Theo Epstein RESIGNS
softparade
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What happened? What happened to the three year contract extension? POOF!
At 31, boy wonder Theo Epstein was ready to step out on his own.
The Red Sox general manager walked away from his hometown team on Monday, stunning Boston and the baseball world just one year after helping the franchise win its first World Series championship since 1918.
"I gave my entire heart and soul to the organization," Epstein said in a statement. "During the process leading up to today's decision, I came to the conclusion that I can no longer do so. In the end, my choice is the right one not only for me but for the Red Sox."
Epstein will continue working for a few days to assist in the transition and prepare for the offseason. The Boston Herald, which first reported the news on its Web site, said the Yale graduate has told associates that he might leave baseball or at least take a year off.
The Dodgers, Phillies and Devil Rays have GM openings, but none has a $120 million payroll to match the one Epstein was given in Boston.
Once the youngest GM in baseball history and still the youngest to assemble a World Series champion, Epstein was reportedly offered about $1.5 million a year for a three-year extension. That was quadruple his previous salary but still short of the $2.5 million the Red Sox offered Oakland's Billy Beane in 2002 before hiring Epstein.
But even after the money was settled, the negotiations turned into a fierce and Freudian standoff between the boy GM and the mentor who nurtured him from an intern to a World Series champion. By leaving, Epstein breaks a longtime link with Red Sox president Larry Lucchino, who hired him as a Baltimore Orioles intern and brought him to San Diego and then Boston.
The Herald said Epstein went through "agonizing soul-searching" over office politics and his relationship with his boss. Published reports that contained inside information about their relationship, "slanted too much in Lucchino's favor," helped convince Epstein there had been a breach of trust, the Herald said.
Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling told The Associated Press he was disappointed in the news but had seen indications that it might be coming.
"You don't get better losing a guy like Theo," said Schilling, who joined the Red Sox after Epstein ate Thanksgiving dinner with him and convinced him to accept a trade from the Arizona Diamondbacks.
"It's obviously going to be an incredibly unpopular decision with the players. But we'll show up in spring training and get ready for the season and try to win another World Series. It's not like we're going to have a sit-down," he said.
A lifelong Red Sox fan who grew up in nearby Brookline, Epstein came to Boston when Lucchino made him the assistant GM. Epstein was promoted to his dream job in 2002, about five weeks before his 29th birthday.
"Growing up in the shadow of Fenway Park, I never dreamed of having the chance to work for my hometown team during such an historic period," Epstein said, thanking owners John Henry and Tom Werner -- and Lucchino -- for the opportunity.
"My affection for the Red Sox did not begin four years ago when I started working here, and it does not end today," he said. "My passion for and dedication to the game of baseball remain strong. Although I have no immediate plans, I will embrace this change in my life and look forward with excitement to the future."
A devotee of statistical analysis who values his scouts as well, Epstein's tenure has been marked by bold adventures that often conflicted with baseball orthodoxy:
He signed first baseman Kevin Millar, despite an unspoken agreement not to poach from Japanese clubs.
He went without a traditional closer in his first year, with horrendous results.
He tried to trade for 2003 AL MVP Alex Rodriguez -- a deal that would have meant shipping out Manny Ramirez and Nomar Garciaparra -- and then, without remorse, pulled the plug when the deal became too expensive.
He ate Thanksgiving dinner with Schilling in a college football-style recruiting trip that lured the right-handed ace to Boston.
He traded Garciaparra, the face of the franchise, for the parts he needed to complete the World Series puzzle.
But the efforts paid off.
The Red Sox reached the AL Championship Series in 2003 before the lack of a closer doomed Grady Little in Game 7 at Yankee Stadium. The next year, with a new manager and the closer it had been missing, the ballclub won its first World Series in 86 years.
Boston reached the postseason for a third consecutive year this season before getting swept by the eventual World Series-champion Chicago White Sox in the first round.
At 31, boy wonder Theo Epstein was ready to step out on his own.
The Red Sox general manager walked away from his hometown team on Monday, stunning Boston and the baseball world just one year after helping the franchise win its first World Series championship since 1918.
"I gave my entire heart and soul to the organization," Epstein said in a statement. "During the process leading up to today's decision, I came to the conclusion that I can no longer do so. In the end, my choice is the right one not only for me but for the Red Sox."
Epstein will continue working for a few days to assist in the transition and prepare for the offseason. The Boston Herald, which first reported the news on its Web site, said the Yale graduate has told associates that he might leave baseball or at least take a year off.
The Dodgers, Phillies and Devil Rays have GM openings, but none has a $120 million payroll to match the one Epstein was given in Boston.
Once the youngest GM in baseball history and still the youngest to assemble a World Series champion, Epstein was reportedly offered about $1.5 million a year for a three-year extension. That was quadruple his previous salary but still short of the $2.5 million the Red Sox offered Oakland's Billy Beane in 2002 before hiring Epstein.
But even after the money was settled, the negotiations turned into a fierce and Freudian standoff between the boy GM and the mentor who nurtured him from an intern to a World Series champion. By leaving, Epstein breaks a longtime link with Red Sox president Larry Lucchino, who hired him as a Baltimore Orioles intern and brought him to San Diego and then Boston.
The Herald said Epstein went through "agonizing soul-searching" over office politics and his relationship with his boss. Published reports that contained inside information about their relationship, "slanted too much in Lucchino's favor," helped convince Epstein there had been a breach of trust, the Herald said.
Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling told The Associated Press he was disappointed in the news but had seen indications that it might be coming.
"You don't get better losing a guy like Theo," said Schilling, who joined the Red Sox after Epstein ate Thanksgiving dinner with him and convinced him to accept a trade from the Arizona Diamondbacks.
"It's obviously going to be an incredibly unpopular decision with the players. But we'll show up in spring training and get ready for the season and try to win another World Series. It's not like we're going to have a sit-down," he said.
A lifelong Red Sox fan who grew up in nearby Brookline, Epstein came to Boston when Lucchino made him the assistant GM. Epstein was promoted to his dream job in 2002, about five weeks before his 29th birthday.
"Growing up in the shadow of Fenway Park, I never dreamed of having the chance to work for my hometown team during such an historic period," Epstein said, thanking owners John Henry and Tom Werner -- and Lucchino -- for the opportunity.
"My affection for the Red Sox did not begin four years ago when I started working here, and it does not end today," he said. "My passion for and dedication to the game of baseball remain strong. Although I have no immediate plans, I will embrace this change in my life and look forward with excitement to the future."
A devotee of statistical analysis who values his scouts as well, Epstein's tenure has been marked by bold adventures that often conflicted with baseball orthodoxy:
He signed first baseman Kevin Millar, despite an unspoken agreement not to poach from Japanese clubs.
He went without a traditional closer in his first year, with horrendous results.
He tried to trade for 2003 AL MVP Alex Rodriguez -- a deal that would have meant shipping out Manny Ramirez and Nomar Garciaparra -- and then, without remorse, pulled the plug when the deal became too expensive.
He ate Thanksgiving dinner with Schilling in a college football-style recruiting trip that lured the right-handed ace to Boston.
He traded Garciaparra, the face of the franchise, for the parts he needed to complete the World Series puzzle.
But the efforts paid off.
The Red Sox reached the AL Championship Series in 2003 before the lack of a closer doomed Grady Little in Game 7 at Yankee Stadium. The next year, with a new manager and the closer it had been missing, the ballclub won its first World Series in 86 years.
Boston reached the postseason for a third consecutive year this season before getting swept by the eventual World Series-champion Chicago White Sox in the first round.
ISO 1978 Topps Baseball in NM-MT High Grade Raw 3, 100, 103, 302, 347, 376, 416, 466, 481, 487, 509, 534, 540, 554, 579, 580, 622, 642, 673, 724__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ISO 1978 O-Pee-Chee in NM-MT High Grade Raw12, 21, 29, 38, 49, 65, 69, 73, 74, 81, 95, 100, 104, 110, 115, 122, 132, 133, 135, 140, 142, 151, 153, 155, 160, 161, 167, 168, 172, 179, 181, 196, 200, 204, 210, 224, 231, 240
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Comments
Steve
ISO 1978 Topps Baseball in NM-MT High Grade Raw 3, 100, 103, 302, 347, 376, 416, 466, 481, 487, 509, 534, 540, 554, 579, 580, 622, 642, 673, 724__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ISO 1978 O-Pee-Chee in NM-MT High Grade Raw12, 21, 29, 38, 49, 65, 69, 73, 74, 81, 95, 100, 104, 110, 115, 122, 132, 133, 135, 140, 142, 151, 153, 155, 160, 161, 167, 168, 172, 179, 181, 196, 200, 204, 210, 224, 231, 240
He's greedy...he wants to be paid more than Cashman - pure and simply greed is what drove him out of town.
He couldn't stand to sit there and make less money than Cashman, and that one fact is why he's out of a job.
yankee payroll is 200 mil
red sox is 120 mil
therefore he should make less.
running a 200 mil dollar organization is harder.
jmo
SD
<< <i>Rotten?
He's greedy...he wants to be paid more than Cashman - pure and simply greed is what drove him out of town.
He couldn't stand to sit there and make less money than Cashman, and that one fact is why he's out of a job. >>
No way, there is something that is rotten with this situation. Here is a kid born and raised in the area, a rabid Sox fan growing up. Living the life of a king in New England. There is NO WAY this is just about money.
ISO 1978 Topps Baseball in NM-MT High Grade Raw 3, 100, 103, 302, 347, 376, 416, 466, 481, 487, 509, 534, 540, 554, 579, 580, 622, 642, 673, 724__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ISO 1978 O-Pee-Chee in NM-MT High Grade Raw12, 21, 29, 38, 49, 65, 69, 73, 74, 81, 95, 100, 104, 110, 115, 122, 132, 133, 135, 140, 142, 151, 153, 155, 160, 161, 167, 168, 172, 179, 181, 196, 200, 204, 210, 224, 231, 240
It was his arrogance and greed which got the better of him. He thinks he's more deserving of more money than Cashman, and was furious his offer wasn't for more than his is how I see this playing out.
<< <i>No one outside his immediate friends and family and those in the negotations will ever truly know, but if it was something in the front office, then why did he even negotiate? If he was truly so put off, he wouldn't even have waited.
It was his arrogance and greed which got the better of him. He thinks he's more deserving of more money than Cashman, and was furious his offer wasn't for more than his is how I see this playing out. >>
What you said above plus his ego. He not only wanted his $$$$, but he also wanted the powers that his bosses had. His bosses said no, and he had a fit. Oh well, life will go on, and hopefully the Red SOx can hold on to Bill James.
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Are GM's really that big a deal at this level anyway? Seriously - if you have $120 million to spend on a team, doesn't it make for a sweet job to have? Wouldn't it be harder to be the GM in Kansas City or Tampa Bay where you get $40 million to play with, and no one cares anyway? If GM's are so important, why are the top ones in the business paid less than your average bench warming major leaguer?
<< <i>He should make just slightly more then half of what cashman makes.
yankee payroll is 200 mil
red sox is 120 mil
therefore he should make less.
running a 200 mil dollar organization is harder.
jmo
SD >>
Steve, I am going to assume you are being sarcastic here. You would have to be!
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<< <i>
Steve, I am going to assume you are being sarcastic here. You would have to be! >>
There is ZERO room for error with Brian Cashman. While no team in baseball can spend what the Yankees do, just the same, there is no team in baseball that MUST win the World Series in order to consider the season successful. This is what Steve was getting at I believe.
ISO 1978 Topps Baseball in NM-MT High Grade Raw 3, 100, 103, 302, 347, 376, 416, 466, 481, 487, 509, 534, 540, 554, 579, 580, 622, 642, 673, 724__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ISO 1978 O-Pee-Chee in NM-MT High Grade Raw12, 21, 29, 38, 49, 65, 69, 73, 74, 81, 95, 100, 104, 110, 115, 122, 132, 133, 135, 140, 142, 151, 153, 155, 160, 161, 167, 168, 172, 179, 181, 196, 200, 204, 210, 224, 231, 240
ct, don't believe the hype.
This wasn't a money issue, as far as what I've heard and read. It was more of a struggle for power and control within the Red Sox front office - Theo wanted more of it, and Larry Lucchino and the owners wanted to reign him in. Pretty simple
The Sox have been spinning this possibility for the last 3-4 weeks, accidentally "leeking" his previous offers to Globe writers, which happens to be owned by the NY Times, which happens to own 17% of the team. They do it with players and they did it to Epstein. The guy who leaves is always the bad greedy guy. Lucchino is a rat. Just keep an eye on these owners and don't be fooled by the way they spin and sell their decisions. It's all 110% financial based, and they will do every thing they can to make as much money as possible as quickly as possible, fans and team be damned if they get in the way. The big danger is the attitude that seems to be brewing amonst players about not wanting to come here anymore.
When you have a bad one they are. (See Ed Wade and the Philadelphia Phillies)
Yes, I was somewhat.
but then again a person running an operation worth more, that has more revenues should earn more too. right?
SD
<< <i>Not a money issue Lucchino and Steinberg are power hungry idiots. Epstein did not and could not work with these turkeys. The sox truly do not need a GM with these guys having such a handle of day to day operations. Stop the Cashman $ comparisons and stop being stupid when you or anyone else does not know all of the facts. >>
So you call people 'stupid' for making comparisons to Cashman money, and then you say that no one knows all the facts, yet you say that YOU know the reasons?
Come on...don't be ridiculous...either make a statement like 'you don't know the facts...stop making assumptions' but then don't add in your own personal editorial that YOU know all the facts.
First off. i assume that the above was not directed at me as i was not comparing the two, I was simply replying to an earlier post. (in a toungue in cheek manner) I thought all along that this was not a money issue as the guy had just got a raise from 500k to 1.5 mil.
I am sure that you too do not have all the facts either.
Steve
<< <i>Whatever stop comparing Theo to Cashman is like apples to oranges >>
Hmm they were GMs of the 2 biggest spending teams in MLB.
They both were highly successful.
They both had contracts come up at the same time.
Their teams finished with identical records this year.
Oh yeah, apples to oranges.
<< <i>If you had any idea what you are talking about and had read the Boston papers and know the situation. You would know it is not a money issue. Cashman wants to stay in Ny because his wife is from Westchester county. Theo would have signed a 500% increase if it was about the money. Stop confusing players demands salary etc with GM"S. >>
You believe everything you read in the sports pages? Wow you must be filled with contradictions.
You come here calling people 'stupid' for making assumptions about what's going on, then go about making your own...hypocrite, much?
And greed doesn't necessarily mean money, fool...I am sure part of it was his salary not being high enough, part of wanting more power.
<< <i>Was all about the power, and the LA job now being open. READ THE BOSTON PAPERS >>
Heh it must be a sad world to go through life believing everything you read in the papers, especially in a sports market as volatile as Boston's.
<< <i>When every paper states the same thing, the national press is reporting the same things. Humm maybe I should believe it. Are you a facist? Do you believe secret plots are being hatched against you in private bunkers somewhere? Yeah Boston is volatile but trust me nobody is invoking the money situation here, I know it can take some time to get to the pacific northwest. OK Kaczinski! >>
haha I'm a fascist now!
Dude get a clue.
with that said, I still think that the Yankee GM should get almost twice as much as the GM from Boston. I would further state that the yankee GM should always make the most.
(Tongue in cheek)
SD
edited to add.....ok brosius lol good one!
Try washing there, it helps.
SD
SD
<< <i>Opinions are like behinds everyone has one and they all stink when it comes to speculation. However my speculation comes from the atmosophere here and not pure and general assumption. In Boston we could care less what the NY Gm is making and it had no bearing on this issue. I am glad to know the pacific northwest is so concerned with what the Boston Gm makes >>
Oh there's that eltism that the east coast is so well known for...only YOU can have an informed opinion? Why, because your fabled Boston Globe was leaked information (that may or may not have been true) by the boston front office? You think only Boston folks know what's going on? And the newspaper! ha! Who has time to wait for the print, when the internet gives it to you immediately?
Get out of here you clown...either say (a) no one knows what's going on, and keep your opinion out of it, or (b) let everyone speak their mind about what they think is going on.
You want everyone to be quiet about a topic, saying they can't know what's going on, then you want to offer yours, because you 'read the paper'?
hahah
thanks for the good laugh this afternoon!
<< <i>No problem I hope you didn't miss your weekly anti-government rally, discussing this topic today. I am sure you can find one tomorrow. >>
Well my beefs with the corrupt Bush administration aside, I don't see what they would give one thought of what's happening with some overpaid athletes and overpaid executives when there are much, much bigger fish to fry.
2 words
Players union
SD
All kidding aside...All these GM's have tons of pressure to build a team, regardless how much or how little the payroll is. It's a simple concept....50 million payroll has pressure to put a good team on the field with little money....200 million payroll has pressure to win a world series.
I wonder if the Boston front office would have been better off giving Theo all that power. Heck, it couldnt hurt...he was an intregal part of bringing that championship to Boston.
Who knows? He is holding a press conference today at Fenway...maybe this will all be a bad dream? If not, the Sox will hire a seasoned baseball GM (who probably has experience with Lucchino) and we can get back to business. Last time I checked, Theo Epstein wasn't on the field swinging any bats or throwing any pitches.
<< <i>owner John Henry shouldered the blame for general manager Theo Epstein's resignation on Wednesday
John Henry is just covering for Luccino. However, Henry is a terrible speaker, and you could tell from his voice that he was very upset about Theo leaving --- almost as if there was a death in the family.
Theo was cordial and gracious, but really said nothing at his press conference as to why he left. We will just have to wait over the next few months as the real story leaks out, or maybe Theo will be more candid after the Dodgers hire him.
I can't believe Epstein quit and walked away from $1.5 Million a year. I would give my right arm to be the GM of my favorite baseball team. Also Lucchino was very good to Epstein, and Theo probably would not have gotten the Red Sox GM job without him.