Ben Cherington

[User Name]

I'm going to admit my ignorance because i haven't been overly exposed to the Boston media, but why is this such a big deal?

 

Sounds like a non-committal type of answer, which imo is the right choice given the current set of circumstances.

 

Can someone enlighten me?

[example1]

I'm going to admit my ignorance because i haven't been overly exposed to the Boston media, but why is this such a big deal?

 

Sounds like a non-committal type of answer, which imo is the right choice given the current set of circumstances.

 

Can someone enlighten me?

 

You're not wrong. Some people here are on a crusade for accountability and straight shooters because the majority of people involved with the collapse have been side-stepping and hiding from the issues.

 

Of course, their side-stepping and hiding doesn't actually impact the problem, which is the collapse itself, which is now over and will not repeat itself.

 

What matters most is how the FO (open/honest or side-stepping) decides to improve the team moving forward. That's issue #1.

 

While we wait, however, some will continue to analyze the small issues as a proxy for improving the team.

[iortiz]

In english we would say that it was a weasel-worded answer. There is a time and a place for such answers. This topic did not call for such an answer. It made him look weak and indecisive. It's not the first impression that he should be giving. Hopefully' date=' they don't ask him something tough like whether they will have single or double ply paper in the bathrooms. He might have to kick that up to the puppet master LL. Lol![/quote']

 

BTW

 

This is exactly what I'm talking about.

[example1]

You're not wrong. Some people here are on a crusade for accountability and straight shooters because the majority of people involved with the collapse have been side-stepping and hiding from the issues.

 

Of course, their side-stepping and hiding doesn't actually impact the problem, which is the collapse itself, which is now over and will not repeat itself.

 

What matters most is how the FO (open/honest or side-stepping) decides to improve the team moving forward. That's issue #1.

 

While we wait, however, some will continue to analyze the small issues as a proxy for improving the team.

 

BTW

 

This is exactly what I'm talking about.

 

BTW, This is exactly what I'm talking about too.

[iortiz]

BTW' date=' This is exactly what [i']I'm[/i] talking about too.

 

well, somehow we are agree, aren't we?

[a700hitter]

BTW

 

This is exactly what I'm talking about.

He's not going to establish any respect if he has to convene a committee to answer very simple straightforward questions. Would the answer have been the same if the question had been whether cigarette smoking would be permitted in the clubhouse? I doubt it. The question about drinking isn't any more complex than a question about cigarettes. The answer should have been that drinking during a game is inappropriate and will not be tolerated. Period. Instead, he weasel worded his answer and he looks like a weak spineless weasel. People here are so used to being apologists for the FO that they can't see things with any perspective.

[iortiz]

He's not going to establish any respect if he has to convene a committee to answer very simple straightforward questions. Would the answer have been the same if the question had been whether cigarette smoking would be permitted in the clubhouse? I doubt it. The question about drinking isn't any more complex than a question about cigarettes. The answer should have been that drinking during a game is inappropriate and will not be tolerated. Period. Instead' date=' he weasel worded his answer and he looks like a weak spineless weasel. People here are so used to being apologists for the FO that they can't see things with any perspective.[/quote']

 

That is my point. If he had answered that, he would've looked like suitable IMO.

 

I'm not sure why this is so hard to see.

[a700hitter]

The Angels are after the Rays' GM. We should be getting this guy.

 

Friedman meets with Angels' brass

 

KEN ROSENTHAL AND JON PAUL MOROSI

Updated Oct 20, 2011 9:14 PM ET

 

Andrew Friedman of the Tampa Bay Rays has emerged as the top general manager choice of the Los Angeles Angels, but that doesn't mean he'll be the latest American League East GM to make a high-profile job change. Baseball sources are skeptical of the Angels' chances to land Friedman

 

"He's not going," one source said, flatly.

 

Friedman, who has built a team that has reached the playoffs three of the past four years, met this week with Angels owner Arte Moreno and team president John Carpino. sources said. That meeting was first reported by DRaysBay.com.

 

Despite the limited resources available with Tampa Bay, a move by Friedman would qualify as a surprise. He has a strong working relationship with Rays owner Stuart Sternberg. Friedman, however, is not under contract. All Rays executives work without contracts.

 

The Angels have been in search of a GM since Tony Reagins resigned at season's end.

 

They reportedly also have met with Yankees scouting director Damon Oppenheimer and will interview Dodgers assistant GM Kim Ng. Jerry DiPoto, who served as interim GM in Arizona last year and now oversees the Diamondbacks' scouting and player development, is among those under consideration.

 

It would be a coup for the Angels if they lured Friedman from the Rays. He is a proven winner with a limited payroll, and the Rays' farm system has been bountiful. The Angels, despite their market size, generally have preferred to develop players rather than splurge on the free-agent market. And Friedman has worked well with manager Joe Maddon, a plum from the Mike Scioscia coaching tree.

 

Two of the Rays' AL East rivals, Boston and Baltimore, will have new GMs. The Red Sox, toppled by the Rays in the wild-card race, are on the verge of losing Theo Epstein to the Cubs and promoting Ben Cherington to replace him. The Orioles' president of baseball operations, Andy MacPhail, departed the team earlier this month.

[iortiz]

The Angels are after the Rays' GM. We should be getting this guy.

 

I told you hahahahaha.

 

IMO He should be our GM.

[ORS]

That is my point. If he had answered that, he would've looked like suitable IMO.

 

I'm not sure why this is so hard to see.

Well, it's kind of hard to judge his answer when you did not post a link to the interview nor the question. Based on his answer, I assumed the question was if alcohol would be allowed in the clubhouse "at all" (the use of the word "ban" sounds comprehensive, ie not allowed in the clubhouse - which covers both the during and after game time period), not if consumption would be allowed during the game. Why don't you share what the actual question was?

[a700hitter]

Here's a to do list for Ben:My sugesstions in [ ]

• Negotiate with Theo Epstein on compensation for Theo Epstein.

[Garza or 2 top prospects]

 

• Hire a new manager and coaching staff.

[bobby Valentine][Get rid of Bogar, Keep Magadan]

 

• Decide whether to pick up the team options held on shortstop Marco Scutaro and righthanded reliever Dan Wheeler. Those decisions come due after the World Series.

[Exercise Scutaro's option]

 

• Find someplace — San Diego, San Francisco, the moon — to send John Lackey.

[Get the Cubs to pick up part of Lackey's salary as compensation for Hoyer and the Red Sox will pick up the rest]

 

• Determine to what degree the team will fight to retain in-house free agents Jonathan Papelbon, David Ortiz, J.D. Drew, Erik Bedard, Tim Wakefield and Jason Varitek.

[Resign Papelbon and Ortiz]

 

• Determine to what extent the medical and conditioning staff needs to be overhauled given the injuries and issues of the last two seasons.

[Hire a whole new crew. The Yanks did it that one year when they had all those hamstring problems]

 

• Decide whether to tender contracts to arbitration-eligible players Alfredo Aceves, Matt Albers, Mike Aviles, Daniel Bard, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jed Lowrie, Rich Hill, Andrew Miller, Franklin Morales and Jarrod Saltalamacchia before the Dec. 12 deadline.

[Tender Aceves, Albers, Bard, Ellsbury, Morales and Lowrie. Non-tender Aviles, Hill, Miller, and Salty]

 

• Mend some fences with Carl Crawford, who was shuffled around the lineup all season by Terry Francona then heard that John Henry never wanted him in the first place.

 

• Make whatever hires are needed in the baseball operations and player development staffs.

[SoxSport]

It might be tough to send Lackey to the moon, but I'm all for it.:thumbsup:

[jung]

Latest news....Moon options Lackey to their AAA team on Venus. Lackey is insulted and storms off to Mars in a huff.

[SoxSport]

A couple of things picked up this morning:

 

-Epstein's thank you to the Boston fans--full page ad in the Globe. (not the Herald, too?)

Maybe Theo will find a way to make Lackey disappear, after all.

 

-Varitek, interviewed in the Herald, says the Sox need a "strong manager". Tito was too lax.

That could be a signal to Cherington for somebody like Valentine--Henry's rumored favorite.

After all, sabermetrics is not as important to the manager as it is to the front office, responsible

for getting the players. Sometimes the whole concept of "avoiding outs" on the field clashes with

the concept of "creating runs."

[3rdManOut]

Latest news....Moon options Lackey to their AAA team on Venus. Lackey is insulted and storms off to Mars in a huff.

 

Lol!!! Classic.

[jung]

Not to oversimplify the Cherington comment on beer in the clubhouse but to simply take the discussion in a different direction....Cherington may simply be telling us that it is the Manager's rice bowl with regard to the decision to have beer in the clubhouse at least in the Red Sox organization.

 

Now I will be the first to say that there are times when I am amused at who gets to do what in that theme park called Fenway World (LL gets the black hat and Yul Brynner role).

 

However that would also be a way to take another shot at Tito who more than being thrown under the bus has been kicked out and down the street like a tin can. "Here, your turn to kick it". Surely it was time for Tito to go but it is getting to the point where I can't remember when a Boston Manager was allowed to leave more than one step ahead of the electric chair.

[User Name]

The over-reaction over Cherington's comment is getting a little ridiculous.

[SCM33]

non tender Salty?

 

I like it.

[SoxSport]

The Globe is keeping the beer story hot--make that "drinking". Maybe they'll be a congressional investigation.

They have to run with something--they have nothing else. No compensation for Theo, no GM, no manager, no coaches, no nothing. Wake up, Henry.

[seabeachfred]

Is it possible that Henry is paralyzed by indecision right now? It seems that way to me. I heard that on Tuesday Cherington will be officially named GM; maybe then things will start moving. He either will name a manager as the World Series ends or this soap opera plays itself deep into November. I think the board of execs are arguing over what kind of manager they want to hire, but here's a tip for them. Make whoever you choose the complete antithesis of Francona. Personally I think we need a guy like Bobby Valentine but my collegues on two other boards don't like the guy and I find few who agree with me on that. However, in my opinion that is exactly the type we need. Just jog your memory back to ST, the first 12 games and that dismal September to see how a milk and cookies manager can help bring ruin to a team.

[SoxSport]

Nice job by Cherington at the press conference.

He's a smart guy, Amherst grad, New Hampshire native--from the Dartmouth College area.

Certainly has the experience to do the job.

I would expect upper management to have tighter purse-string control.

 

The big announcement was Tommy John surgery for Lackey--why did they wait so long?

 

The other major things: they will try to re-sign Pap and Papi--it looks like the price has to be right.

 

A good question not asked: will Theo be willing to give up the compensation the Red Sox asked for when he was still the GM? He surely doesn't want to undervalue himself. The compensation won't be Lackey,

but will probably be a high prospect pitcher like McNutt, and maybe a low level prospect.

[mvp 78]

The Globe is keeping the beer story hot--make that "drinking". Maybe they'll be a congressional investigation.

They have to run with something--they have nothing else. No compensation for Theo, no GM, no manager, no coaches, no nothing. Wake up, Henry.

 

In a convoluted way, it's to divert blame away from management, just like Henry's dumb trip to 98.5. That red herring will be gone soon enough.

[3rdManOut]

Nice job by Cherington at the press conference.

He's a smart guy, Amherst grad, New Hampshire native--from the Dartmouth College area.

Certainly has the experience to do the job.

I would expect upper management to have tighter purse-string control.

 

The big announcement was Tommy John surgery for Lackey--why did they wait so long?

 

The other major things: they will try to re-sign Pap and Papi--it looks like the price has to be right.

 

A good question not asked: will Theo be willing to give up the compensation the Red Sox asked for when he was still the GM? He surely doesn't want to undervalue himself. The compensation won't be Lackey,

but will probably be a high prospect pitcher like McNutt, and maybe a low level prospect.

 

 

I agree. Not too sure I was reading between the lines, but from what I got out of the press conference was that alot of things may actually stay the same. Maybe a few changes but I didnt get anything too huge about it. I have to admit, Cherington "looks" really really young. Looks younger then Theo.

[mvp 78]

Theo is older, but by less than a year. This GM job would age anyone.

[Trillz808]

Ben Cherington is a real classy guy held a great press conference and is really lucky to inherit the team in the shape that he did... not much real changes need to be made but im glad he said they will address what they will because some of it is a must

[DwightFright]

"There are players on this team now that we signed as free agents that we still feel strongly about, and that I was a proponent of signing." - Cherington

 

Not much is gonna change around here.

[WhiskeyBreath]

Theo Version 2.0

 

http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lm2wl1zpF41qjf0hjo1_400.gif

[jung]

Some interesting insights came out regarding Theo in Chicago. The opinion was offered that they really wanted Theo because he was around here for the refurbishing of Fenway and the Sox branding and marketing initiatives. We don't hear much about Theo having a good deal to do with that but he has been here for all of it and it does make sense that some of it has rubbed off.

 

I know we wonder here how much faith the Cubs could have in Theo given the FA mess we have here but I guess it makes sense that they want him for much more than player personnel related issues. Maybe that also means we won't see the Cubs suddenly looking like the Sox as far FA signings go.

[seabeachfred]

I mentioned earlier that Cherington was one of the two men who engineered the Beckett-Lowell trade when Boy Blunder went gorilla on us. That was the key of our winning the 2007 World Series. I say give the guy a chance and see what he does this winter, but just for the record here are some suggestions.

 

1. Resign Papelbon and keep Bard in the bullpen along with Aceves. A strong bullpen is a must. Remember we last had the most effective bullpen in 2007 and we all know how that worked out.

 

2. Sign Harden and Bedard--one could be No. 5 starter and another long man in the bullpen with Aceves.

3. Either trade or sign as a FA a real quality starter who could be a No. 4 or a No. 3 man in the rotation.

4. Try to sign a couple of bullpen men and hope that this time we don't draw blanks. Keep Wheeler, though.

5. Get a RH hitting rightfielder unless we don't sign Ortiz, then we can put Kalish out there and give a good long look to Ryan Lavarnway who I think has the makings of a very solid RH power hitting who could catch, DH and play some outfield (which is what he was).

[SoxSport]

I know we wonder here how much faith the Cubs could have in Theo given the FA mess we have here but I guess it makes sense that they want him for much more than player personnel related issues. Maybe that also means we won't see the Cubs suddenly looking like the Sox as far FA signings go.

 

They wanted him for developing the farm system and the draft. That's what he was best at in Boston. Plus he's a "name."