The Cubs yesterday ended a regular season that "felt more like a beginning" of a new era for the franchise, according to David Haugh of the CHICAGO TRIBUNE. Cubs Chair Tom Ricketts said, "Our goal is to win the World Series, not be the second wild card. Obviously, it's great progress this year but we're still on the journey and the goal is still out there." The perception of Ricketts is that he "has improved from clumsy executive to capable leader -- not that he has noticed." Ricketts: "We're going to be judged by whether or not we won. A lot of what happens in the middle is just noise. I hope we've built trust with the fans." He added, "I don't want you to make it sound like I'm satisfied at all. We haven't won anything yet." The first name that "came out of Ricketts' mouth" when asked to identify the most unsung heroes in the Cubs' organization "isn't unknown at all" -- Cubs President of Business Operations Crane Kenney. Ricketts said, "Crane doesn't get enough credit." Ricketts added, "All this stuff ... the neighborhood ... the building is being built, Crane's hiring great people on the business side -- he has done an A-plus job" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 10/4). Meanwhile, in Chicago, Paul Sullivan noted Cubs President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein's five-year contract with the team "ends after next season." Ricketts recently said that they "will talk about an extension soon, probably after the season." Epstein said that he is "in no hurry, knowing he plans to stay for a while." Epstein: "I don't see myself leaving here until we win a World Series, at least." He added, "I couldn't be happier. ... We've finally gotten to make our fans happy, at least for the moment. That's a great feeling" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 10/4).
