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 . Custom Basketball Jerseys Outlet . -- Chicago Bears cornerback Tim Jennings was selected Monday to his second straight Pro Bowl, while guard Kyle Long made it after a solid rookie season. Cheap Custom T-shirts . After dropping their final six games of December, the Wild opened the new calendar year with four consecutive wins. Following a loss to Colorado on Saturday, Minnesota rebounded the following night to blank Nashville 4-0, but then had the tables turned on them Tuesday. http://www.basketballcustomjerseys.com/ . Anthony Calvillo, through 20 CFL seasons, was frequently invincible and largely stoic in the heat of competition. But underneath the professional exterior he was, and is, compellingly human. Cheap Custom Basketball Jerseys Sale . "Hes going to have hip surgery on Jan. 7, and hell be expected to rehabilitate for four to six months beyond that," Canucks general manager Mike Gillis said Friday in an interview. Custom Atlanta Hawks Jerseys Cheap .Y. - Jerome Samson scored once in regulation and again in the shootout as the St. ANAHEIM, Calif. -- If the Los Angeles Angels trade Hector Santiago before the Aug. 1 deadline, they might want to consider shipping him to a National League team they rarely play.Just ask the Chicago White Sox.Santiago threw seven innings of five-hit ball against his former club, and the Angels beat Chicago 7-0 on Friday night.It was the second time this season Santiago blanked the White Sox 7-0. He has tossed 14 spotless innings against them, but given up 54 runs over 91 1/3 innings in his other 17 starts.Theres always a little bit more competitiveness, for sure, Santiago said.You want to get back at them, get yourself to another level against your old team. When they come in, theres no doubt that I kind of step my game up.The left-hander did exactly that once again, striking out seven without issuing a walk Friday. Los Angeles supported him with two runs in the second and five in the seventh.Santiago (7-4) has been pitching particularly well of late. He has not allowed an earned run in his last 22 innings.Chicagos offense has been going in the opposite direction. The White Sox have not scored in their last 23 innings, and they were shut out in consecutive games for the first time this season.We didnt swing, and we didnt play that good of defense, either, but I thought (Santiago) threw well, too, manager Robin Ventura. You tip your cap.Coming back from the break, you expect the guys to swing a little bit better. Its just one day.The Angels are 38-52 on the season, 15 1/2 games back of first-place Texas in the AL West. They are expected to deal veterans before the trade deadline, and Santiagos name has been prominently mentioned.Santiago insisted he shrugs it all off.Thats what you have to do, he said. You cant control that part of the game. You just come out here and try to throw the ball well. Hopefully you can be here all year with guys you grinded through all spring and all season.I just try to sit back, have fun, come out here and do my job every day, and whatever happens, happens.The first five Angels hitters in the seventhh scored against four different White Sox pitchers.dddddddddddde just kept pounding the ball in that seventh inning, Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia said. Good situational hitting. Guys put the ball in play, used the whole field, good job with runners in scoring position, and ran the bases aggressively.Four of the Angels nine hits were doubles, one each by Kole Calhoun, Geovany Soto, Daniel Nava and Jefry Marte. Andrelton Simmons also singled in the seventh to extend his hitting streak to 13 games.The Angels have won five of their last seven games.Four runs came against Chicago right-hander Miguel Gonzalez (2-5), though only two were earned. Rookie shortstop Tim Anderson committed two errors.I thought he threw well enough to win a game, but we didnt swing very well, Ventura said. (Santiago) coming off the break was sharp.Gonzalez has not won a road game since beating Tampa Bay on July 25, 2015. He tossed seven shutout innings against the Yankees in his previous start.TRAINERS ROOMWhite Sox: 1B Justin Morneau was called up from his rehab stint at Triple-A and added to the roster. The 35-year-old Morneau had offseason surgery to repair the primary flexor in his right elbow. Chicago signed him June 9 to a one-year contract.Angels: Despite a brilliant outing Thursday for Triple-A Salt Lake (seven scoreless innings, one hit, 14 strikeouts), LHP Tyler Skaggs (Tommy John surgery, shoulder tightness) will make at least one additional rehab start before joining the rotation, Scioscia said. ... LHP C.J. Wilson had surgery to repair fraying within his labrum and rotator cuff, the team said.UP NEXTWhite Sox: RHP James Shields (4-10) is scheduled to make his eighth start Saturday night since coming to Chicago in a June 4 trade with the Padres. He is 2/3 with a 7.68 ERA for the White Sox, but 2-1 with a 2.21 ERA in his last three starts.Angels: RHP Matt Shoemaker (4-9) is 2-4 with a 2.67 ERA in his last 10 starts. ' ' '