Theo Leaving Boston

KSigkid · #1 10-31-2005, 07:10 PM

Breaking news out of Boston: Theo Epstein is leaving the Sox.

When he didn't have a contract extension by the end of the season, I think a lot of people saw this coming. Was it the conflict with Lucchino? Was it other factors?

mu_agd · #2 10-31-2005, 07:11 PM

WTF?? The Globe reported this morning that he signed a 3-year extension.

The1calledTKE · #3 10-31-2005, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by KSigkid
Breaking news out of Boston: Theo Epstein is leaving the Sox.

When he didn't have a contract extension by the end of the season, I think a lot of people saw this coming. Was it the conflict with Lucchino? Was it other factors?

I think it was Lucchino and all the leaks from the FO. The money was there but that wasn't enough for Theo.

KSigkid · #4 10-31-2005, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mu_agd
WTF?? The Globe reported this morning that he signed a 3-year extension.

The Globe ended up with egg on their face with this one. That's what happens when you decide to follow an early lead. They thought they could scoop the Herald, and it didn't work out that way.

Steeltrap · #5 10-31-2005, 08:22 PM

Now, some of the L.A. sports talk shows are talking about Epstein as a possible replacement for "Paul DePendejo" (sic), who was fired by Frank McCourt Saturday.

KSigkid · #6 10-31-2005, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Steeltrap
Now, some of the L.A. sports talk shows are talking about Epstein as a possible replacement for "Paul DePendejo" (sic), who was fired by Frank McCourt Saturday.

Interesting; McCourt is a Boston guy, so I guess it would make sense, although LA is a mess right now.

If Josh Byrnes hadn't left for Arizona, there's a good chance he'd be the most likely replacement here in Boston.

Steeltrap · #7 10-31-2005, 08:58 PM

^^
L.A. is an utter mess. Other talk is that Orel Hershisher could be a candidate for the GM job.

KSigkid · #8 10-31-2005, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Steeltrap
^^
L.A. is an utter mess. Other talk is that Orel Hershisher could be a candidate for the GM job.

That was what I heard at first; seems as though Lasorda is trying to get all of his ex-Dodgers in there (Hershiser, Valentine as manager).

I think it would take a lot for McCourt not to put some feelers out there for Epstein, although it would depend on how much influence Tommy really has with him. The word out of Boston is that Epstein will take at least a year off.

KSig RC · #9 11-01-2005, 02:42 AM

fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck.

Don't be surprised if DePo winds up in Boston.

Current dirt is that Theo left money on the table because a.) Luccino is a dick and b.) he had no personal freedom in Boston - the combination of the two made him want Cashman money or greater authority, and talks never really got there.

KSigkid · #10 11-01-2005, 07:58 AM

That's what I heard as well. Lucchino did not want to give him complete control over the baseball side of things, and there's no way it would have worked like that. Once it got into the $1.3 million range and he still hadn't signed, things looked lost.

Really though, would DePo want to go from his L.A. situation into Boston? Does this affect Lucchino's reputation with the other young GMs out there? He and Theo had a longstanding good relationship (allegedly) until this season.

ETA: It also seems as though the Rockies trade over the summer left lingering effects. Lucchino and Epstein are blaming each other over why the trade fell through.

Sister Havana · #11 11-01-2005, 10:21 AM

I think Theo will come to Chicago and be a deputy to Jim Hendry. But he'll have an office in Tribune Tower. Which just happens to be where I work.

...hey, a girl can dream.

Seriously, though, this was a surprise...when I left work yesterday I was reading they'd reached a deal.

KSigkid · #12 11-02-2005, 01:02 PM

There's a press conference scheduled for 1 p.m. today. While it would be nice to get answers at the conference (just to satisfy curiosity), I'm guessing that it will mostly be an airing of pleasantries.

On a somewhat-related note, the Globe is taking a lot of heat for this story. Not only were they wrong on the scoop (which happens sometimes), but Shaughnessy's Sunday column is getting partial blame for the situation. While I dislike blaming the media for things like this, if you read Shaughnessy's column, it was impossible not to come away thinking that it was biased towards Lucchino. There was even a sort of mea culpa on Shaugnessy's part in Tuesday's Globe, although not as much as some people would have liked.

The fact that the Globe has an ownership stake in the Sox only fuels the fire; if I were the Herald, this would be better than a birthday present. Forget Lucchino or Epstein's image; all in all, the Globe may come out of this looking the worst.

mu_agd · #13 11-02-2005, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by KSigkid

On a somewhat-related note, the Globe is taking a lot of heat for this story. Not only were they wrong on the scoop (which happens sometimes), but Shaughnessy's Sunday column is getting partial blame for the situation. While I dislike blaming the media for things like this, if you read Shaughnessy's column, it was impossible not to come away thinking that it was biased towards Lucchino. There was even a sort of mea culpa on Shaugnessy's part in Tuesday's Globe, although not as much as some people would have liked.

The fact that the Globe has an ownership stake in the Sox only fuels the fire; if I were the Herald, this would be better than a birthday present. Forget Lucchino or Epstein's image; all in all, the Globe may come out of this looking the worst.

I like Simmons' thoughts..

Quote:

When Dan Shaughnessy published his hideous mentor-protégé column in Sunday's Boston Globe -- a column covered in Lucchino's fingerprints that made Theo come off like an ungrateful, disloyal, incompetent jerk -- Theo decided to change his mind about staying with the team. How could he work for people that he didn't trust, people who would wait until both sides had agreed to terms before leaking a "Now take this!" column that was clearly meant to put him in his place. Imagine being Theo, waking up on a Sunday morning and seeing that slanted crap in your local paper -- a house organ with ownership ties to the Red Sox, no less? How could you come back to the team and live with yourself? They underestimated his character, his resolve and his willingness to walk away from the only job he ever wanted. At least he left with his dignity.

KSigkid · #14 11-02-2005, 04:47 PM

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2211506

This is about what I expected from the press conference, although I'm mildly surprised Lucchino didn't attend.

mu_agd · #15 01-19-2006, 08:51 PM

although did he ever really leave?

Just announced..

Quote:

BOSTON, MA -- The Boston Red Sox today announced that Theo Epstein will rejoin the organization.

Principal Owner John Henry, Chairman Tom Werner, President/CEO Larry Lucchino and Epstein issued the following joint statement:

"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 October 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."

The Red Sox and Theo Epstein will have no further comment until next week.

source