CHICAGO (670 The Score) -- The fabled ivy of Wrigley Field was revealing its shades of autumn red Monday, the last day of September. Its beauty will go to waste this October, as Wrigleyville carries an emptiness the Cubs organization hasn't seen in five years.
President of baseball operations Theo Epstein helped set a standard that demands playoff baseball. Monday afternoon, Epstein held himself accountable after the Cubs collapsed down the stretch to finish 84-78 and miss the playoffs for the first time since 2014. He spoke for more than 80 minutes at Wrigley Field, answering every last question about why the Cubs fizzled out after months of inconsistent play was followed by a season-defining nine-game losing streak in late September.
Epstein thanked now-former manager Joe Maddon for his five winning seasons, spoke of the change to come and near the end of his session offered an honest self-assessment of why the Cubs have fallen since winning the World Series in 2016.
"I had this belief that this group of players who won the World Series at 22, 23 years old, many of them, were going to grow into an unstoppable set of players if we could continue to supplement them, show faith in them," Epstein said 72 minutes into his media session. "Because we were the youngest team in World Series history. You look at the starting players. That hasn't happened.
"I've made decisions to pour a lot of resources, every available dollar, we've poured back into plugging holes in this group, trying to find pitching for this group, trying to elevate this group. A lot of prospects, lots of young players that were blocked by members of this group, we traded out as a belief in this group.
"To that broad theme of a winner's trap and putting too much correlation to methods and players and things that helped you win in the past, I think I can be guilty of that. If I could do it over again, as a leader, I'd try to find a way to be more objective, more critical, more open-minded to various different ways to do it. I think that's gotten us in trouble if you look at the amount of resources that have gone out the door trying to supplement this group."
No one on the Cubs' roster is considered untouchable this offseason. Epstein's goal is to bridge this run of success with the next, and that could mean cutting into the 2016 championship core. Kris Bryant may again hear his name circulating in trade rumors. Willson Contreras could be a key asset as a skilled catcher. Kyle Schwarber may be on the move after years of Epstein resisting. Everything is on the table.
Epstein is throwing sentiment out the championship window. His goal is for the Cubs to be a championship contender in 2020 but also beyond the expiring contracts of Bryant, Anthony Rizzo and Javier Baez, who are under club control through 2021.
Parting ways with the 65-year-old Maddon was the first step in doing that. He brought the team a laidback vibe and created a comfortable culture in which the Cubs prospered, rising into a championship team, but Epstein believed this group needs a new voice.
"Joe was the perfect manager at the perfect moment of time for us," Epstein said. "For the group that we had, where they were in their careers, what they were trying to accomplish in the game, the identity that we needed to establish, he was the perfect guy.
"Now we need the perfect guy for this moment in time, for this group, for where they are in their careers, for the way their skills, their habits, their outlook has evolved. There's a unique challenge for this moment in time.
"For this group, I feel like change is important."
Change is well underway. On a day Epstein could've spent evaluating the Cubs' roster for the National League Divisional Series, he was instead conducting exit interviews and planning a "broad list" of managers to consider. That's just the beginning.
Epstein stated his desire to reshape the Cubs' organizational structure in order to develop and hit on more prospects -- one of their greatest shortcomings in the last five years. Jason McLeod, present for much of Epstein's media session, has already moved aside from his senior vice president of amateur scouting and player development role to oversee the player personnel department. It was deemed a "transition" by the Cubs, not a promotion.
Epstein is frustrated by the Cubs' lack of impact talent arriving in the big leagues since 2016. While playoff teams like the Dodgers, Astros and Yankees continued to produce young talent, the Cubs' cupboards were left empty.
The organization plans to streamline its development by creating the roles of director of hitting and director of pitching, Epstein said. With that could come different club philosophies to be passed down to the minor league system. That's part of the goal to ensure success in the next championship window that Epstein believes still lies ahead.
What this transformational offseason holds for the Cubs was still unclear on its first day. There were no promises made by Epstein, but he did this much clear.
October baseball is still the standard for these Cubs -- and those to come.
"The reality is we're building something anew," Epstein said. "We have to. At every level of the organization. That includes asking and answering the hard questions, includes a lot of self-reflection and it includes some change.
"It doesn't mean we're going to take it lightly. It doesn't mean it's going to be extreme. Words don't mean anything. Actions do.
"I can just tell you we're really intent on building the next Cubs championship team."
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago's sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.
