If asked for a single word to encapsulate the Cubs’ offseason, “urgency” would undoubtedly top the list. After falling short of their fourth straight NLCS appearance last year, Theo Epstein declared that the entire organization would undergo an extensive re-evaluation. What eventually transpired was the perception that the Cubs lacked urgency and needed to regain their edge.
Talent was not enough, Epstein told the Chicago media while still clearing the cobwebs from the season’s final gut punch. It sounded like an open challenge to Joe Maddon, who would publicly announce changes to his managerial style.