VA Sox Fan

Ok Papi.

Nice inning for Lester

Way to be Pedey!

:thumbsup: Amen to that dude.

RED SOX (31-33) Podsednik LF Pedroia 2B Ortiz 1B Saltalamacchia C Middlebrooks 3B Gonzalez RF Sweeney CF Aviles SS Pitching: LHP Jon Lester (3-4, 4.57)

Who is RSR?

On Theo Epstein's legacy June 16, 2012 10:00 AM By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff CHICAGO — Theo Epstein has been gone from Boston for eight months now. But it seems so much longer. The Sox have a new GM, a new manager and have already used nearly a dozen players that he had nothing to do with acquiring. Watching Epstein walk around Wrigley Field Friday afternoon left me wondering what people will remember about him in Boston 10, 20 or 50 years from now. It will be nothing like it is now. Epstein left the Sox with a year remaining on his deal following the historic September collapse of a team he assembled and the firing of a well-liked manager. That he bailed out two weeks after Terry Francona was let go amid reports of player insurrection looked terrible. Had the Red Sox, say, made the ALCS and Epstein announced he wanted a new challenge and was going to the Cubs, people would have applauded. We all have a right to choose our path in life, after all. Who among us hasn't changed jobs? But because he ducked out in a time of crisis, Epstein set himself up for criticism in his hometown. He was an easy target and everybody took swipes, myself included. You mean you're leaving the party and we have to clean up? Thanks a bunch. Even now, mentioning Epstein in a blog post or on Twitter generates negative comments. Everybody wants to bring up his showering money on John Lackey, not finding David Ortiz for $1.2 million or luring Curt Schilling to Boston. (Sorry, Rhode Island taxpayers. But you get the point.) In their heads, smart fans know and probably appreciate what Epstein did. But in their hearts, his departure still stings. None of that will matter in 2022, 2032 or 2062. Baseball historians will see Epstein as Boston's Branch Rickey, an executive ahead of his time who did what had to be done to turn a long-suffering franchise into a winner. He manipulated the draft to a point where MLB changed the rules. He turned the non-tender market from a salvage yard into a resource and helped further the advancement of statistical analysis. He didn't dump the Red Sox for a cushy gig with a ready-to-win team. He took on the woebegone Cubs, a team with a lousy roster and a farm system largely bereft of talent. If they win a Series, Epstein will be in the Hall of Fame. Epstein also is changing how baseball values executives. He has a deal for five years and $18.5 million. That's considered extravagant in the game right now but that will change over time if Epstein turns the Cubs into winner. Look at this way: $3.7 million a year can get a team a backup outfielder or an executive who will make dozens of decisions a week that influence the future of the organization. What's more valuable? Apple didn't pay the guy running the store at South Shore Plaza more than Steve Jobs. But most baseball teams hire decision-makers on the cheap. Anyway, Boston doesn't owe Epstein a statue. But the statute of limitations on complaints has expired. Wish him well in Chicago.

On Theo Epstein's legacy June 16, 2012 10:00 AM By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff CHICAGO — Theo Epstein has been gone from Boston for eight months now. But it seems so much longer. The Sox have a new GM, a new manager and have already used nearly a dozen players that he had nothing to do with acquiring. Watching Epstein walk around Wrigley Field Friday afternoon left me wondering what people will remember about him in Boston 10, 20 or 50 years from now. It will be nothing like it is now. Epstein left the Sox with a year remaining on his deal following the historic September collapse of a team he assembled and the firing of a well-liked manager. That he bailed out two weeks after Terry Francona was let go amid reports of player insurrection looked terrible. Had the Red Sox, say, made the ALCS and Epstein announced he wanted a new challenge and was going to the Cubs, people would have applauded. We all have a right to choose our path in life, after all. Who among us hasn't changed jobs? But because he ducked out in a time of crisis, Epstein set himself up for criticism in his hometown. He was an easy target and everybody took swipes, myself included. You mean you're leaving the party and we have to clean up? Thanks a bunch. Even now, mentioning Epstein in a blog post or on Twitter generates negative comments. Everybody wants to bring up his showering money on John Lackey, not finding David Ortiz for $1.2 million or luring Curt Schilling to Boston. (Sorry, Rhode Island taxpayers. But you get the point.) In their heads, smart fans know and probably appreciate what Epstein did. But in their hearts, his departure still stings. None of that will matter in 2022, 2032 or 2062. Baseball historians will see Epstein as Boston's Branch Rickey, an executive ahead of his time who did what had to be done to turn a long-suffering franchise into a winner. He manipulated the draft to a point where MLB changed the rules. He turned the non-tender market from a salvage yard into a resource and helped further the advancement of statistical analysis. He didn't dump the Red Sox for a cushy gig with a ready-to-win team. He took on the woebegone Cubs, a team with a lousy roster and a farm system largely bereft of talent. If they win a Series, Epstein will be in the Hall of Fame. Epstein also is changing how baseball values executives. He has a deal for five years and $18.5 million. That's considered extravagant in the game right now but that will change over time if Epstein turns the Cubs into winner. Look at this way: $3.7 million a year can get a team a backup outfielder or an executive who will make dozens of decisions a week that influence the future of the organization. What's more valuable? Apple didn't pay the guy running the store at South Shore Plaza more than Steve Jobs. But most baseball teams hire decision-makers on the cheap. Anyway, Boston doesn't owe Epstein a statue. But the statute of limitations on complaints has expired. Wish him well in Chicago.

Yes I did!

Me too. I had always heard that he thought he would have trouble pitching in Fenway because of the Monster etc.

Great post ex1!

Pitching matchups for the Cubs series Posted by Peter Abraham, Globe Staff June 14, 2012 09:30 AM Friday: RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka (0-1, 7.20) vs. RHP Ryan Dempster (2-3, 2.31), 2:20 p.m., NESN, MLB Network Saturday: LHP Jon Lester (3-4, 4.57) vs. RHP Jeff Samardzija (5-4, 3.96), 7:15 p.m., FOX Sunday: RHP Josh Beckett (4-7, 4.14) vs. LHP Paul Maholm (4-5, 4.91), 8 p.m., ESPN

Dude, change the date, we don't play the Cubs until tomorrow.

Nice f***ing WIN!!

I would guess Sweeney is playing LF. Just noticed the mistake.

RED SOX (30-32) Podsednik CF Pedroia 2B Gonzalez RF Ortiz 1B Middlebrooks 3B Saltalamacchia C Sweeney CF Aviles SS Pitching: LHP Felix Doubront (6-3, 4.34)

There is also a reader's poll in the Globe asking if the Red Sox should: Blow up the roster or stay the course. The reader's have voted 79.17% for the blow up and 20.83% to stay the course.

Hell NO! Papi will finish his career in a Red Sox uni.