Baseball Musings: Theo Returns!

January 19, 2006

Theo Returns!

The Boston Herald reports that Theo Epstein is rejoining the Red Sox as a full time employee.

Epstein, the ballclub’s former general manager who escaped the zoo that was Fenway Park on Halloween by donning his now-famous costume and strolling across Yawkey Way, last night issued a joint statement along with Red Sox principal owner John Henry, team chairman Tom Werner and club president/CEO Larry Lucchino announcing that he was rejoining the Red Sox.
The statement read:

“As you know, we have spoken frequently during the last 10 weeks. We have engaged in healthy, spirited debates about what it will take over the long term for the Red Sox to remain a great organization and, in fact, become a more effective organization in philosophy, approaches and ideals.

Ironically, Theo’s departure has brought us closer together in many respects, and, thanks to these conversations, we now enjoy the bonds of a shared vision for the organization’s future that did not exist on Oct. 31. With this vision in place, Theo will return to the Red Sox in a full-time baseball operations capacity, details of which will be announced next week.”

Also according to the statement, the Red Sox and Theo Epstein will have no further comment until next week.

So is he going to be somewhere between Lucchino and the co-GM's? Will he get a seven-figure salary? Are the differences smoothed over? Join us next week for another episode of As the Sox Turn. :-)

Posted by David Pinto at 08:26 PM | Management | TrackBack (1)

Comments

Woo-Hoo!

Posted by: jb at January 19, 2006 08:44 PM

Even if Theo's involvement with the Sox is just a figurehead role, this announcement will at least calm the rabid Sox fanbase and create the image of a "central vision" as far as the Sox's off-season moves. After all, Theo is probably bigger than Jesus in Boston right now.

Posted by: Hunter at January 19, 2006 09:39 PM

I am betting that Lucchino is leaving sometime in 06, probably to go to the Nats and oversee the new stadium.

Separating Theo coming back and Lucchino leaving saves face for Lucchino. My anger at him has calmed enough to not begrudge the face saving.

Posted by: Craig A. Damon at January 19, 2006 09:58 PM

Too bad Theo can't play centerfield or short.

Posted by: Benjamin Kabak at January 19, 2006 10:19 PM

Well, Theo signed Renteria.....

But what it really means, I think, is that he got John Henry to sign on to his stated vision of the long-term strategy of the team, which, to the best of my understanding (I am winning some sort of run-on sentence award right now, I know) is:
The Sox can't go toe-to-toe with the Yankees every year, so every once in a while (eg every 4-5 years)
they have to step back, bring in some lower priced youth who will fill a few positional or pitching slots, and risk dropping into the 85 win range and then go for it when they can. This is probably one of those years.

There has been a lot of speculation that the Sox are so desperate for a SS or CF that ultimately they will over-pay or give up one of their 5 prized kids to fill the holes. But another point of view I've heard is that the co-GM's are so committed to the above philosophy that they get a sort of thrill in turning down all these offers (Marte for Lugo, etc.) and sticking to their guns. It may be a good thing that there's two (now 3) of them. Being the GM for a Sox team that takes a step back can be a lonely job.

Posted by: pvm at January 19, 2006 10:42 PM

Prediction: the "Theo drama" will be the most over-hyped/over-analyzed/over-rated story of the 2006 baseball season. I'm sure some New England rotisserie nerd has already calculated the 2006 Red Sox win share differential with and without Theo on board.

Posted by: Uconn at January 19, 2006 11:41 PM

gee who didnt see this coming?

Posted by: tony flynn at January 20, 2006 12:41 AM

As may point of refernce is always the same, the NY Mets of the late 1980's, I'll ask my fellow readers of David's blog to endure another comment. A metaphor, "too many cheifs, not enough indians" seems appropriate. Davey Johnson openly complained of the "Three-Headed-Monster", the triumphirate of Al Harazin, Joe McIlvaine, and Frank Cashen. And also once in 1985 that the organization had to, "speak with one voice." To put it simply, Davey was asked to communicate with all three on baseball matters. One one day, another the next. Often, the right hand didn't know what the left was doing. In a day before E-mail, it was complicated, but I'd hate to see a paper trail today of all personal contacts bewteen baseball people regarding one 25 man roster. One must look at the Yankees situation involving the Tampa Mafia for a point of reference. It seems the NFL does this in a different manner with more clear lines of responsibilities. Nonetheless, unless some transparent for all details of how the Red Sox make decisions is made, it will be yet another story-both in the newspapers and in the clubhouse.

Posted by: Bob Sikes at January 20, 2006 06:53 AM

can big papi play center?

Posted by: Colin at January 20, 2006 05:00 PM

"can big papi play center?"

Sure, as long as the RS can have two extra outfielders.

Posted by: steve at January 20, 2006 05:04 PM