Theo Explains 2010 Sox Problems.

[Spudboy]

http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/this-just-in/2142658/epstein-dh-were-disappointed

 

Apparently, he thinks like a700....

 

 

 

Epstein on D&H: 'We're disappointed'

By: Paul Flannery

 

Print

 

Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein joined the Dale & Holley show to offer his thoughts on the 2010 season.

 

 

 

"We're disappointed," Epstein said. "We're proud of the way the guys hung in there and played really hard to the end, but I'm disappointed that we're going to fall short of our goal every year to get to the postseason and do some damage in October."

 

 

 

Yet Epstein thinks that the Sox are not far away from returning to a championship-level club. "It adds up to an organization that's in really good position and not far away from a championship," Epstein said. "In fact we could very well win one next year and that's the goal."

 

 

 

Asked if he could identify one thing that went wrong, Epstein said, "It's always hard to identify one single factor. It definitely is multi-factorial. We felt like we had a really good team, a legitimate chance to be one of the best teams in the league. We thought we had a balanced club, one of the top two or three in the league scorings runs and one of the top two or three in pitching and defense. That's the balance that we strive for. Some things went right and some things went wrong.

 

 

 

"The way things went offensively kind of went according to plan," Epstein continued. "Given that, you can really isolate a lot of the issues to our pitching and defense where we underperformed pretty dramatically. ... Our starting pitching was a bit of a mixed bag. [Jon] Lester and [Clay] Buchholz both had dominating years. The rest of the rotation didn't really live up to expectations and then the bullpen turned out to be our major weakness."

 

 

 

On why the Sox didn't make a move for a reliever at the trade deadline: "Not for lack of effort," Epstein said. "Coming into the year we knew we needed a third guy emerge to go with [Jonathan Papelbon] and [Daniel] Bard. ... Trust me we looked all year."

 

 

 

On expectations for [John] Lackey and [Josh] Beckett: "To be top of the rotation type guys and pitch up to previous levels. Those are still my expectations for those guys going forward," Epstein said. "Josh, the injury really cost him. He clearly wasn't himself all year. With John Lackey, it was a mixed bag. He did some good things. He's leading our club in innings pitched and tied for the club lead in quality starts. That said, there was definitely an adjustment period for him."

 

 

 

On the handling of the Jacoby Ellsbury injury: "Initially when he had that first injury, looking back on it and maybe it's something we learned a little bit about it, we probably could have taken the CT-scan sooner. We've already made an adjustment in our policy going forward. It wouldn't have gotten him back any quicker but it would have helped manage the perception of the injury. Jacoby took some unwarranted heat from a lot of differnet sources because it wasn't clear from the get go that the ribs were fractured. All in all it became a lost season for Jacoby. Importantly, I don't think there's any residue of this going forward."

 

 

 

Epstein declined to offer specifics on how the team would go about the process of re-signing free agents David Ortiz, Victor Martinez, Adrian Beltre and Jason Varitek, but did say, "I have a strong interest in retaining those players."

 

 

 

On J.D. Drew: "I think it was just an off-year for him," Epstein said. "Certainly the year he had didn't live up to expectations and didn't approach the quality of his previous two seasons."

 

 

 

On Jonathan Papelbon: "Two things you can certainly say about Pap: He didn't perform this year at the level that he performed early in his career, especially in those peak years when he was far and away the best reliever in baseball," Epstein said. "I think you can also say he's still good and he still helps us win. It was a tough year for him at times." Epstein went on to say that the team still considers him a very good closer.

 

 

 

On the future of the team: "This offseason presents us with a lot of challenges but at the same time, it also presents us with a lot of opportunities," Epstein said. "You have to be reasonable about everything. In a year that ends like this sometimes there's a tendency to look at all the issues and all the problems and think that you're nowhere close to a championship team. We have to completely fix the bullpen. We do have a lot of important position players that are eligible for free agency. We have to either keep those guys or replace them or some combination thereof. You can't let the way things played out this year could your judgments about what you have."

 

 

 

For a more highlights from this interview visit Full Count. To hear the whole interview, go to the Dale & Holley audio on demand page. For more Red Sox news, check out the team page at weei.com/redsox

[a700hitter]

http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/this-just-in/2142658/epstein-dh-were-disappointed

 

Apparently, he thinks like a700....

 

 

 

Epstein on D&H: 'We're disappointed'

By: Paul Flannery

 

Print

 

Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein joined the Dale & Holley show to offer his thoughts on the 2010 season.

 

 

 

"We're disappointed," Epstein said. "We're proud of the way the guys hung in there and played really hard to the end, but I'm disappointed that we're going to fall short of our goal every year to get to the postseason and do some damage in October."

 

 

 

Yet Epstein thinks that the Sox are not far away from returning to a championship-level club. "It adds up to an organization that's in really good position and not far away from a championship," Epstein said. "In fact we could very well win one next year and that's the goal."

 

 

 

Asked if he could identify one thing that went wrong, Epstein said, "It's always hard to identify one single factor. It definitely is multi-factorial. We felt like we had a really good team, a legitimate chance to be one of the best teams in the league. We thought we had a balanced club, one of the top two or three in the league scorings runs and one of the top two or three in pitching and defense. That's the balance that we strive for. Some things went right and some things went wrong.

 

 

 

"The way things went offensively kind of went according to plan," Epstein continued. "Given that, you can really isolate a lot of the issues to our pitching and defense where we underperformed pretty dramatically. ... Our starting pitching was a bit of a mixed bag. [Jon] Lester and [Clay] Buchholz both had dominating years. The rest of the rotation didn't really live up to expectations and then the bullpen turned out to be our major weakness."

 

 

 

On why the Sox didn't make a move for a reliever at the trade deadline: "Not for lack of effort," Epstein said. "Coming into the year we knew we needed a third guy emerge to go with [Jonathan Papelbon] and [Daniel] Bard. ... Trust me we looked all year."

 

 

 

On expectations for [John] Lackey and [Josh] Beckett: "To be top of the rotation type guys and pitch up to previous levels. Those are still my expectations for those guys going forward," Epstein said. "Josh, the injury really cost him. He clearly wasn't himself all year. With John Lackey, it was a mixed bag. He did some good things. He's leading our club in innings pitched and tied for the club lead in quality starts. That said, there was definitely an adjustment period for him."

 

 

 

On the handling of the Jacoby Ellsbury injury: "Initially when he had that first injury, looking back on it and maybe it's something we learned a little bit about it, we probably could have taken the CT-scan sooner. We've already made an adjustment in our policy going forward. It wouldn't have gotten him back any quicker but it would have helped manage the perception of the injury. Jacoby took some unwarranted heat from a lot of differnet sources because it wasn't clear from the get go that the ribs were fractured. All in all it became a lost season for Jacoby. Importantly, I don't think there's any residue of this going forward."

 

 

 

Epstein declined to offer specifics on how the team would go about the process of re-signing free agents David Ortiz, Victor Martinez, Adrian Beltre and Jason Varitek, but did say, "I have a strong interest in retaining those players."

 

 

 

On J.D. Drew: "I think it was just an off-year for him," Epstein said. "Certainly the year he had didn't live up to expectations and didn't approach the quality of his previous two seasons."

 

 

 

On Jonathan Papelbon: "Two things you can certainly say about Pap: He didn't perform this year at the level that he performed early in his career, especially in those peak years when he was far and away the best reliever in baseball," Epstein said. "I think you can also say he's still good and he still helps us win. It was a tough year for him at times." Epstein went on to say that the team still considers him a very good closer.

 

 

 

On the future of the team: "This offseason presents us with a lot of challenges but at the same time, it also presents us with a lot of opportunities," Epstein said. "You have to be reasonable about everything. In a year that ends like this sometimes there's a tendency to look at all the issues and all the problems and think that you're nowhere close to a championship team. We have to completely fix the bullpen. We do have a lot of important position players that are eligible for free agency. We have to either keep those guys or replace them or some combination thereof. You can't let the way things played out this year could your judgments about what you have."

 

 

 

For a more highlights from this interview visit Full Count. To hear the whole interview, go to the Dale & Holley audio on demand page. For more Red Sox news, check out the team page at weei.com/redsox

As long as Theo agrees with me, I'm happy.:thumbsup: He made no excuses. I've always found that to be admirable.

[Spudboy]

As long as Theo agrees with me' date=' I'm happy.:thumbsup: He made no excuses. I've always found that to be admirable.[/quote']

 

I heard some of the interview and Theo went into greater detail about the failings of the pen and how of the five relievers that were moved during the year, two had been Sox and Fuentes , Downs, and Woods were guys they were really interested in. They made "an aggressive" offer for Woods but got beat out by the Yankees.

 

He also said that they were aware that they were shorthanded (my word) in the pen coming into the season.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

He could've just said 'injuries' and been right, but then everyone would flame him for making excuses.

[mvp 78]

The Yankees gave up 500k for Wood, right? Anything less would not be an aggressive offer.

[Northern Star]

I think I must have missed it when Papelbon was "far and away" the best reliever in baseball and not that guy who closes games for the Yankees.

[Dipre]

I think I must have missed it when Papelbon was "far and away" the best reliever in baseball and not that guy who closes games for the Yankees.

 

Jonathan Papelbon 2006 season: 0.92 ERA, 0.77 WHIP, 9.9 K/9, 5.77 K/BB, 517 ERA+

 

Mariano Rivera 2006 season: 1.80 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 6.6 K/9, 5.0 K/BB, 252 ERA+

 

Seems to me like Papelbon was the best reliever that year. And 2007 was a no-brainer, being one of Mariano's weakest statistical seasons (if there is such a thing) and perhaps Papelbon's best regardless of ERA (1.85). You did miss the years when Papelbon was "far and away" the best reliever in baseball. Pay attention.

[example1]

Jonathan Papelbon 2006 season: 0.92 ERA, 0.77 WHIP, 9.9 K/9, 5.77 K/BB, 517 ERA+

 

Mariano Rivera 2006 season: 1.80 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 6.6 K/9, 5.0 K/BB, 252 ERA+

 

Seems to me like Papelbon was the best reliever that year. And 2007 was a no-brainer, being one of Mariano's weakest statistical seasons (if there is such a thing) and perhaps Papelbon's best regardless of ERA (1.85). You did miss the years when Papelbon was "far and away" the best reliever in baseball. Pay attention.

 

Thanks. For a second there I thought Theo was just making s*** up with nothing to back up his assertions. Then I remembered that he doesn't really do that.

 

Record. Set. Straight.

[Northern Star]

It takes a big man to admit when he's wrong. I am not a big man.

 

[soxfan74]

No real surprises in that interview. Think he is wrong about Lackey and Beckett for that matter. Made a good point about Papelbon. Let's hope he fixes the Bullpen somehow, and see what happens with the free agents.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

Pretty sure I was saying from the outset how dumb it was to give Beckett a shitton of money with Lackey already on board.

[Virgil Stallcup]

No real surprises in that interview. Think he is wrong about Lackey and Beckett for that matter. Made a good point about Papelbon. Let's hope he fixes the Bullpen somehow' date=' and see what happens with the free agents.[/quote']

 

Soriano will be out there--if it all ends up in a conclusion that a new closer is necessary.

[jacksonianmarch]

Theo subscribes to the Billy Beane theory on closers. I highly doubt the sox go out and pay through the nose on a long term deal for a closer when they have the heir apparent on cheap coin there already.

[Virgil Stallcup]

Theo subscribes to the Billy Beane theory on closers. I highly doubt the sox go out and pay through the nose on a long term deal for a closer when they have the heir apparent on cheap coin there already.

 

Good point. And with Boras as his agent, paying through the nose, the nasal passages, and the sinuses all the way up to the cerebellum is a distinct possibility.

[a700hitter]

In the end, not only did the focus on run prevention not work, but the Sox were one of the worst defensive teams in the league. From today's Boston Globe:

 

Remember how the Red Sox were going to focus on run prevention last year? That did not work out so well. Injuries to some key players - including left and center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury [stats], center fielder Mike Cameron, second baseman Dustin Pedroia [stats], catcher Victor Martinez and first baseman Kevin Youkilis [stats] - contributed to what computes as the second-worst American League ranking in the category of “team defensive runs saved,” as calculated by the experts of Red Sox consultant Bill James’ Web site, billjamesonline.net. The Red Sox were at minus-56, trailed only by the Royals at minus-88. The A’s led the league with a plus-74, the Twins next at plus-54, then the Guardians at plus-49. The Rays ranked fifth at plus-42, with the Yankees and Rangers tied for eighth with zero runs saved.

[BSN07]

In the end' date=' not only did the focus on run prevention not work, but the Sox were one of the worst defensive teams in the league. From today's Boston Globe:[/quote']

 

There defense took a hit because it was filled by replacement level talent and not the solid defenders they thought they would be fielding all season.

 

Do you blame the FO for the teams 21st ranked team ERA or the fact 3/5 of the starters missed significant time and were replaced by lesser talents?

[a700hitter]

There defense took a hit because it was filled by replacement level talent and not the solid defenders they thought they would be fielding all season.

 

Do you blame the FO for the teams 21st ranked team ERA or the fact 3/5 of the starters missed significant time and were replaced by lesser talents?

Who is assigning blame? I posted a quote from today's paper that included some interesting statistics. I erroneously attributed the article to the Globe. The quote was from the Herald.

 

One of the worst fielding positions on the Sox was pitcher. That has nothing to do with injuries, but rather a lack of fundamentals.

 

I do believe in accountability, and since a big part of the teams lousy ERA was attributable to the bullpen, I do believe the FO is accountable for the terrible pitching.

[BSN07]

Who is assigning blame? I posted a quote from today's paper that included some interesting statistics. I erroneously attributed the article to the Globe. The quote was from the Herald.

 

One of the worst fielding positions on the Sox was pitcher. That has nothing to do with injuries, but rather a lack of fundamentals.

 

I do believe in accountability, and since a big part of the teams lousy ERA was attributable to the bullpen, I do believe the FO is accountable for the terrible pitching.

 

Oh k sorry, when I read it I took it as that was your opinion as well.

[Palodios]

Who is assigning blame? I posted a quote from today's paper that included some interesting statistics. I erroneously attributed the article to the Globe. The quote was from the Herald.

 

One of the worst fielding positions on the Sox was pitcher. That has nothing to do with injuries, but rather a lack of fundamentals.

 

You know, I have no clue who teaches defense to pitchers in this organization, but I'm going to immediately put this under my usual "John Farrell Hate" column. If he wasn't blessed with millions upon millions of payroll dollars for pitching, he'd be a bat boy for the Spinners right now.

[jacksonianmarch]

PFP is the job of the pitching coach and the infield coach.

[BSN07]

PFP is the job of the pitching coach and the infield coach.

 

With Young coming in it will probably be something they focus on.

[SoxSport]

Epstein needs to understand why so many injuries in '10. He built a team that might have won 100 games with normal injuries. I suspect the change in bench coaches and ST conditioning may have been factors. Doesn't the bench coach oversee the ST program?

[SoxSport]

As I see it, the main problem in 2010 was injuries--an inordinate number of injuries. Even with injuries to Ellsbury and Cameron, and off-years by Beckett and maybe Lackey, the Red Sox were in playoff contention until the late season injuries to Pedroia and Youks--especially Pedroia, perhaps the lifeline of the team.

 

If I were Epstein, I'd be thinking--let's bring back last year's team--healthy. We'll probably win 100 games. That means re-signing VMart and Beltre. They had something good going--why change it.