SI: Henry, Werner & Lucchino are the Best Owners in Baseball

[BoSox21]

Purchase Price: $660M

Current Value: $1.82B

W-L: 470-340

Winning %: .580

Playoffs: 5

Championships: 2

 

Thanks to Henry, Red Sox Nation will never hear the chant "1918!" again. Even if it all were to come crumbling down tomorrow, John Henry (pictured, right) and minority owners Tom Werner (left) and Larry Lucchino will be revered forever for reversing the Curse -- and adding a second championship in 2007. In addition, they've made the hires that will keep the Sox competitive for years to come: specifically, shrewd GM Theo Epstein and manager Terry Francona. Boston has reached the postseason five times in the past six years (including four ALCS appearances) and has become one of the most desired destinations for any notable free agent.

 

SI's Best & Worst Owners

[Dojji]

Hard to argue with. There's been a complete culture change since they came in.

[BoSox21]

True but there have been PR nightmares like Epstein's departure after '05 and Lou Merloni's recent comments

[Dojji]

So? Any group of strong leaders will have issues like that -- although perhaps not quite so publically. If product on the field is good enough that no one is gonna care about a couple public disagreements.

[TedWilliams101]

Seems like pretty non-issue "troubles" compared to what the Yankees front office has dealt with recently. New Launch Pad stadium, ridiculous prices of box seats, screwing over fans during a raindelay... and it doesn't help that their team keeps falling apart.

[Dojji]

Not to mention their standing policy of throwing fans out who move around during God Bless America.

[das11209]

This is not surprising - what is surprising is that Steinberners came in 4th - they are the 4th best owners in baseball?

[Dojji]

The Yankees were a joke before the Boss took over. They do deserve a lot of credit.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

The Yankees were a joke before the Boss took over. They do deserve a lot of credit.

George = good owner

 

Hank/Hal = clueless simple-f***s

[Dipre]

George = good owner

 

Hank= clueless simple-f***

 

Fixed that for you.

[das11209]

The Yankees were a joke before the Boss took over. They do deserve a lot of credit.

 

They were a joke under the boss for a long time until the late 90's championship. He made a mockery of the Yankees - best illustrated by some of the Seinfeld episode.

 

He also started the culture of buying washed up talents with long term huge contracts and trading away the firm.

[BSN07]

They were a joke under the boss for a long time until the late 90's championship. He made a mockery of the Yankees - best illustrated by some of the Seinfeld episode.

 

He also started the culture of buying washed up talents with long term huge contracts and trading away the firm.

 

Some of the best episodes ever.

[das11209]

Some of the best episodes ever.

 

Larry David (acting as Steinberner), who is also the co-creator of Seinfeld has done one of the best acting performances in the serial - and he never showed his face.

[MNSoxChief102]

Can't disagree with that at all... Doubled the value of the team, made Red Sox Nation a household name, brought home two titles, and came inches away from playing for two more... all in this decade. They've made mistakes, but who the hell hasn't? Nobody's perfect last I checked...

[mvp 78]

Where'd the 1.82B amount come from? FTA: current value = 816M.

Also, aren't the Lou Merloni comments concerning pre-ownership days? And the PR hit on that has been relatively minimal anyway.

[CrespoBlows]

Not to mention their standing policy of throwing fans out who move around during God Bless America.

 

It's not a standing policy. Either the guy did something to get tossed, or the officer took it upon himself.

[jacksonianmarch]

George = good owner

 

Hank/Hal = clueless simple-f***s

 

Hank is a figurehead. He's the loudmouth who has no power whatsoever. Hal is the brains behind the operation and will be a good owner in time. Baseball is both business and entertainment. If you tip that balance too far in either direction, then either the fans or the team suffers. Right now, the yankees are a corporation first. Concessions will be made and the team will return to being a fan friendly experience. Its gonna happen. I just think Hal wanted to milk everything he could out of the initial season. Cause once the novelty is gone, people wont even consider spending that kind of coin.

[VA Sox Fan]

Lucchino rips Bor-ass:

 

Lucchino on Boras, Strasburg

 

Posted by Adam Kilgore, Globe Staff June 23, 2009 03:07 PM

 

Red Sox CEO Larry Lucchino spoke with the Washington Post for a story in today's paper about the negotiations of Ben McDonald 20 years ago, a likely parallel for what the Washington Nationals will confront trying to sign Stephen Strasburg this summer: a historically gifted college pitcher, a team desperate for a franchise pitcher and good headlines, and, driving it all, Scott Boras.

 

In June 1989, Lucchino was an executive with the Baltimore Orioles, and Boras was an up-and-coming "advisor." The negotiations -- which, you'll find if you read the story, were fascinating -- were a virtual introduction for Boras and Lucchino. The two have had several episodes over the years, the latest this winter with Mark Teixeira's high-profile free agency, and each has hinted (at least) a dislike for the other.

 

In today's Post story, Lucchino didn't waste his chance for a dig at Boras. Pay especially close attention to the end of this quote:

 

"Certainly you can see how the pre-draft hype and hyperbole are quite similar," said Larry Lucchino, Baltimore's team president in 1989, who now holds a similar position with the Red Sox. "And if anything that hype has probably increased in intensity. The team is similarly situated, with external pressure. And then [scott] Boras as the player's agent." Lucchino sighed, then added, "I'm sure it will be a long and protracted negotiation at the detriment of the player's development."

 

Reporter Chico Harlan updated the story on his blog this morning

[CrespoBlows]

Lucchino should shut up.

[BoSox21]

can someone explain to him that he's gonna have to deal with Boras in the future?

[ORS]

Lucchino should shut up.

can someone explain to him that he's gonna have to deal with Boras in the future?

Why?

 

These guys know what the score is. Boras knows Lucchino calls the shots for the #2 spender in baseball, and to stay competitive they'll need to deal with him. Lucchino knows Boras won't spite the #2 spender over some innocuous comments in the media. So, they'll take shots at each other, but when it comes time to do business, they'll drop it and do what they need to do in each others' best interests.

[Dipre]

Why?

 

These guys know what the score is. Boras knows Lucchino calls the shots for the #2 spender in baseball, and to stay competitive they'll need to deal with him. Lucchino knows Boras won't spite the #2 spender over some innocuous comments in the media. So, they'll take shots at each other, but when it comes time to do business, they'll drop it and do what they need to do in each others' best interests.

 

This.

 

Besides, IIRC, this is not the first time Lucchino has taken a shot at Boras, and it probably won't be the last.

[CrespoBlows]

Why?

 

These guys know what the score is. Boras knows Lucchino calls the shots for the #2 spender in baseball, and to stay competitive they'll need to deal with him. Lucchino knows Boras won't spite the #2 spender over some innocuous comments in the media. So, they'll take shots at each other, but when it comes time to do business, they'll drop it and do what they need to do in each others' best interests.

 

I know, I'm not a fan of the WWE facade that goes on between owners and Boras. It's obvious what the intentions of both men are, but that doesn't stop people from lapping up the massive amounts of propaganda that is directed toward Boras.