Theo Is Gone - Boston Herald

[alphilip77]

I agree. Theo is the equivalent of a holographic Charizard.

 

 

What I meant was, Garza is the Charizard while Brett Jackson is a Blastoise. Epstein is an Alakazam, which is WAY more rarer!

[Muggah]

Zenjak, you're here too....OK!!!! Pumpsie brought a lot of us over here though I was here four years ago for a time. Ortiz right? His attitude is starting to really bother me. Between his constant complaining about the strike zone to his fifth columnist quote about playing for the Yankees, well, I think maybe it might be a good idea for him to see how green it is in someone else's back yard. We need to move on, tell Wakefield and Varitek to hit the road and it might be the same f or David. Yes, his contributions to the team will easily put him in the Red Sox Hall of Fame but I get the impression that the marriage between him and the team has hit the rocks.

 

As for the name of the thread, how long before we are officially rid of Epstein once and for all. Needless to say I don't want him back.

 

 

 

Hate to say it but it sounds like it might not happen at all.

[SoxSport]

Still no resolution out there.

 

I guess Ricketts thinks all that mud the Boston media is piling on the Red Sox will help his chances

to get Epstein scott free. But I doubt it--not with Lucchino bargaining.

 

Ricketts apparently is digging his hole deeper, raiding the Padres for their GM, as well. Though the story comes from Heyman, a New Yorker who isn't very reliable.

 

Maybe Selig needs to give new owner Ricketts a few lessons on baseball protocol among owners.

I doubt he is making a good first impression.

 

I think the Red Sox should leave Epstein hanging, and move on with Cherington, get a manager and a new coaching staff.

[a700hitter]

Still no resolution out there.

 

I guess Ricketts thinks all that mud the Boston media is piling on the Red Sox will help his chances

to get Epstein scott free. But I doubt it--not with Lucchino bargaining.

 

Ricketts apparently is digging his hole deeper, raiding the Padres for their GM, as well. Though the story comes from Heyman, a New Yorker who isn't very reliable.

 

Maybe Selig needs to give new owner Ricketts a few lessons on baseball protocol among owners.

I doubt he is making a good first impression.

 

I think the Red Sox should leave Epstein hanging, and move on with Cherington, get a manager and a new coaching staff.

Will we see the Gorilla suit again?

[FredLynn]

Still no resolution out there.

 

I guess Ricketts thinks all that mud the Boston media is piling on the Red Sox will help his chances

to get Epstein scott free. But I doubt it--not with Lucchino bargaining.

 

Ricketts apparently is digging his hole deeper, raiding the Padres for their GM, as well. Though the story comes from Heyman, a New Yorker who isn't very reliable.

 

Maybe Selig needs to give new owner Ricketts a few lessons on baseball protocol among owners.

I doubt he is making a good first impression.

 

I think the Red Sox should leave Epstein hanging, and move on with Cherington, get a manager and a new coaching staff.

 

If nothing has been resolved by the end of the WS, I agree with you. I do not prefer Cherington, but the main thing is that we cannot have a lame duck GM now. Theo has one year left on his contract. He won't be an effective GM for us this year if he stays.

I am wondering why the Cubs don't hire an interim GM for this year and just wait us out for a year until a ton of money comes off their books and Epstein can be had for free.

[seabeachfred]

My fear is that Lucchino might become clever by half and blow it all because of his hard ass stance. Ricketts could just say the hell with it, take Epstein back and hire someone else permanently or appoint someone in the interum. That means we would be stuck with this bum for another year. Enough!!!! Nobody I know of wants him back, he has burned his bridges with the fans, the press and the players by running out on them after running the team into the ground with his miserable handling of the roster the past few years. Under normal circumstances I wouldn't be worried but these are not normal circumstances. We have an owner who has been exposed as little more than a walking moron who actually offered the guy a three year extention. That only means to me that Henry hasn't a damn clue of the damage that has been done, nor, for the matter, the work that is ahead of the Red Sox to get them back up to speed----and you can't do that with Epstein around. Just get rid of him.

[FredLynn]

My fear is that Lucchino might become clever by half and blow it all because of his hard ass stance. Ricketts could just say the hell with it' date=' take Epstein back and hire someone else permanently or appoint someone in the interum. That means we would be stuck with this bum for another year. Enough!!!! Nobody I know of wants him back, he has burned his bridges with the fans, the press and the players by running out on them after running the team into the ground with his miserable handling of the roster the past few years. Under normal circumstances I wouldn't be worried but these are not normal circumstances. We have an owner who has been exposed as little more than a walking moron who actually offered the guy a three year extention. That only means to me that Henry hasn't a damn clue of the damage that has been done, nor, for the matter, the work that is ahead of the Red Sox to get them back up to speed----and you can't do that with Epstein around. Just get rid of him.[/quote']

 

From what I hear "the Red Sox have the Cubs over a barrel". Well, I don't believe that. In fact, I think that the reverse is true. The Cubs always have the option of choosing another GM for one or more years and surrendering no prospects at all. The Red Sox would then be left with a lame duck GM who no one wants here and who doesn't want to be here anyway. After the WS we will hear about the resolution of this..or at least YOU all will. I will be off in the Philippines diving from tomorrow evening until Nov 5. So you all get a break from my typewriter diarrhea for a couple of weeks. When I get back I expect Epstein to be gone in exchange for a couple of midlevel prospects.

[jacksonianmarch]

PG is spot on. The sox have no bargaining power at all. And they are proving it with their demands. Initially Garza, then Brett Jackson, then some power armed kid deep into the minors. The Cubs are effectively going to get it down to cash because the Sox truly cannot take him back. Hell, Theo is starting to put together his whole FO already in Chicago.

[iortiz]

I expect he to be gone with Lackey or someone of his busts.

 

As I said, why JH is saying a lot sweet things about Theo?

Read between lines!

[jung]

I actually think there is a chance it gets for a single prospect and not much of one for that. Cubs have been holding out for cash. Sox have been asking for more than they should expect but given all the time they have into it I don't see them settling for what the Cubs have been offering from day one. The Sox emblem is so tarnished by now I just don't think they want to tarnish it even more. So I expect the Sox to get some meaningless prospect just to avoid taking what the Cubs have been offering from day one. I see the Cubs going that way because they are going to force some prospect down their throat that is not even worth the cash they have been offering.

[iortiz]

I have a question for all those Theo fans...

 

At this point and after all this speculation and mess around this team and after all the things that the FO, players and media have said in the last couple of weeks,

 

Do you consider sane and prudent that Theo finishes his one year contract left in Boston?

[jung]

I would never consider it prudent for a franchise to keep a GM functioning in that position for the last year of his contract unless all parties already know the next step is for him to be kicked upstairs.

 

A franchise might be able to let a Manager go part of a season before re-upping him but a GM's function has him for the most part dealing with issues that stretch out beyond the current year. How do you let him do that when his contract does not cover that period? A practical example here would have been letting Theo pick a new manager when his own contract with the Sox would only cover the first year of that new Manager's experience here. The issues there are less about whether Theo's heart would be in it or not but how does the new Manager feel about the guy picking him for that job basically doing it with one foot out the door himself?

[TeddyBallGame9]

Boston has a ton of issues to be addressed. The longer they wait to have a NEW GM in place, the worse it will get.

[SoxSport]

I hear the deal is done for Epstein to the Cubs--announcement tommorrow.

This is from Chicago radio twitter.

 

https://twitter.com/#!/thekapman

[Cocos Disciples]

There is no way Theo is coming back, guys.

[Palodios]

Boston has a ton of issues to be addressed. The longer they wait to have a NEW GM in place' date=' the worse it will get.[/quote']

 

BC is going to be acting GM until Theo leaves, and will be full GM when he does.

[jung]

Among the morning Sox stories:

- Theo deal with Cubs may be announced tomorrow. I guess taking today off the table. Wish this would get done because our new guy does not seem to be anything more than the interim GM in name only. Nothing seems to be happening as yet on the "need a Manager" front. Seems like we have to get Theo out of here for things to start happening on any front.

- Buckholtz to get some air time today on EEI. I really still do not know why these guys feel so compelled to get on the air at a time when nothing gets better by putting more people in front of the mic. Maybe it will be fine.

- The beer in the dugout thing still won't go away with more apparently expected either today or tomorrow. The HDH story is I guess corroborated as there are two sources telling the same story. That said as each day goes by and nobody else comes up with more input (given the entire town is working on this story) then maybe it will go away. I still cringe at the thought that there is a photo or photos out there that will corroborate the story.

- I really hope the Lackey to SD story gets legs as that would really be the best thing for him and for us..

[example1]

If you haven't noticed there haven't been a lot of managers hired yet this offseason. The Sox aren't just sitting like deer in headlights unsure what to do about managers and players. The World Series is still happening and the offseason has barely started yet. No need to panic.

 

Also, Cherington is regarded as one of the best GM candidates in the game. He has lots of experience in ml front office work and has been part of a successful organization for years. Don't let the grass is greener mentality take over here... Things aren't falling out of the sky.

[jung]

I have seen a few reports of other teams starting the process of bringing guys in for initial discussions/interviews. We have not seen any of that here yet. However I don't think is as much about being a " deer in the headlights" as much as wanting to get Theo and the guy or guys that are going to follow him out of town out of here as it is just not a good environment to have somebody you might like to have in your organization around right now. In effect it sort of prevents the process from moving forward but if that is the case I can't say that I would blame them. I would like to have the guys that are going to leave outta' here before even inviting guys for discussions/interviews as well.

 

I think there was even a piece in the Globe or Herald that said Theo was still coming into the office so I would guess anybody that is considering leaving town with him is doing the same.

[Palodios]

I think there was even a piece in the Globe or Herald that said Theo was still coming into the office so I would guess anybody that is considering leaving town with him is doing the same.

 

I would believe that Theo is being professional about the situation, and has let the organization know who will be coming with him. There would be little to no benefit for him to hide that information.

[iortiz]

I would never consider it prudent for a franchise to keep a GM functioning in that position for the last year of his contract unless all parties already know the next step is for him to be kicked upstairs.

 

A franchise might be able to let a Manager go part of a season before re-upping him but a GM's function has him for the most part dealing with issues that stretch out beyond the current year. How do you let him do that when his contract does not cover that period? A practical example here would have been letting Theo pick a new manager when his own contract with the Sox would only cover the first year of that new Manager's experience here. The issues there are less about whether Theo's heart would be in it or not but how does the new Manager feel about the guy picking him for that job basically doing it with one foot out the door himself?

 

Bingo!

 

It is not prudent and mostly it is not sane at all IMO after all this mess.

 

As Coco said, there's no way that Theo is coming back but I just wanted to put my question in perspective.

[FredLynn]

...the expected agreement will include Cubs minor leaguers, although not top prospects Brett Jackson, Trey McNutt and Matt Szczur, the source said. Cash will not be part of the compensation

 

Like I said, we will be getting a few midlevel prospects for Epstein. The Cubs had all the leverage. Now I hope we can move on and get ourselves a manager with a whip.

[doctorron]

Momar and Nomar are both gone. Please get rid of Lackey ...

[iMagic10]

We need to be tougher on what we're getting in return for Epstein. I feel like our organization just doesn't care... "Okay, we want Garza...." "No. You guys get puny midlevel prospects" "Okay... Fine."

 

I mean, C'mon!

[FredLynn]

We need to be tougher on what we're getting in return for Epstein. I feel like our organization just doesn't care... "Okay, we want Garza...." "No. You guys get puny midlevel prospects" "Okay... Fine."

 

I mean, C'mon!

 

We have no leverage; they have it all. If we stick to our high demands they will hire an interim GM for a year, and then, when Epstein's contract is up and a lot of money is off their books, they get him for free. Furthermore, if they don't get him this year, we do. We get a lame duck GM who doesn't want to be here.

Thats why we are taking whatever they are offering.

[seabeachfred]

I never thought we would get much from the Cubs because I agree that they hold all the leverage. My fear was that they would just say chuck it and tell us to keep Epstein which to me would be debacle of the first order. I just want the guy gone so we can move on and start clearing the debris that he and his flunkie manager saddled us with. We have a lot of work to do to rid ourselves of the excess trash and the sooner we get to this task the better it will be for all of us.

[FredLynn]

I never thought we would get much from the Cubs because I agree that they hold all the leverage. My fear was that they would just say chuck it and tell us to keep Epstein which to me would be debacle of the first order. I just want the guy gone so we can move on and start clearing the debris that he and his flunkie manager saddled us with. We have a lot of work to do to rid ourselves of the excess trash and the sooner we get to this task the better it will be for all of us.

 

Hard to disagree with Elktonnic's theory that in a few years we should expect more compensation from the Cubs in an effort on their part to try to get us to take him back.

[italstallianion]

I agree. Theo is the equivalent of a holographic Charizard.

 

 

 

http://i595.photobucket.com/albums/tt38/italstallianion/damn.gif

[a700hitter]

Hard to disagree with Elktonnic's theory that in a few years we should expect more compensation from the Cubs in an effort on their part to try to get us to take him back.

LOL @ this whole thing with the Cubs. We're acting like we are moving a star player. He's a lame duck front office geek. He can't possibly return to the Sox at this point. We don't want him and everyone knows it except for E1. The Cubs would have to be dumber than dumb to give us anything of value for him. This is a guy whose last 3 years have been very bad. He's managed to take the perennial second place team that he inherited from Duquette and turn it into a team that finishes 3rd half of the time. LoL! The whole situation is absurd.

[SoxSport]

I can't make any sense out the variety of media reports. Some of them conflicting.

 

It sounds like Epstein is working in his Red Sox office, filling his future Cubs' staff by hiring away GMs of other teams. How does he get away with stuff like this? Well, that's baseball. It's the Selig Country Club, exempt from anti-trust rules.