October 27, 2005
The Theo Saga
As the Yankees wind up securing Brian Cashman for three more years, things seem to be falling apart in the hallowed halls of Red Sox Nation.
Theo could be gone soon, Red Sox followers. It may be just a matter of time now. Negotiations between Epstein and club president Larry Lucchino long ago became personal, so Lucchino and friends have launched into spin control, full speed ahead. Young Theo Epstein, it seems, has been ousted from the circle of trust as if he were a hardball embodiment of the unraveling Gaylord Focker.
The truth? Epstein is outgrowing the Red Sox, though maybe he is just outgrowing Lucchino. It was bound to happen sooner or later. Epstein is young and smart and likable, and it was only a matter of time before he recognized he could be a lot more in life than just another sheep in the great Lucchino's flock.
It seems Lucchino has a spin machine at his disposal as well:
That said, some things need to be made clear. The first is that the media is a very dirty business; on some level, we are all compromised. The second, as one longtime observer once pointed out, is that Lucchino is a political animal. The Globe owns the Red Sox which means the Red Sox own the Globe, which is not a criticism as much as it is a statement of fact. The same is true of WEEI, or at least parts of it, which is currently in negotiations for Red Sox broadcast rights and compensates Lucchino for a weekly radio segment.
So, for an assortment of reasons, the two most powerful media outlets in New England are not about to challenge the words or methods of Lucchino and the Red Sox. (Not really.) And that is OK so long as we recognize there are conflicts of interest everywhere now and the truth will be distorted as a result of it.
That is why, as much as ever, we should hope this remains a two-newspaper town.
Yes, thank goodness for competition.
But back to the main story. Brian Cashman is more willing to work for George Steinbrenner than Theo Epstein is willing to work for Larry Lucchino. That has to hurt the feelings of Red Sox fans. As my dear friend at Soxaholix points out:
No way, instead we've got Steinbrennah, of all friggin' people George Steinbrennah saying we'll rue the effin' day Lucchino was hired.
Yes, it's a revelation to find out that the evil emperor was under your nose all along!
Things can go one of two ways. The Red Sox ante up and pay Theo to tolerate Lucchino, or some other club gets a real good GM. I agree with the Soxaholix that I'd rather have Theo than Larry. Red Sox Nation is pretty strong. If you agree now's the chance to make your voice heard.
Posted by David Pinto at
03:16 PM
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Holy smokes! That's you, David Pinto, right now on XM
Radio channel 175!
Is Theo a "real good GM"? He's only been on the job 3 years and he won, so if we're basing it on that, then I guess yes. Is Kenny Williams a real good GM? Is every single GM who wins a real good GM? What's the criteria exactly?
You did a great job, David. I know you're in Mass., but
it sounded like either you or your parents were from the
New York area. Anyhow, would be great if you could be
the permanent replacement for the whiny reject, Chuck
Wilson, who, they've stuck on XM MLB. Great listening to
Dibble, Kennedy, Buck Martinez, Larry Bowa and
Charley Steiner.
Well, he won all three years he was GM. He might have won twice if Grady Little knew when to go to the bullpen.
I wasn't crazy about the moves he made at the 2004 trading deadline, but they proved to work very well. I like the fact he brought in Bill James. I like the fact he incorporates information technology throughout the organization. I like the fact that in three years they've rebuilt a depleted farm system. I think he's a good GM.
Cashman on WFAN and YES explaining his new deal.
I like how Theo brought in Mueller, Millar and Bellhorn instead of more Gary Gaetti, Ed Sprague, Butch Huskey, and Mike Lansing. Instead of settling for Mark Portugal or Pat Rapp trading for Suppan and Arroyo and Schilling, finding workable parts on the waiver wire rather than trading away kids like Reitsma for Bichette, and for refilling the farm system for the most part. Do I agree with everything he has done? Of course not, that would be insanity. They did sign Edgar Renteria to an insane deal in the offseason after all. Do I want him gone? An even more emphatic of course not.
If Theo goes to another team, I wonder if Bill James will go with or stick with the Red Sox?
If the Sox lose Theo, they lose a fine GM. At least they get to reap the rewards of his job cleaning up the team, and more importantly, their farm system. He made some shrewd moves. Hey, they still had the best offense last year, and still made the playoffs. ALCS loss, WS win, ALDS loss to eventual WS champ is a pretty friggin' good record as a GM. Injuries of the type Boston sustained this year to its pitching staff will bring any team down...it's almost a miracle that they made it as far as they did.