just the new-age business tools like NASA-caliber scouting reports, but the old-school nod to issues like personalities and character.I think sometimes in the game today, it gets to the point where its

CHICAGO -- Theo Epstein is restless in a way most of us are not.No one is more invested in finding out whether he can repeat in Chicago what he did in Boston a dozen years ago -- win a World Series in a town that measures its disappointment in decades.But its not just the short-term goal that commands Epsteins attention. In the middle of a vacation with family or the middle of an inning surrounded by staff -- sometimes even in mid-sentence -- Epstein will extricate himself from the group, pull out his mobile phone and laser-focus on the longer-term target: building a dynasty.Thats why no box has gone unchecked. Its why Epstein spent days poring over brochures for sectional sofas to furnish the Cubs luxurious new clubhouse, but also why he spent five years tracking the ups and downs of a former Red Sox prospect named Anthony Rizzo, then traded for him when the time -- not to mention the price -- was right.Weve made plenty of mistakes, Epstein said on the field at Wrigley hours before the Cubs beat the Dodgers to wrap the NLCS last week. But the ones that weve hit on, weve gotten lucky with; some impact guys back, some best-case scenarios as far as how the guys have turned out.We knew, he added a moment later, that we didnt have a chance to rebuild twice in a market like this.When Epstein came on board with the Cubs in 2011, his task was to turn around an aircraft carrier-sized organization. He put back together his sabermetric-styled band from earlier stints in San Diego and Boston -- front-office execs Jed Hoyer and Jason McLeod -- and rolled up his sleeves.During the first phase, he set out to shed what was essentially a roster of bad contracts and spare parts, then went searching for difference-makers largely through the draft. Cub fans, meanwhile, struggled to see what difference all that attention to data and detail made.The team lost 101 games in Epsteins first season on the job, then 96 and 89. But in 2015 with manager Joe Maddon and a roster stocked with promising young talent and a few savvy veterans, it became clear the rebuild had paid off.Rizzo was a budding star at first base. Across the diamond was draft choice and soon-to-be Rookie of the Year Kris Bryant. Up the middle, Addison Russell locked down the starting shortstop job at 21, and Javier Baez began realizing his offensive promise. Behind them in center was Dexter Fowler, who hit for more power than ever before.Despite his reputation as a numbers guru, one factor in many of Epsteins trade and draft decisions was actually a hunch. He prioritized hitters with power instead of pitching, betting that one little-examined consequence of baseballs toughened-up drug policy would be a dearth of the former and a surplus of the latter. This season made him look like a genius.It didnt hurt, of course, that pitching coach Chris Bosio turned pitchers Kyle Hendricks and Jake Arrieta from afterthoughts into tough-as-nails, front-of-the-rotation starters. Or that Epstein was given a Monopoly-money checkbook to add expensive complementary parts like veteran pitchers Jon Lester and John Lackey, and switch-hitting, infielder-outfielder Ben Zobrist, whom Maddon uses like a Swiss Army knife.None of this comes as a surprise to Cleveland manager Terry Francona, who had the same job in Boston when Epstein, only 31 and still regarded as a wunderkind, rebuilt the franchise and reversed his first curse. Hed seen him at work before. He knew how much the infighting in the wake of all that success in Boston had stung Epstein.I saw him in spring training when we played them. He made a point of coming down actually during the game. And we text every so often, Francona said on the eve of the Series. Something comes up or something happens that he thinks is funny, or jogs a memory. Weve texted back and forth during the last couple playoff series. We were together eight years.Eight years in Boston is, I would almost say miraculous. Theres a lot of fond memories and we got through some tough times together and came out in the end. I knew when things got tough, he said, where I could go.That kind of loyalty and toughness impressed itself on Maddon when he interviewed for the Red Sox job that Francona -- who had much more experience at the time -- wound up getting. What hes learned about Epstein since made him even a bigger admirer.When he scans the clubhouse and sees the team his boss has assembled, Maddon marvels that theres not a prima donna in sight. Just like the couch and the ottoman he plops down on occasionally, Epstein has covered every detail ahead of time. Not just the new-age business tools like NASA-caliber scouting reports, but the old-school nod to issues like personalities and character.I think sometimes in the game today, it gets to the point where its just about acquiring a number, Maddon said. Im a big believer in that, but I also like the balance between the person and what the back of his baseball card says. Our guys do a wonderful job of balancing the math with the actual person.Thank Theos restlessness for that. Four more wins and generations of Cub fans will be doing the same.---Jim Litke is a sports columnist for The Associated Press. Write to him at jlitke(at)ap.org and https://Twitter.com/JimLitke . Balenciaga Schuhe Schweiz Sale . But the quarterback hopes to stay involved in football after officially calling it quits Tuesday. "Id love to look at those opportunities as they arise," Pierce said in an interview from his Winnipeg eatery. Balenciaga Schuhe Schweiz Kaufen . Ibaka equaled a career high with 20 rebounds, adding four blocked shots and 15 points as the Thunder smothered the Milwaukee Bucks offence in a 92-79 victory Saturday night. http://www.schweizbalenciaga.ch/ . Thousands of Southern California fans enveloped the Trojans to celebrate an improbable win secured by an interim coach, an inconsistent kicker and a thin defence that wouldnt break. Günstig Balenciaga Schuhe Schweiz . He just needed to be his best twisting, turning acrobatic self. "I didnt need to be anybody else, I just needed to be myself and be aggressive," said Burks, who scored a career-high 34 points to spark the Utah Jazz to a 118-103 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Monday night. Balenciaga Schuhe Schweiz China . Ryan Garbutt had a goal and two assists as Dallas snapped a six-game losing streak with a 5-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night. KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- J.J. Spaun made a 12-foot birdie putt on the final hole for a record-setting victory Sunday in the Web.com Tours News Sentinel Open.Already assured a PGA Tour card as a top-25 finisher on the money list, Spaun broke through at Fox Den on his 26th birthday for his first tour victory.Spaun closed with a 5-under 66 and a one-stroke victory over best friend Sam Ryder, the third-round leader. Ryder had a chance to force a playoff but missed an 8-foot birdie try on the par-5 18th moments after Spaun made his go-ahead putt.I fought really hard out there, and to have a putt at the last hole to win it and to bury it was a dream feeling, Spaun said. A lot of redemption in that putt.Spaun had a 26-under 258 total to break the tournament record of 23 under set by set by Tim Conley in 1993 at Willow Creek and matched by Heath Slocum in 2001 at Fox Den. Spaun broke Conleys mark of 263.Spaun won after finishing second twice this season, a run that jokingly promoted The Bridesmaid tag from his tour friends. He lost a playoff to Ollie Schniederjans in June in Wichita, Kansas, and was second behind Nicholas Lindheim last month in Lehi, Utah.Ive been knocking on the door all year, had a couple really close chances that I let slip out of my hands, and I didnt want that to happen today, especially when I had that opportunity on the last hole. I knew it was my time and I knew I was going to make it, and I buried it.Spaun earned $99,000 to jump from fifth to third on the money list withh $335,432 with only the regular-season finale left next week at Pumpkin Ridge in Oregon.dddddddddddd Last year, the former San Diego State player earned a Web.com Tour card by topping the Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada money list.Spaun opened with rounds of 66, 62 and 64 to begin the final round a stroke behind Ryder.Sam could have used the win more than I could have, honestly. I wanted him to win if I didnt win, but I also didnt want it to come down to how it came down, Spaun said. I wish he would have just kicked my butt today and beat me by six shots. I would have been happy. To come down the stretch and to make a putt and force him to make it, it just felt bad. Its a tough situation. He understands, and he said I can be happy, but its just kind of a downer, to be honest.Ryder closed with a 68 after opening with rounds of 64, 64 and 63. He earned $59,400 to move from 55th to 29th on the money list with $137,961.I dont feel great right now, to be honest, Ryder said. I came out solid, I was playing good all day, made two bogeys from inside 60 yards, had a couple three-putts and felt like I kind of let it slip away. I fought back, yeah, but its going to sting for a minute.Spaun was making his 19th Web.com Tour start. He has five top-six finishes in his past nine events.Ryan Brehm and Rick Lamb tied for third at 23 under. Brehm had a 66, and Lamb shot 67. ' ' '