Cubs introduce Theo Epstein as president

CHICAGO -- Theo Epstein sat in a dark blue suit yesterday morning at Wrigley Field, smiling, and uttered the words that will forever alter The Rivalry:

"It feels great to be a Cub today."

So concluded a weeks-long limbo period for the 37-year-old, and so closed a most memorable chapter in the Yankees-Red Sox enmity. Epstein, the Boston general manager who buried the Curse of the Bambino and helped balance power in the American League East, left his job of the past nine years to become the Cubs' new president of baseball operations.

"To me, baseball is better with history," Epstein said, sitting next to Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts. "Baseball is better with tradition. Baseball is better with fans that care. Baseball is better during the day.

"And baseball is best of all when you win."

Epstein joins the Cubs with an extraordinary opportunity: Having helped to build the Red Sox's first two World Series champions since 1918 -- the 2004 group that overcame a 3-0 American League Championship Series deficit to the Yankees and then the 2007 team -- he now hopes to bring the Cubs their first title since 1908. He shortly will be joined by Padres general manager Jed Hoyer, who will become the Cubs' GM, and San Diego assistant GM Jason McLeod, both of whom previously worked under Epstein in Boston.

Yet the timing of Epstein's jump couldn't be much worse. He leaves the Red Sox after a historic collapse in which the team plummeted from a sizable AL wild-card lead -- nine games up with 24 games to go -- to being passed by the perennially pesky Tampa Bay Rays. Manager Terry Francona didn't return, and multiple stories reported behind-the-scenes dirt in the Boston clubhouse.

True to his smooth nature, Epstein came prepared with answers to this most obvious question. He cited Hall of Fame football coach Bill Walsh, who espoused the belief that sports coaches and executives should change organizations after 10 years, for the benefit of both the individual and the team.

His Boston contract expired after the 2012 season, and despite efforts by team principal owner John Henry and chairman Tom Werner to retain him beyond that, he had decided to move on after next year, having already recommended assistant GM Ben Cherington to succeed him.

Then, Epstein said, two events emerged: 1) The Bosox's downfall prompted the team and Francona to agree to part ways, and 2) Ricketts asked Boston for permission to speak with Epstein. The former matter meant that the Sox needed to select a new manager, and Epstein, considering himself a short-timer, wasn't comfortable with such a task. The latter appealed greatly to him.