Epstein in line for rock star treatment at Cubs convention

Cubs president Theo Epstein has what he calls a “two-event day” scheduled for Saturday.

In the morning, he'll host his own session with the fans at the annual Cubs convention. After that, he'll head to Boston for his Foundation to be Named Later music fundraiser Saturday night.

Epstein knows what he's getting into with the fundraiser from his days with the Red Sox. As much as he says he thinks he knows what he's getting into at the Cubs convention, he has no idea.

“We didn't have anything like that in Boston,” Epstein said Wednesday as the Cubs caravan kicked off. “We certainly had dedicated fans, but we didn't have a centerpiece winter event. I've seen some pictures, and I'll admit I was taken aback a little bit.

“I've seen some things over the years. So we'll see. I'm sure I'll be impressed. Looking at the pictures, it's a sea of Cubs humanity down there in the ballroom. I'm looking forward to seeing that first hand.”

To quote The Bard, “As you like it, Theo.”

Yes, it's time for the annual Cubs convention, where fans show up with license plates hung around their necks — I'll be looking for “THEO ROX” — and lights flashing from atop their Cubs helmets.

Epstein has been called a rock star, and it's likely he'll get the rock-star treatment at Friday's opening ceremonies in the big ballroom at the Chicago Hilton and at his Saturday morning confab.

What a difference five years makes when it comes to the convention. In 2007, then-general manager Jim Hendry stood on the balcony at the opening ceremony and declared: “We're going to get good, and we're going to stay good.”

This year, it's all about the new “baseball analytic technology solutions system” the Cubs just contracted with Bloomberg Sports to “design a state of the art player evaluation system.” Hendry never bothered with that gibberish; he had super-scout Gary Hughes by his side.

The “getting good” part worked for two years under Hendry, with back-to-back division titles in 2007 and '08, but the “staying good” part didn't turn out so hot, and it cost him his job last summer.

Owner Tom Ricketts brought in Epstein. Theo brought in general manager Jed Hoyer, who headlines a “Meet Cubs Baseball Management” session at 10 Saturday after Epstein's 9 a.m. confab.

There's little doubt Theo will be the star of the show, and we'll see how willing fans are to accept that 2012 might be another loser on the field knowing that Epstein's plan is to build with young players to achieve long-term success.

While most fans seem to have bought in, I'm sure there will be a few nit-pickers. It wouldn't be Cubs convention otherwise. No doubt somebody will ask why the Kerry Wood situation has dragged on for so long. Or somebody in a Ryan Theriot jersey will ask why the Cubs aren't interested in bringing “The Riot” back.

A few years ago when the Cubs had many pressing concerns, then-manager Dusty Baker had to comfort a young fan who feared the Cubs might trade second baseman Todd Walker. Speaking of Walker, he'll be at Saturday's “For Kids Only Press Conference.” Wouldn't you know it? Walker returns to the Cubs convention as an ex-player, and his first session comes in a press-conference setting. No wonder reporters loved him.

As we said, it's the Cubs convention, and there's nothing quite like it.

Theo has been forewarned. Cubs fans should hope he doesn't cancel his return flight from Boston.

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