a700hitter

Under normal circumstances in a business outside of baseball, Theo would remain under contract with the Red Sox for 2012 and the Cubbies would have to have Hoyer or someone else run the team during 2012. They couldn't contact Theo, because that would constitute tampering. That would be an ugly situation for all so Selig would no doubt exercise his czar-like powers and step in for the "good of the game." The Cubs know this, so the Sox have no leverage. The Sox are going to end up taking whatever Selig decides they should get. For people as old as me, they might remember that Dick Williams quit on the A's after the 1973 World Series and signed to work for the Yankees in 1974. Williams was still under contract with the A's for at least 1974. Charlie Finley would not release Williams from his contract, so the Yankees had to hire a new manager, and Williams was without a job for 1974, because he refused to work for Charlie Finley. Finley gave Williams permission to manage the Angels in mid-1974. They were a terrible team.

I expected that the responses to this poll would be predominantly "yes", but i am a bit surprised that it is unanimous. There is 1 "no" but that was SCM being wishful. He also thinks it will be Bobby V. I thought some people might have suspected that the FO was employing the misdirection tactic that they have used in the past. I guess the Sveum thing was embarrassing and this Bobby V thing is too far down the road. It's one thing to leak a story, but this is a formal interview and the owners have already interviewed him. I don't think they would jerk Bobby V around. It seems that the interview with Ben is a formality and it is a done deal. I suspect the announcement could be in the next day or two.

... and teach the pitchers to cover first base on balls hit to the right side of the IF and make Salty grow a pair so he has something to use to block pitches in the dirt.

Every team goes into the off season with a strategy. The high value targets identified by the Sox will no doubt also be on the lists of other teams. If they wait, those targets will get signed forcing the team to move to plan B and so forth. As they wait, the options start to dwindle. They need to be out in front of this process. Waiting and watching guys come off the boards or get traded to other teams is not measured and considerate. They have had 7 weeks to measure and consider. Now, they have to execute. This manager search is not a good sign, unless they are looking to sign Pujols and they want to entice him bringing LaRussa in as manager. That is way off the charts as a probability.

Bobby V will probably greet Cher Bear with a slap across the face and tell him who is the boss. LOL!

I wonder if BSN07 knew him. Isn't he also from the Netherlands? I think he plays in a wooden shoe league there.

But you think it is going to happen?

For purposes of this poll, I am asking whether you think Valentine will be named manager, not whether you want him to be manager.

I think it is looking like the Cherrington interview may be a mere formality.

A nice pickup by Philadelphia.

I think changing the manager and GM and lots of other FO functions is a significant change of direction. You may not like to call them "bold" moves and maybe that is the wrong term, but they certainly took decisive action. People can argue that the writing was on the wall for these moves, but I don't think any of those moves are made if the 2011 team went to the ALCS, the WS or won a World Championship.

People have been on both sides of individual issues, but no one is countering the perception of chaos, dysfunction and confusion on an overall basis. The coverage of the FO in the past had extolled their efficiency and acumen despite negative views of individual transactions. That is not the way they are being covered today.

Success gets mimicked, but regardless, it seems that they will no longer have the opportunity to operate as they had in the past.

But they do care. That's why they have PR people that take great pains to craft this public perception. It's funny that we are saying the same thing with regard to the big picture. We both think they will be back in 2012. You have thought from the beginning that only minor tweaks are needed. I, on the other hand, have said that major changes would occur, and they have and I think we will continue to see some major changes. So, we basically agree on the major issue, but differ on the details of how it will be achieved. As usual, it escapes you when we are actually in agreement. Neither you nor I form the perception. The likes of Shaughnessy do form the public's perception. That's the way it works. And that perception has spread beyond Shaughnessy. No one is out there has been putting forward the other view. You are in la la land if you think so.

It's okay. Your anger at everything I post amuses me.

I think the secret is out that the organization is dysfunctional. The Boston Press, not surprisingly, is late in acknowledging this, because they don't want to jeopardize their access to the team and team sources. Shaughnessy's position is secure enough that he doesn't mind ruffling some feathers. BTW: Thanks for the unsolicited insult. It's becoming the norm for you.

I'd rather get some Ivy and a Chicago Dog. Let Theo keep his trash.

No, he doesn't