Theo Epstein says he won’t be visiting Beane town

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Updated: March 20, 2012 8:28AM

MESA, Ariz. — Theo Epstein might be the most important character in ‘‘Moneyball’’ who never got face time in the surprise box-office hit nominated for six Oscars.

But that doesn’t mean the Cubs’ new president has seen the movie or has any intention of watching it.

“I think Moneyball has kind of become a loaded term; it’s not exactly what we do,’’ said Epstein, who has repeatedly expressed irritation over Oakland Athletics general manager Billy Beane’s willingness a decade ago to allow author Michael Lewis access to information and philosophies only a few teams were using at the time.

“We’re trying to teach the game the right way. I wasn’t a huge fan when certain proprietary information was made available to the public in the first place. Instead of a handful of clubs knowing certain things, within a year or two, 30 clubs knew it.’’

The movie portrays Beane as a small-market innovator who eventually earns, and turns down, an offer for the Boston GM job that Epstein then accepted at 28 — before combining so-called Moneyball principles with big-market muscle to win two World Series his first five seasons in Boston.

“It’s not my cup of tea,’’ Epstein said. “It sounds like they made a really good movie. And a lot of people got entertained. But it’s baseball time, not movie time.’’

Notes

Infielder Blake DeWitt, who was designated for assignment to make room on the roster for waiver-claim second baseman Adrian Cardenas, cleared waivers and has until Wednesday to decide whether he will accept the Cubs’ non-roster offer to remain in the organization. He forfeits his $1.1 million guaranteed contract if he refuses.

◆ Outfielder Marlon Byrd is in camp early and sporting a new tattoo that winds from his right shoulder all the way down his arm.

It’s an excerpt from Teddy Roosevelt’s 1910 Man in the Arena speech that begins, ‘‘It is not the critic who counts. . . .’’

Said Byrd: ‘‘My wife sends me this every year before the season starts, and I read it. I wanted to put it on my arm just to remind me.’’