Theo Epstein leaves Red Sox

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Sadly when, yes when, the Sox trade Ramirez this offseason and get considerably lower value in return Ortiz will go back to being Minnesota Ortiz. Still good, but a shell of his former self od the last 3 seasons.

 

Also, I think another factor of Theo jumping ship is the fact that the Sox are heading for a downward turn in dramatic fashion. Next season they have no CF, No LF, no 1B, mediocre SP, terrible RP, no 3B, rookie 2B, etc...

 

Sure there's some talent in the minors but 2006 looks very very gloomy here in Boston. Theo did the smart thing and will sit out for a year and wait for 10 teams to bid on his services. He will make more than 1.5 Mil over 3 years, book it.

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That's an awfully gloomy lookout. First off, the Sox won't trade Ramirez without either getting value for his services, or clearing a ton of money. If they do clear salary, I would be surprised if they do not make a run for free agent OF Brian Giles. Third base is in the hands of Kevin Youkilis, who provides capable production. The relief corps can be improved with a few smart signings in a single offseason. There's never a lack of talent there on the market. The starting pitching saw Curt Schilling get shelled but his peripherals indicate he's still got some time left. The rest aren't outstanding, but they'll keep the team in the game.

 

This club has two of the best hitters in baseball and one of the best catchers. Barring a rash of injuries, they'll contend.

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Ortiz isn't going to go back to his Minn form. He's not a great hitter because of Manny, he's a great hitter because he's a great hitter. If anything he'll get the Barry Bonds treatment depending on who's hitting behind him.

 

Manny isn't what he once was either. His power numbers are still there but as far as average and OBP goes they've been in decline for the past 3 seasons. I think this will be the last season you can get very good value for him. If he wants to go to Anaheim and Anaheim wants him then I ask for Ervin Santana, Casey Kotchman, Steven Shell and then agree to take Steve Finley's contract in return.

[Mik 0]

In my opinion, this is a must read article on the subject...

 

Simmons.

[Kismet 0]

After reading the Simmons article, I have to ask anyone in/around Boston. Is the control of the media by the team really that bad? I couldn't imagine trying to glean information from that if it's true. I guess that's what the internet is for.

[nl5xsk1 0]

It's not hard to see where Theo went right here.  The Sox plucked a platoon DH off the free agent market for cheap, and so far Ortiz has responded by batting .297 with 119 home runs and 388 RBIs over three seasons.  The effect of that famous midseason 2004 trade can be debated and given how things turned out, it certainly helped.  But it is clear where Theo's big move came from.

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Extremely good luck? When they signed him, Ortiz was a platoon at best / back-up at worst (to Giambi!) that got very limited playing time. If Giambi stays healthy, Ortiz never becomes ~Ortiz!~. I will concede that Theo saw enough in Ortiz to warrant getting him ... but I really don't think that he had any idea how prolific Ortiz would become. It's not like they picked up Ortiz and plunked him in the middle of the line-up to build a team around.

[Boon 0]

After reading the Simmons article, I have to ask anyone in/around Boston. Is the control of the media by the team really that bad? I couldn't imagine trying to glean information from that if it's true. I guess that's what the internet is for.

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The control the Globe has is, yes.

 

The Herald has been ripping the Globe to shreds, pretty much blaming them for Theo being gone. Granted, they're also trying to tear up their competition, but still- lots of people blame Shaugnessey and Lucchino and their relationship (and rightfully so).

 

The sports media in Boston is crazy, from the Globe/Herald to WEEI, they have a lot of power in this town.

 

Every time I think about Boston and the sports media, all I can think of is Rick Pitino's quote/rant before he left the Celtics. Gold.

[nl5xsk1 0]

If people in this area are still so stupid that they look to the Globe, Herald or EEI for unbiased news, they're borderline retarded. The media coverage in this town sucks.

 

Every time I think about Boston and the sports media, all I can think of is Rick Pitino's quote/rant before he left the Celtics. Gold.

That quote was, sadly, the best thing that Pitino did while with the C's.

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Link

 

BOSTON -- Outgoing Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein on Wednesday dismissed reports that a power struggle with team president Larry Lucchino led him to walk away from the organization this week.

 

Epstein, 31, whose career in baseball started when Lucchino hired him as an intern with the Baltimore Orioles 14 years ago, rejected the team's offer of a $4.5 million, three-year extension that would have quadrupled his previous salary.

 

"Larry and I like each other," Epstein said in his first public comments since he shocked Boston sports fans by walking away from the bargaining table on Monday. "As with any other working relationship there are complexities, there are ups and downs."

 

The decision to leave, he said, was a personal one.

 

"This is a job you have to give your whole heart and soul to," he said. "In the end, after a long period of reflection about myself and the program, I decided I could no longer put my whole heart and soul into it."

 

Under Epstein, the Red Sox made the postseason three years in a row for the first time in franchise history, with the obvious highlight being the team's 2004 World Series win, Boston's first in 86 years.

 

"It was a time in my life I'll always look back on with fond memories," Epstein said.

 

The ballclub hasn't commented since Epstein's resignation. Media reports have circulated that he left because leaks about the negotiations convinced him there was a breach of trust with mentor Lucchino. But Epstein said Wednesday that the two remained close and that Lucchino gave him wide discretion over baseball decisions.

 

"I felt like I had pretty much a free hand to run the baseball operation the way I see fit," he said.

 

Epstein's deal expired at midnight Tuesday, leaving the team without a GM heading into the offseason. Negotiations with free agents such as center fielder Johnny Damon are on hold, trade talks will have to wait and the business of assembling the 2006 team has been interrupted by the Brookline native's stunning decision to walk away from his dream job with his hometown team.

 

The Red Sox need to plug holes in the starting rotation and bullpen that led to a first-round playoff sweep by the eventual World Series champion Chicago White Sox. Manny Ramirez and David Wells have reportedly asked to be traded; Epstein's chief assistant, Josh Byrnes, is now the GM in Arizona; the Red Sox trainer was let go; and third-base coach Dale Sveum decamped for Milwaukee.

 

I find it funny they mention Dale Sveum leaving. The team is better without him.

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Every time I think about Boston and the sports media, all I can think of is Rick Pitino's quote/rant before he left the Celtics.  Gold.

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They opened tonight's "Whiner Line" on The Big Show with the Pitino thing.

[Boon 0]

Every time I think about Boston and the sports media, all I can think of is Rick Pitino's quote/rant before he left the Celtics.  Gold.

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They opened tonight's "Whiner Line" on The Big Show with the Pitino thing.

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They did.

 

I marked out, hardcore.

 

Yesterday's Weiner Line was amazing- Tom Warner, Beavis and Butthead, the Mayor.