GaryMrMets
01-23-2006, 12:37 AM
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/story/384721p-326539c.html
Sox starting to smell
http://www.nydailynews.com/images/columnists/madden_b.jpg
It is now January 22, barely 22 days till pitchers and catchers, and still the Red Sox do not have a shortstop or a center fielder and have questions about closer Keith Foulke. But fret not Red Sox Nation, Theo Epstein is back on board, 80 days after sneaking out of his Yawkey Way office in a gorilla suit on Halloween night, and if you believe team owner John Henry, there is no closer-knit front office in all of baseball.
It is, of course, a lot of hooey.
They can spin it any way they want - and from the looks of it, hip boots will be advised attire for all those attending next week's press conference to announce the details of the "full-time baseball operations" position Epstein is returning to - but the Red Sox have operated in chaos all winter. Certainly, it has not been fair to Theo's assistants, Jed Hoyer and Ben Cherington, who were named co-GMs in the wake of a half-hearted and fruitless interview process to find a suitable successor. Theo somehow got credit for the Josh Beckett deal with Florida that was completed shortly after his much-decried departure, while everything after that - the curious trade of Edgar Renteria with no shortstop replacement in sight; the botched Johnny Damon negotiations, the failure to trade David Wells - was chalked up to the inexperience of Hoyer and Cherington.
In the meantime, CEO Larry Lucchino gets even more bloodied in this Theo soap opera. Again, Henry can say all he wants about there being no ill feelings between Theo and his mentor, Lucchino, or that "in no way" does Theo's return usurp Lucchino's power, but that isn't the way it's playing for the rest of baseball. For one thing, Theo's return almost guarantees the departure of Lucchino's righthand man, VP of Public Affairs Charles Steinberg, with whom Epstein has warred privately. As one baseball official who knows Lucchino well put it: "I don't know how Larry stays there now. He's a proud guy with a big ego and this has clearly been a power struggle that Theo is winning. The problem is Theo thinks he's a rock star in Boston - and John Henry has merely magnified that by slobbering over him the way he has - while Larry's a very convenient villain. It would not surprise me at all to see Larry end up in Washington as CEO for the new ownership there. It wouldn't have to happen tomorrow. There's plenty of time."
Those close to Lucchino insist he's really happy in Boston and that his family doesn't want to move again. But there's no getting around the fact he wanted to hire his own GM to replace Theo, only to have Henry step in and tell him to call off the search. Now we know why.
The one saving grace for the Red Sox in this otherwise disastrous offseason is the starting pitching - Beckett, Curt Schilling, Bronson Arroyo, rookie Jonathan Papelbon, Tim Wakefield, Matt Clement and (for the time being) Wells - is potentially the deepest, quality-wise in the AL East. Still no center fielder. Or shortstop. Or proven, healthy closer. Such is the residue of a front office being run by committee with a shadow/de facto GM who never really left the building.
Here we go again
It's become a winter ritual John Schuerholz has endured to the point he now looks forward to it. Just about every year at this time, the Braves' GM has gotten accustomed to the newspaper, magazine and talk-radio skeptics in Atlanta and around the country writing his team off. And even though the Braves have proven their critics wrong with 14 straight division titles, this year, between the Mets' loading up with Billy Wagner, Carlos Delgado and Paul Lo Duca and the Braves' loss of closer Kyle Farnsworth and leadoff hitter Rafael Furcal, it looks serious.
"In answer to your questions about a leadoff hitter and a closer, I would say, to the first, we have some, and, to the second, we don't know," Schuerholz said.
According to Schuerholz, it was important that the Braves replaced Furcal with a quality shortstop in Edgar Renteria. As for Furcal's acknowledged leadoff qualities, Schuerholz noted: "(No. 2 hitter) Marcus Giles had a better on base-percentage than Furcal and we can always use him there. Or if not, one of our kid outfielders. It's not something myself or (manager) Bobby (Cox) are overly concerned about."
The closer is a different matter. It has been said if there is one thing that has been responsible for the Braves having only one world championship to show for their incredible run, it's the absence of a dominant, game-over closer (although John Smoltz certainly performed admirably in that role from 2002-04). Schuerholz thought he'd addressed that last winter when he acquired Danny Kolb from the Brewers, but Kolb was an abysmal failure and it wasn't until midseason, when Schuerholz acquired Farnsworth in a trade with the Tigers, that the bullpen was stabilized. Even though Farnsworth had a meltdown in the division series in Houston, Schuerholz intended to re-sign him, only to be blindsided by the Yankees, who paid the righty closer-like money to be a setup man.
"When Farnsworth left we were surprised to a certain degree because his representative said he was prepared to be a closer," Schuerholz said. "I thought we made him a good offer, but in the end, it was a weak market for relievers. So what do we do as an industry? Spend more money! Fewer players with talent? Spend more money on them!"
So, for now, Cox will use spring training as a closer proving ground for hard-throwing rookie Joey Devine (whom the Braves admit they rushed last year) and career setup man Chris Reitsma, while Schuerholz combs the trade market.
"The challenge is there once again," Schuerholz said. "Last year, our kids saved our bacon and now people will be prepared for them. But I like our team. As for a closer, all I can say is, we will have one before the season starts."
Saving best for last
In a whirlwind first eight weeks as Dodger GM, Ned Colletti has almost totally remade the mess of a team his predecessor Paul DePodesta created, signing Furcal to play shortstop and lead off and Nomar Garciaparra to play first while bringing in third baseman Bill Mueller, center fielder Kenny Lofton, pitchers Brett Tomko and Jae Seo. But his latest deal, acquiring Tampa Bay closer Danys Baez and middle reliever Lance Carter for starting pitcher prospects Edwin Jackson and Chuck Tiffany, may well turn out to be his most important. If nothing else, Baez gives the Dodgers a top flight setup man, but there is no guarantee Eric Gagne is ever going to regain his overpowering form after major elbow surgery. As for the two prospects Colletti gave up, Jackson's stock has plummeted after two years of ERA's over 5.00 while Tiffany is at least two years away - "at which time, I'll either be fired or getting an extension!" Colletti said.
It's a Madd, Madd World
•So Alex Rodriguez has finally ended his Hamlet performance and agreed to play for the U.S. in the World Baseball Classic and the world can finally begin spinning on its axis again. After reading his explanation last week — "At the end of the day, with my status in the game, I realized how important it was for me to participate" — it was easy to see just how much of a burden it is being A-Rod. You know, having to work out every morning when his teammates are taking their kids to school. Those kinds of things. Anyway, A-Rod's self-acclaimed self-importance brought up one other thought: Can you imagine Mickey Mantle or Sandy Koufax ever saying something like that?
•On the subject of the WBC, someone should point out to A-Rod that maybe his Yankee teammate Hideki Matsui was under a little more pressure than he was in saying "no" to his country. As for all of those players who said "yes," perhaps if the Italian team should be re-named the Italian-American team since that's what it is. And now that Fidel Castro will get his wish in watching his Cuban team compete against the U.S., does he have an over-under number on how many of them will defect when the tournament's over?
Say It Ain't So
"Baseball is about as exciting as standing in line at the supermarket. Baseball doesn't test anything but your ability to withstand boredom."
NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue
in Sports Illustrated this week.
(Yo, Bud, whatta you say about that?)
Originally published on January 22, 2006
http://www.nydailynews.com/ips_rich_content/468-epstein_theo.JPG
Theo Epstein
Sox starting to smell
http://www.nydailynews.com/images/columnists/madden_b.jpg
It is now January 22, barely 22 days till pitchers and catchers, and still the Red Sox do not have a shortstop or a center fielder and have questions about closer Keith Foulke. But fret not Red Sox Nation, Theo Epstein is back on board, 80 days after sneaking out of his Yawkey Way office in a gorilla suit on Halloween night, and if you believe team owner John Henry, there is no closer-knit front office in all of baseball.
It is, of course, a lot of hooey.
They can spin it any way they want - and from the looks of it, hip boots will be advised attire for all those attending next week's press conference to announce the details of the "full-time baseball operations" position Epstein is returning to - but the Red Sox have operated in chaos all winter. Certainly, it has not been fair to Theo's assistants, Jed Hoyer and Ben Cherington, who were named co-GMs in the wake of a half-hearted and fruitless interview process to find a suitable successor. Theo somehow got credit for the Josh Beckett deal with Florida that was completed shortly after his much-decried departure, while everything after that - the curious trade of Edgar Renteria with no shortstop replacement in sight; the botched Johnny Damon negotiations, the failure to trade David Wells - was chalked up to the inexperience of Hoyer and Cherington.
In the meantime, CEO Larry Lucchino gets even more bloodied in this Theo soap opera. Again, Henry can say all he wants about there being no ill feelings between Theo and his mentor, Lucchino, or that "in no way" does Theo's return usurp Lucchino's power, but that isn't the way it's playing for the rest of baseball. For one thing, Theo's return almost guarantees the departure of Lucchino's righthand man, VP of Public Affairs Charles Steinberg, with whom Epstein has warred privately. As one baseball official who knows Lucchino well put it: "I don't know how Larry stays there now. He's a proud guy with a big ego and this has clearly been a power struggle that Theo is winning. The problem is Theo thinks he's a rock star in Boston - and John Henry has merely magnified that by slobbering over him the way he has - while Larry's a very convenient villain. It would not surprise me at all to see Larry end up in Washington as CEO for the new ownership there. It wouldn't have to happen tomorrow. There's plenty of time."
Those close to Lucchino insist he's really happy in Boston and that his family doesn't want to move again. But there's no getting around the fact he wanted to hire his own GM to replace Theo, only to have Henry step in and tell him to call off the search. Now we know why.
The one saving grace for the Red Sox in this otherwise disastrous offseason is the starting pitching - Beckett, Curt Schilling, Bronson Arroyo, rookie Jonathan Papelbon, Tim Wakefield, Matt Clement and (for the time being) Wells - is potentially the deepest, quality-wise in the AL East. Still no center fielder. Or shortstop. Or proven, healthy closer. Such is the residue of a front office being run by committee with a shadow/de facto GM who never really left the building.
Here we go again
It's become a winter ritual John Schuerholz has endured to the point he now looks forward to it. Just about every year at this time, the Braves' GM has gotten accustomed to the newspaper, magazine and talk-radio skeptics in Atlanta and around the country writing his team off. And even though the Braves have proven their critics wrong with 14 straight division titles, this year, between the Mets' loading up with Billy Wagner, Carlos Delgado and Paul Lo Duca and the Braves' loss of closer Kyle Farnsworth and leadoff hitter Rafael Furcal, it looks serious.
"In answer to your questions about a leadoff hitter and a closer, I would say, to the first, we have some, and, to the second, we don't know," Schuerholz said.
According to Schuerholz, it was important that the Braves replaced Furcal with a quality shortstop in Edgar Renteria. As for Furcal's acknowledged leadoff qualities, Schuerholz noted: "(No. 2 hitter) Marcus Giles had a better on base-percentage than Furcal and we can always use him there. Or if not, one of our kid outfielders. It's not something myself or (manager) Bobby (Cox) are overly concerned about."
The closer is a different matter. It has been said if there is one thing that has been responsible for the Braves having only one world championship to show for their incredible run, it's the absence of a dominant, game-over closer (although John Smoltz certainly performed admirably in that role from 2002-04). Schuerholz thought he'd addressed that last winter when he acquired Danny Kolb from the Brewers, but Kolb was an abysmal failure and it wasn't until midseason, when Schuerholz acquired Farnsworth in a trade with the Tigers, that the bullpen was stabilized. Even though Farnsworth had a meltdown in the division series in Houston, Schuerholz intended to re-sign him, only to be blindsided by the Yankees, who paid the righty closer-like money to be a setup man.
"When Farnsworth left we were surprised to a certain degree because his representative said he was prepared to be a closer," Schuerholz said. "I thought we made him a good offer, but in the end, it was a weak market for relievers. So what do we do as an industry? Spend more money! Fewer players with talent? Spend more money on them!"
So, for now, Cox will use spring training as a closer proving ground for hard-throwing rookie Joey Devine (whom the Braves admit they rushed last year) and career setup man Chris Reitsma, while Schuerholz combs the trade market.
"The challenge is there once again," Schuerholz said. "Last year, our kids saved our bacon and now people will be prepared for them. But I like our team. As for a closer, all I can say is, we will have one before the season starts."
Saving best for last
In a whirlwind first eight weeks as Dodger GM, Ned Colletti has almost totally remade the mess of a team his predecessor Paul DePodesta created, signing Furcal to play shortstop and lead off and Nomar Garciaparra to play first while bringing in third baseman Bill Mueller, center fielder Kenny Lofton, pitchers Brett Tomko and Jae Seo. But his latest deal, acquiring Tampa Bay closer Danys Baez and middle reliever Lance Carter for starting pitcher prospects Edwin Jackson and Chuck Tiffany, may well turn out to be his most important. If nothing else, Baez gives the Dodgers a top flight setup man, but there is no guarantee Eric Gagne is ever going to regain his overpowering form after major elbow surgery. As for the two prospects Colletti gave up, Jackson's stock has plummeted after two years of ERA's over 5.00 while Tiffany is at least two years away - "at which time, I'll either be fired or getting an extension!" Colletti said.
It's a Madd, Madd World
•So Alex Rodriguez has finally ended his Hamlet performance and agreed to play for the U.S. in the World Baseball Classic and the world can finally begin spinning on its axis again. After reading his explanation last week — "At the end of the day, with my status in the game, I realized how important it was for me to participate" — it was easy to see just how much of a burden it is being A-Rod. You know, having to work out every morning when his teammates are taking their kids to school. Those kinds of things. Anyway, A-Rod's self-acclaimed self-importance brought up one other thought: Can you imagine Mickey Mantle or Sandy Koufax ever saying something like that?
•On the subject of the WBC, someone should point out to A-Rod that maybe his Yankee teammate Hideki Matsui was under a little more pressure than he was in saying "no" to his country. As for all of those players who said "yes," perhaps if the Italian team should be re-named the Italian-American team since that's what it is. And now that Fidel Castro will get his wish in watching his Cuban team compete against the U.S., does he have an over-under number on how many of them will defect when the tournament's over?
Say It Ain't So
"Baseball is about as exciting as standing in line at the supermarket. Baseball doesn't test anything but your ability to withstand boredom."
NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue
in Sports Illustrated this week.
(Yo, Bud, whatta you say about that?)
Originally published on January 22, 2006
http://www.nydailynews.com/ips_rich_content/468-epstein_theo.JPG
Theo Epstein