Looking for clues about what Cubs' future could look like? Red Sox might provide clues.
The Boston Red Sox have served as a model for the Chicago Cubs, from ballpark renovations to baseball operations.
The Cubs borrowed heavily from the Red Sox when it came to the Wrigley Field restoration, and they hired Theo Epstein out of Boston to revamp the team on the playing field.
If the Cubs are still studying the Boston model, they'll note that the Red Sox just won their fourth world championship in the past 15 seasons.
They'll also note that the Red Sox did it with a different front office and a different man at the top step of the dugout from when their run of glory began in 2004.
Epstein was the GM of the '04 and '07 world champions in Boston, and Terry Francona was the manager. It seemed an eternal match made in heaven, with the heady Epstein upstairs and player-friendly manager Francona in the dugout.
But nothing in sports is eternal. See the Chicago Blackhawks and Joel Quenneville.
When the Red Sox won the World Series in 2013, Ben Cherington was the GM, and John Farrell was manager. Mike Hazen replaced Cherington, and Dave Dombrowski came in as team president and replaced Hazen. Alex Cora took over as manager and tasted champagne this year.
Epstein still was at the helm when things went sour for the Red Sox in 2011. Even though things don't seem to be going in that direction with the Cubs just two years after they won the World Series for the first time since 1908, maybe Epstein is fearful of things getting stale and the Cubs' window closing just when it seemed it was wide open.
That might be one reason Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer have not offered and will not consider offering Maddon a contract extension until sometime late in 2019, Maddon's final season of his five-year contract with the Cubs.
The Cubs most certainly suffered from a World Series “hangover” during the first half of 2017, but they rallied and made it to the National League championship series for a third straight season.
Even though things seemed off at times this season, the Cubs still won 95 games before going one-and-out in the wild-card game. But Maddon may have done his best managing job in his four years, what with 40 percent of his starting rotation being either injured or ineffective almost all season, closer Brandon Morrow missing half the season with injury and former MVP Kris Bryant bothered by a shoulder ailment.
In four seasons in Chicago, Maddon has a regular-season record of 387-261, good for a .597 winning percentage. His winning percentage has been either just above or just below .600 much of the time with the Cubs.
Only two other managers in franchise history put up winning percentages of .600 or better: Albert Spalding and Frank Chance. Both are in the Hall of Fame.
Maddon will join them someday, for his work in Chicago and with the low-budget Tampa Bay Rays.
Let's also remember that, over the years, the Cubs brought in such big names as Leo Durocher, Dusty Baker and Lou Piniella as managers, and none got the Cubs to where Maddon took them.
Epstein's comments to reporters at the GM meetings in Carlsbad, California, betrayed some anxiety and perhaps some wistfulness.
“Nothing is granted or bestowed in baseball,” he said Monday. “The time you have with a special group can go pretty fast, and you want to make the most of every opportunity you have to win.
“Teams don't stay together forever. It's certainly time. It's certainly a pivotal season for us as an organization for this group to go out there and accomplish some special things.”
It seems like only yesterday when Maddon arrived and was offering to buy shots-and-beers for the media.
Will the next offer be to celebrate more years, or will it be a farewell toast? Epstein seems to be at least contemplating life without Maddon. If the Cubs go on a 15-year run like the Red Sox have just done, few fans will care who is occupying the big chairs in 2031.
History may hold the answer to what happens over the next 12 months.