alias => "chicago\/\/cubs\/theo-epstein-joe-maddons-comments-ive-never-wanted-infringe-managers-authority"
nid => "822941"
title => "Theo Epstein on Joe Maddon's comments: 'I\u2019ve never wanted to infringe on a manager\u2019s authority'"
is_chrome_page => true
article_body => "<p>Joe Maddon made waves early Tuesday opening up about his departure from Chicago last fall.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/story\/_\/id\/28670937\/joe-maddon-opens-leaving-chicago-cubs-returning-la-angels\" target=\"_blank\">In an interview with ESPN<\/a>, the former Cubs skipper highlighted the front office\u2019s desire to \"control more of what was occurring in just about everything\u201d as a driving force behind his departure from the North Side.<\/p>\n<p>Later Tuesday, Cubs president Theo Epstein was complimentary of Maddon, but he stressed to reporters in Mesa he has no interest in undermining a manager\u2019s authority.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m gonna take the high road here, and that\u2019s easy for me to do because I love Joe and I value our friendship and I\u2019ve got nothing but respect and appreciation for what he brought to the Cubs,\u201d Epstein said. \u201cNobody on the planet \u2014 and I\u2019ve said this before \u2014 nobody on the planet could\u2019ve done what he did those first couple years. Changing the whole mindset, raising expectations, getting players \u2014 especially the young guys \u2014 to be themselves and be comfortable and thrive.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI guess I\u2019ll just say that this is my 29th season in major league baseball, it\u2019s my 18th running a team. And I can guarantee you that I\u2019ve never wanted to get involved in running the clubhouse, I\u2019ve never wanted to infringe on a manager\u2019s authority. I\u2019ve never told a manager that he had to hire or fire a coach. I guess with one exception, due to some off-field issues, I had to get involved.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m a firm believer that it\u2019s the manager who has to help define the culture around the major league team. The manager has to be a leader of the clubhouse. The manager has to set expectations and hold players accountable to certain basic organizational standards for preparation, and for work and for behavior. Teams run best when that\u2019s from the manager, the coaching staff and the players, and not from the front office.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think in my 18 years there\u2019ve only been two instances where I felt like those basic organizational standards for work, preparation and behavior were not getting met, and that I had to get involved, give feedback and remind about expectations. But it doesn\u2019t work well that way; it works best when it\u2019s the manager with a clear voice, coaching staff supporting him and veteran players running the clubhouse.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI have no interest in usurping a manager\u2019s power or authority or place running the team. I can only succeed doing my job if we have a strong manager who\u2019s empowered in that clubhouse.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Epstein later declined to reveal names from those two instances. Nevertheless, his comments are a strong rebuttal to Maddon\u2019s and a passionate defense of the inter-workings of the Cubs organization. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><em><a href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/2PxAcKd\">Click here<\/a> to download the new MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of the Chicago <a href=\"[embed]https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/chicago\/cubs \">Cubs<\/a> easily on your device.<\/em>[\/embed]<\/p>\n"
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Joe Maddon made waves early Tuesday opening up about his departure from Chicago last fall.
In an interview with ESPN, the former Cubs skipper highlighted the front office’s desire to "control more of what was occurring in just about everything” as a driving force behind his departure from the North Side.
Later Tuesday, Cubs president Theo Epstein was complimentary of Maddon, but he stressed to reporters in Mesa he has no interest in undermining a manager’s authority.
“I’m gonna take the high road here, and that’s easy for me to do because I love Joe and I value our friendship and I’ve got nothing but respect and appreciation for what he brought to the Cubs,” Epstein said. “Nobody on the planet — and I’ve said this before — nobody on the planet could’ve done what he did those first couple years. Changing the whole mindset, raising expectations, getting players — especially the young guys — to be themselves and be comfortable and thrive.
“I guess I’ll just say that this is my 29th season in major league baseball, it’s my 18th running a team. And I can guarantee you that I’ve never wanted to get involved in running the clubhouse, I’ve never wanted to infringe on a manager’s authority. I’ve never told a manager that he had to hire or fire a coach. I guess with one exception, due to some off-field issues, I had to get involved.
“I’m a firm believer that it’s the manager who has to help define the culture around the major league team. The manager has to be a leader of the clubhouse. The manager has to set expectations and hold players accountable to certain basic organizational standards for preparation, and for work and for behavior. Teams run best when that’s from the manager, the coaching staff and the players, and not from the front office.
“I think in my 18 years there’ve only been two instances where I felt like those basic organizational standards for work, preparation and behavior were not getting met, and that I had to get involved, give feedback and remind about expectations. But it doesn’t work well that way; it works best when it’s the manager with a clear voice, coaching staff supporting him and veteran players running the clubhouse.
“I have no interest in usurping a manager’s power or authority or place running the team. I can only succeed doing my job if we have a strong manager who’s empowered in that clubhouse.”
Epstein later declined to reveal names from those two instances. Nevertheless, his comments are a strong rebuttal to Maddon’s and a passionate defense of the inter-workings of the Cubs organization.
Click here to download the new MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of the Chicago
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Joe Maddon made waves early Tuesday opening up about his departure from Chicago last fall.
In an interview with ESPN, the former Cubs skipper highlighted the front office’s desire to "control more of what was occurring in just about everything” as a driving force behind his departure from the North Side.
Later Tuesday, Cubs president Theo Epstein was complimentary of Maddon, but he stressed to reporters in Mesa he has no interest in undermining a manager’s authority.
“I’m gonna take the high road here, and that’s easy for me to do because I love Joe and I value our friendship and I’ve got nothing but respect and appreciation for what he brought to the Cubs,” Epstein said. “Nobody on the planet — and I’ve said this before — nobody on the planet could’ve done what he did those first couple years. Changing the whole mindset, raising expectations, getting players — especially the young guys — to be themselves and be comfortable and thrive.
“I guess I’ll just say that this is my 29th season in major league baseball, it’s my 18th running a team. And I can guarantee you that I’ve never wanted to get involved in running the clubhouse, I’ve never wanted to infringe on a manager’s authority. I’ve never told a manager that he had to hire or fire a coach. I guess with one exception, due to some off-field issues, I had to get involved.
“I’m a firm believer that it’s the manager who has to help define the culture around the major league team. The manager has to be a leader of the clubhouse. The manager has to set expectations and hold players accountable to certain basic organizational standards for preparation, and for work and for behavior. Teams run best when that’s from the manager, the coaching staff and the players, and not from the front office.
“I think in my 18 years there’ve only been two instances where I felt like those basic organizational standards for work, preparation and behavior were not getting met, and that I had to get involved, give feedback and remind about expectations. But it doesn’t work well that way; it works best when it’s the manager with a clear voice, coaching staff supporting him and veteran players running the clubhouse.
“I have no interest in usurping a manager’s power or authority or place running the team. I can only succeed doing my job if we have a strong manager who’s empowered in that clubhouse.”
Epstein later declined to reveal names from those two instances. Nevertheless, his comments are a strong rebuttal to Maddon’s and a passionate defense of the inter-workings of the Cubs organization.
Click here to download the new MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of the Chicago