Theo is still....working?

Not much has happened in the Red Sox organization in terms of big deals, or even in terms of Theo actually leaving the organization. The Sox rumor mill has quieted down a bit, and as of now Theo is still in his Fenway Park office 'working' to make the Sox better. The fact that Theo is still coming into work surprises me and makes me wonder is he really going to go to Chicago?

The Red Sox have a high asking price for their GM, including the Cubs #1 prospect Brett Jackson, who the Cubs are not willing to part with. If the Cubs want the number one general manager in baseball, they will need to pay up BIG with prospects and money, and I'm not so sure they will do this.

Brett Jackson: 2009 1st Round Pick Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs have little in their organization to lean on besides shortstop Starlin Castro and the 2009 first round pick Brett Jackson. If the Cubs parted ways with either of these two players, it would be very difficult to build a championship quality team, no matter who the GM is.

The very outspoke, out of late, John Henry expressed his desires to keep Theo on his interview the 98.5 The Sports Hub on Friday by saying how he'd "like to have Theo back." If this were in fact true, then John, Larry and Tom would not have allowed Theo to talk to the Cubs...so I don't know what universe John Henry is on but it sure isn't a realistic one.

All and all, I do not think the Theo deal will be done. I believe the Red Sox asking price is too high (for a good reason) and I don't think the Cubs are willing to part with the young talent that they have in the farm leagues. I also am a strong believer that Larry Lucchino is doing everything he can to keep Theo around.....so as of today, Monday October 17, 2011, it is still "In Theo We Trust," and I would like to see it stay that way for 2012...We'll keep you updated as soon as news about Theo's departure worth 20 million becomes available.

Get writing on those "thank you's" to Theo Epstein

So it's official. Theo Epstein has agreed to a five year, 20 million dollar deal with the Chicago Cubs. While minor details are still being worked on between the Sox and the Cubs, official word of Theo's departure is expected to come either tomorrow or Friday.

With Theo now officially leaving the Red Sox organization many questions are in the air. Such as who will follow Theo to Chicago? It has been publicized that Jacoby Ellsbury and Theo have a very close relationship, so I would not be surprised to see Ellsbury throw on a Cubs jersey in 2013. I would also not be surprised if Tito is seen on the pine at Wrigley this season.

Theo Epstein has brought the Red Sox the success they've seen in the past decade, and is arguably one of the best General Managers in the MLB.

With Theo's departure, I expect to see a lot of positive things being said about him, so get out your pens and paper and write Mr. Epstein a thank you note. He deserves it, because with him we would not have broken the 86 year curse.

Thank you Theo for a great 8 years.

Theo Epstein is on the verge of going to the Chicago Cubs

It looks like the grim rumors of Theo Epstein leaving his home town team have finally become reality for Red Sox Nation. The Boston Herald first reported that sources close to the Red Sox organization confirmed that Theo Epstein and the Chicago Cubs were very close on coming to a deal to make Theo the new GM, and the decision could happen within the next 48 hours. The final details of Theo leaving Boston are still being discussed and involve compensation in the form of prospects or money towards the Sox.

There have been multiple rumors floating around tonight, that Chicago may be willing to part with star shortstop Starlin Castro, in return for Theo Epstein. These rumors have been officially quieted by ESPN's Karl Ravech, who says that a source close to the Sox said that the MLB wouldn't allow the Cubs to part with any current Major League Players but instead will part with prospects or money, in compensation for the General Manager of The Boston Red Sox.

Larry Lucchino, the President and CEO of the Red Sox was very mum on the whole ordeal on Tuesday night. Lucchino said that, "we are not commenting on that type of issue unless and until there is a resolution. That has been a consistent policy and practice of the Red Sox for years," when asked about the developing story coming out of Chicago.

The most recent news about Epstein's move to Chicago have been very hectic and we will try to bring you any new information as soon as it comes in. As for now, know that according to a credible Red Sox official Theo Epstein is "likely [sic] going to go, but nothing has been finalized." The Boston Red Sox organization will remain in close communication with the Chicago Cubs about compensation for Theo, which will be the final aspect of the deal that would bring Chicago the greatest GM Boston has ever seen. 

Also, for those who got excited about the Castro rumor mill, don't expect big names to come over as compensation for Theo, instead expect the Red Sox to receive large amounts of money or great prospects for Theo's departure to Chicago.

It looks like the era of "In Theo We Trust," has now turned to "In Ben (Cherrington) We Trust."

We will keep you updated with any information regarding Theo's departure to Chicago.

Going, Going, Gone?

First Terry Francona leaves and now it looks like General Manager Theo Epstein will be gone within the next 24 to 48 hours to the Chicago Cubs. This news was released by two baseball sources (according to the Boston Herald) in which the Herald went on to say that the Red Sox want something out of this whole deal whether it be that he remains with the team or the Cubs give the Red Sox something in return.

More information on the possible departure of Theo Epstein to come soon.

Houston, I mean, Theo, We Have A Problem...

Part of the title of this post is questionable since the rumor mill started rolling saying that General Manager of the Boston Red Sox, Theo Epstein, will also be leaving the organization. However, for now he's still the GM which makes him still in power of a lot of decisions made in the front office.


As pretty much any Red Sox fans know it, John Lackey, right handed starting pitcher for the Sox, has been completely awful. There is no sugar coating how bad his overall performance on the mound has been. Sure he went 12-12 this season, but that didn't come without the Red Sox working their rear ends off just to give the guy runs so he could survive through the game.


The last Red Sox game I went to was against the Baltimore Orioles on September 19 of this year (all in the middle of the sickening collapse the Red Sox put together) and it was on this day that John Lackey made his last home start of the season. As expected, he gave up 3 runs in the first inning. I thought, "this is it, here we go, this game is already over."


It seemed that way until Jed Lowrie hit a monster 3 run home run after already having 1 scored to put the Sox up by 1. However, it still didn't feel comfortable. Sure the Red Sox answered quickly by putting up 4 in the first inning to go ahead, but come on, it was the September Red Sox and John Lackey was on the mound. I'll give him this though; he stuck it out and the rest of the team put on an offensive show. Well, when his time was up, Tito marched out there to take him out and here comes the best part. When Red Sox nation boos one of their own, you know there's an issue. Boos were all Lackey heard as he walked back to the dugout.


John Lackey signed with the Red Sox in the off season before the 2010 year in which the team signed him for almost $16 million a year. Here's where things get a little frustrating when it comes to the numbers he's put up. In his career with the Red Sox (2 seasons) he's 26-23 with a 5.25 earned run average. Let's do a little comparing.


Jake Westbrook of the St. Louis Cardinals. He may not be one of the most well known pitchers around, but it's the numbers that really matter. This year with the Cardinals he went 12-9 with a 4.66 ERA. In his last 2 years (1.5 with St. Louis and 0.5 with Cleveland) he's gone 22-20 with an ERA of 4.45. You may wonder why I chose someone who had very similar numbers to Lackey. My reasoning? He's 2 years older than Lackey and is getting paid only $8 million a year; half of what Lackey is receiving from the Red Sox.


No one wants to have a pitcher on their team that is going to put up such mediocre or poor numbers, but if it's going to happen, have it be someone that isn't getting paid money that hurts the fan's wallets when they perform so poorly. The reason I go off on this rant about Lackey is that the Red Sox, in some way, some form, have to get rid of him.


The other day I went to go see Moneyball. In the movie, before the Oakland Athletics acquired David Justice from the New York Yankees, Peter Brand (who was played by Jonah Hill) stated that George Steinbrenner was so desperate to get rid of Justice, he was more than willing to pay off the rest of his remaining salary. When I heard that it got me thinking. The Red Sox have enough money and should think about doing the same thing.


Some may read this and question why I have such a negative opinion on John Lackey, but something tells me that most people, especially Red Sox fans, will agree with me fully on what I have presented. In my last post I mentioned that starting pitching was the biggest issue for the Sox downfall in September. Lackey is certainly at the top of the rotation as far as being the most disappointing. Start somewhere, fix the rotation, get the Red Sox back on the right track.

Epstein to Join Francona?

Is it possible that Theo Epstein might join Francona in leaving the Boston Red Sox organization? After watching his press conferences held on Friday, September 30, to discuss the departure of eight year manager Terry Francona, you wouldn't think he would be out but sources are saying otherwise.

As Epstein sat calmly in the press room, wearing a Sox wind breaker and looking like he was ready to tackle the rough off-season that is ahead of him as the GM of the Boston Red Sox, there was little made that the assistant GM, Ben Cherington, was in attendance for all the meetings involving Terry Francona on Thursday and Friday. This little nuance that went seemingly un-noticed among the press could be a sign of Epstein's departure from the Sox and could be an end to his 9 year tenure. Could it be that Cherington, was in these meetings to prepare himself in working with the Red Sox brass, in preparation of Theo's dismissal? Cherington has been under Epstein for six years and is ready to take the head GM job.

Since the termination of the Cubs GM Jim Hendry in August, Theo Epstein's name has been thrown out there as the number one candidate for the new GM job available in Chicago. It is no doubt that Theo has experience in building championship teams in teams that struggle to succeed, in bringing the Red Sox two World Series titles, the most important one coming in 2004 breaking the 86 year curse, but would he really be up to breaking the 103 year old curse in Chicago?

This question has generated much speculation around Boston. Would Theo leave the Red Sox organization and join the team of the Chicago Cubs?

Theo is a Boston boy, who created his baseball career around Tom Werner and Larry Lucchino as a intern at the San Diego Padres. The ownership of the Padres took Epstein under their wing and made him the youngest GM in Major League history, at the time for the Boston Red Sox in 2002. Quickly, Epstein built a baseball team that went to the post season 6 out of 9 years and won 2 World Series titles with the Boston Red Sox. Theo has become a legend in Boston, making huge transactions (good and bad) that ultimately changed the way the Red Sox played baseball. Although it could be some of these transactions that leads to his dismissal from the Boston Red Sox. Could it be these signings, like the signings of JD Drew, Eric Gagne, John Lackey and Edgar Renteria that allow Theo to walk from the Boston Red Sox?

According to an undisclosed source "Theo is very interested" in the position in Chicago and New York Post columnist said that he "believe[d] [the] Red Sox will give permission and Theo will go to Cubs to be GM."

Personally, I feel like Theo has done all he can do for the Boston Red Sox and like Tito he needs to go. The Red Sox are in a position to rebuild, and in order to rebuild they need to get rid the primary source of the team, Theo Epstein. It is clearly obvious that his assistant Cherington is ready to step into a GM job therefore I would not be surprised if Theo walks away to join the Chicago Cubs organization.

This off season will have a lot to tell about the Boston Red Sox future and the direction the Sox organization wants to bring the team. There will be a lot of speculation and rumors, but one thing is for certain, there will be a lot of moves inside the clubhouse and in the executive offices. Along with Terry Francona, Theo should be looked at, as a primary cause for the Red Sox 'collapse' this September. Theo has done all he can do for the Boston Red Sox.

Sox Fans Seem To Have Misconceived Notions

Friday, September 30, 2011, wasn't exactly a day that most Red Sox fans would want to relive over and over again. Not only did they have to see previews for Game 1 of the American League Division Series that included the New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays, Texas Rangers, and Detroit Tigers, they had to deal with the manager, or should I say former manager of the Boston Red Sox, Terry Francona leaving the team.

We all know how horrible of a September the Red Sox had, but was there any one person to blame? The only thing that could even be credited as a source to the absolute collapse of the team this season, is the performance of the entire Red Sox team. Especially the fastballs and breaking balls from the starting rotation that were simply not working.

Let me point out the Red Sox pitching staff first. In my opinion, this was the most crucial reason to the collapse of the team this season. With an astounding 5.84 earned run average in September the pitching staff allowed 158 runs in just 27 games. The participants in this absolute wreckage of allowing runs wasn't just the starting rotation, it extended to the bullpen. However, I have another problem.

Alfredo Aceves was turned to more times than a long reliever has ever been expected to. He finished second on the team in innings pitched in September with 25 innings in 12 appearances, all in which were in relief. Not to mention, he had a September ERA of 1.80. What about the top starter on the team during the month you ask? Jon Lester started 6 games going 31.2 innings, all while allowing 19 runs and producing a 5.40 ERA.

On the flip side of the coin you look at the offense and when you look at the team's average during this epic collapse, it seems like a perfectly normal batting average for a decent team, not great, but decent; .280 for the last 30 days. The hitters that were expected to come out big did what they were supposed to. Jacoby Ellsbury was on fire with a .358 average with 8 home runs and 22 runs, followed by Adrian Gonzalez who batted .318 and driving in 14 runners. Dustin Pedroia was also there with a .304 average while scoring 18 runs and driving in just about 1 run per run scored with 19 total RBIs.

All of this just boils down to my main point. The more I go on Facebook, or scan through my Twitter feed, or scroll through comments on other blog sites, I notice Red Sox fans, even fans that claim they are absolutely dedicated to the team, saying that Terry Francona "got fired" or "Theo Epstein failed to find the source to the problem." I tried to fix the errors, yet after correcting one wrong statement, there was another statement being mentioned that Tito got the boot.

In a press conference tonight both by the man himself, Terry Francona, and a separate conference with ownership it was made clear that Terry Francona was not fired. More than once Francona mentioned that he felt there needed to be a "new voice" in the clubhouse and that, "he's done all he can." During the ownership press conference Tom Werner, Larry Lucchino, and General Manager Theo Epstein clearly stated that Terry Francona was not at all the reason as to why the collapse of the Red Sox in the remaining month of the regular season happened.

With all this said, Tito did not receive any blame from any member of the Red Sox organization; he didn't get fired; and most importantly he did not leave on bad terms. It's not going to be easy to find someone who can fill the shoes that Francona so successfully wore through his 8 years with the Sox. However, what can be said is the Red Sox ownership are going to look for someone who has that, "New voice" that Francona mentioned the clubhouse needed. It is with this that can help lead the Boston Red Sox to a postseason and hopefully another World Series.