played over 14,000 regular season games since they could last call themselves champions of the world. The NBA, NFL, and NHL have all formed, and have had franchises from Chicago win championships in all three respective leagues. We have added five states, made eleven amendments to the constitution, and sixteen Presidents have been elected since 1908. Wrigley Field was built, and eventually became the second oldest park in Major League baseball. Harry Caray was born and lived his whole life without ever seeing the Cubs take it all.

It’s safe to say that if the Cubs made it to the World Series, Chicago would expect—scratch that—demand full attention come late October. Can you blame them? For a team that hasn’t appeared in the Fall Classic since 1945, they would have earned the attention. Try to overshadow that even slightly? Not a chance.

That’s why I have a huge problem with the Theo Epstein press conference taking place on the eve of the Texas Rangers possibly putting the final nail in the coffin on the St. Louis Cardinals. These two teams worked hard the entire year, and made it farther than 28 others.

I expect feedback to generally be along the lines that I am strongly overreacting. And I can respect that. I just feel that if you do not even have the ability to make roster moves, why feel the need to officially name a figure head to your organization when you can just as easily wait until the series is over.

If I were a Cardinals or a Rangers fan this would be the time that I live for. I live for knowing that my team is on the doorstep. I live for knowing that my team—after 162 regular season games and seven more playoff victories—My team is just four wins away from being the last team standing. I live for knowing that if I turn on Baseball Tonight, my team is all there is to talk about. They earned that, they deserve that.

What they don’t deserve is lack of respect for what they earned. Until the final pitch of this series is thrown, Theo Epstein can’t sign a single free agent or make a trade to help bring a World Series to Chicago. The Cubs won’t step foot on a baseball field until March, and it won’t even count until April. You can’t win in 2012 until 2011 is finished.

Have patience, have courtesy. And most of all, have respect for the game and the teams who have made it farther than you. There are more important things going on.