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Last week Bostonist was all in a tizzy over the idea that the Red Sox wouldn't be able to work out a deal to keep General Manager Theo Epstein here in Boston. His contract for the past three years was going to end today, but there was lots of negotiating the past few weeks to have Theo stay with the Sox. Well, Bostonist awoke this Monday morning to see a nice article stating that according to some MLB sources, the Sox and Theo came to an agreement with a three year contract keeping him here through the 2008 season. The deal was going to make Epstein one of the best paid GMs in the league.
Bostonist felt comfort in the article, despite the "shocking" news that Manny Ramirez once again wants to leave Boston; turns out Manny adores Anaheim and his rep claims that the slugger won't show up to Spring Training if he is still a Red Sox. But all hell broke loose at the end of the work day when the 5 o'clock news flashed on the screen that Theo resigned as GM and was currently cleaning out his office at Fenway. Turns out that the MLB source in the Globe was wrong and BostonHerald.com broke the news that Theo decided to walk away from the offer yesterday afternoon.
Epstein's announcement immediately had everyone speculating the real reason why he's leaving the team. Since the pay was reasonable at $1.5 million a year, everyone is pointing fingers at Red Sox CEO Larry Lucchino. The CEO and GM had a mentoring relationship, as Theo started interning for Lucchino in 1992 for the Baltimore Orioles, following him to the Padres and to the Sox, where Lucchino made him Assistant GM and then GM. While the two were once close, sources stated that the two didn't see eye-to-eye when it came to baseball vs. business.
The Herald hints that yesterday's column by Dan Shaughnessy in the Globe set Theo off, discussing too much about their relationship (and in Lucchino's favor too). There's talk that Theo will take a year off from baseball and with a Yale degree, he could always pursue another profession. Bostonist will keep you posted on who will attempt to fill Theo's shoes for the upcoming season.
Thanks for the memories and a World Series title, Theo.
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Theo's reputation was for being kinda particular about his working environment, too, so that might have played a role. (A friend who used to work in the front office told me a story, for example, about Theo's getting hysterical because a Park employee brought him PB&J with crunchy peanut butter when he had specifically requested smooth. Apparently, he actually threw the sandwich across the room.) Then again, he did some fine work, so maybe a bit of prima-donna-ism is forgivable.
Also, Universal Hub has a thorough rundown of reactions to and speculation about the causes of Epstein's departure.
Theo seemed to me to be a very principled man; he does not seem to give into pressure, monetary or otherwise, to settle for a work environment that is less than satisfactory.
Perhaps his idealism will lead him to follow in the footsteps of >several another Yale graduates who, for better or worse, also stay true to their principles.
It boggles the mind that this couldn't have been worked out. Theo did so much for the Red Sox, and for that matter, the city of Boston. I wish him the best in whatever he does, but I just feel that somehow this could have been prevented. There is blame to go around, from Lucchino to Epstein to Boston sports writers to John Henry and on and on and on.
Oh well, I'll always have good memories at least of our beloved Boston Red Sox winning the World Series, even if the team falls apart with the departure of Theo and (soon) several key players. It was a good run...
These guys are just another act, another part of the publicity. This poor guy probably read all that stuff in the papers about what a genius he is. I can still remember pasting up big features for the herald about boy genius Dan Duquette.
I'm going to step away from my thoughts about the Theo situation for a moment, as I've spend far too much time thinking about it for the past few weeks (and certainly the past couple of days).
There was a proposed solution included in this to a grammatical situation with which I've struggled for ages.
"...if he is still a Red Sox."
Thanks, Bostonist, for clearing that up!