Theo Epstein's Latest Quote Proves the Cubs Should Never Have Dumped Dexter Fowler

Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said coming into the 2019 season that this year is "a reckoning, in a lot of ways." When you say that, you are holding everyone on the team accountable, including yourself and your front office.

Manager Joe Maddon will probably not be back if things continue to spiral, but is it his fault that whoever he's got hitting leadoff can't consistently get on base?

This wasn't a problem for the Cubs when they won the World Series in 2016, as outfielder Dexter Fowler did a superb job of getting on base (.393 OBP) and setting the table for the likes of Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo.

It took Epstein several years to acknowledge that Fowler's absence was a huge loss, but now that the Cubs have the worst on-base percentage in baseball (.283) from the lead-off spot, he's embarrassed. Gee, can you think of anyone who could've improved that mark? Someone who factors into "You Go, We Go" by any chance?

Fowler ended up signing a lucrative deal with the St. Louis Cardinals, and on some level, you understand why the Cubs didn't give him a blank check to return. But even though he's had his struggles with St. Louis, there's a good chance that wouldn't have happened as quickly if he stayed in Chicago. Plus, his OBPs during down years have been 100 points above his average. That might've helped things in Chi-Town tremendously.

I'm sure Epstein and Co. thought Jason Heyward or youngsters like Albert Almora Jr. and Ian Happ would've stepped into that role and thrived. That has not been the case at all, and now I'm sure he's wishing that he kept the sure thing around a little bit longer.

It'll be interesting to see what the frustrated Epstein will do this winter to address their weakness, especially if they don't make the postseason. I have a feeling this Cubs team will look very different entering 2020.