Archive for the 'Theo Epstein' Category

Oct 18

Theo Epstein Is Still The GM Of The Red Sox, And Matt Garza Is Involved

Matt Garza, Theo Epstein Cork Gaines 6 Comments »

Anybody notice that Theo Epstein is still the general manager of the Boston Red Sox?

It has been a week since word first broke that Epstein was negotiating with the Cubs and had agreed on a five-year deal. But since Epstein is still under contract with the Red Sox through the 2012 season, the Cubs must pay compensation.

Now, a week later, the two sides have yet to agree on a package, which seems strange. How hard could it be to negotiate a couple of minor leaguers and some cash?

Turns out, the Red Sox’ demands have been much higher than that.

According to Bruce Levine of ESPN Chicago, major league sources have told him that the Red Sox initially wanted Matt Garza as part of the compensation package.

Matt Garza?!? Wow. If the Red Sox are still looking for something that big, it is only a matter of time before Bud Selig and Major League Baseball get involved. At this point, there is no way Epstein can go back to the Red Sox, right?

 

Sep 28

Red Sox May Trade For Pitcher To Start One-Game Playoff

Andrew Friedman, Theo Epstein Cork Gaines 10 Comments »

If the Rays and Red Sox both win tonight (or both lose) there will be a one-game playoff tomorrow at Tropicana Field (4pm). While the Rays have a couple of options to use as a starting pitcher, the Red Sox do not.

And to fill that void, Theo Epstein may make a trade before tomorrow’s game. Yes, a trade.

With Jon Lester being used tonight on three-days rest, that leaves either John Lackey or Tim Wakefield for tomorrow’s game. But according to Ken Rosenthal, the Red Sox may try to trade for Bruce Chen…

Sources: Red Sox still discussing whether to get starting pitcher for potential tie-breaker. Among targets: Royals LHP Bruce Chen

Tacky? Sure. But it is legal. Trades are still allowed. But any player acquired is not eligible for the postseason roster. So if the Red Sox do trade for Chen (or somebody else), he would only be brought in to pitch one game.

This is also the same type of move that Andrew Friedman would make. We always smile when Friedman finds a way to stretch the roster rules (e.g. the sprained left roster spot). We cannot now turn around and complain when the Red Sox do it.

Chen is one of those soft-tossing lefties that often give the Rays fits. Chen has not faced the Rays this season, but in his career, he has a 3.75 ERA in 11 starts versus the Rays. And last year, with the Rays tied with the Yankees with three games to go, Chen tossed a 2-hit shutout against the Rays.

The Rays have yet to announce a starting pitcher for tomorrow’s game (if needed). Our gut says that Matt Moore would be the starting pitcher unless he is needed out of the bullpen tonight. If Moore works tonight, then Jeff Niemann would be the starting pitcher. Again, this is just a gut feeling. Or maybe it is wishful thinking. You decide.

Jun 20

Using The DL As An Extra Roster Spot Is Not Limited To The Rays

Theo Epstein Cork Gaines No Comments »

It seems to happen two or three times a season for the Rays. The Rays will have a player coming off the disabled list, and rather than risk exposing a player to waivers, somebody will come down with what we affectionately refer to as a “sore left roster spot.” That is, the Rays may exaggerate, or even make up, an injury for the purpose of roster flexibility and to avoid losing players.

When this does happen, we often chuckle, and some will extol the “genius” of the Rays front office. Smart manipulation of the rules? Yep. A move only the Rays have mastered? Hardly.

Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe suggests the Red Sox recently took advantage of the DL…

When the Red Sox said Darnell McDonald had pulled a quad muscle, his reaction — “no comment’’ — spoke volumes. It was an indication that the injury hardly warranted placing him on the 15-day disabled list with a 20-day rehab assignment...McDonald wasn’t limping, and it just seemed as if the Sox wanted him to get some playing time because Mike Cameron was eating up all the extra outfield reps off the bench.

Cafardo goes on to add that he is not picking on the Red Sox, because, “things such as this are happening all around baseball.”

The question then is: Why doesn’t Major League Baseball do anything about it?

The answer may be Read the rest of this entry »

Jan 12

[THE HANGOVER] Hudson Valley’s New Manager Is Just A Young Pup

Brady Williams, Brian Cashman, CC Sabathia, Dustin Pedroia, Fernando Perez, Joe Maddon, Peter Gammons, Theo Epstein Cork Gaines 4 Comments »

Just the links today as we loathe the observance of National Clean Off Your Desk Day.

DEVIL DOGS WEBTOPIA…

  • Renegades Rumblings takes a closer look at the 2009 Hudson Valley coaching staff, including new manager Brady Williams who is only 29 years old. [Renegades Rumblings]
  • Fernando Perez recently participated in a round-table discussion called “Hot Stove, Cool Music” that included. Theo Epstein, Peter Gammons, Dustin Pedroia and CC Sabathia. Sox & Dawgs recaps Perez’ thoughts on playing at Fenway during the playoffs. [MLB] [Sox & Dawgs]
  • Joe Maddon has been sending “good luck” text messages to the head coach of his favorite football team, the Arizona Cardinals, who are now one win from the Super Bowl after many years of sucktitude…Sounds familiar. [USA Today]
  • Brian Cashman says the Yankees spent $435 million this off-season to keep up with the Red Sox and Rays. [St. Pete Times]

Jun 28

[THEO EPSTEIN] Theo Epstein Knows Little About Why Rays Are Winning

Daisuke Matsuzaka, David Price, Delmon Young, Jason Bartlett, Josh Hamilton, Matt Garza, Theo Epstein, Tim Beckham Cork Gaines 5 Comments »

Red Sox GM Theo Epstein appeared on Cal Ripken’s XM Radio show, Ripken Baseball. Epstein was asked about the sudden surge of the Tampa Bay Rays.

“Obviously they’ve been picking at the top part of the draft for the better part of a decade now and they haven’t missed with those picks. When you draft number one overall, you have to get a franchise-type player and they have. They’ve got plenty of them and they’ve done a great job drafting lower down as well and developing their players…”

There is only one small problem with that assessment:

Number of “number one overall” players on the Rays’ roster: 0

Prior to David Price, last season and Tim Beckham this season, the Rays have only drafted #1 two times, one of which was Josh Hamilton in 1999, whom the Rays lost in the Rule 5 draft.

Certainly one can say that the other top pick (Delmon Young in 2003) helped shape this roster as Matt Garza and Jason Bartlett were acquired in an off-season trade for Young. But that is still only one “number one overall” player that has led to the Rays success this season and Andrew Friedman and Co. deserve a little more credit for that trade than just “they have sucked for 10 years.”

Also, the Rays are far from the only team that has consistently drafted near the top of the draft for the last 10 years (Pirates, Royals, etc.) and yet the Rays are the only team that consistently drafts and develops top-rate players.

And while the Red Sox may not draft near the top, they have become experts in the art form of hording compensation picks for lost free agents. In the last four drafts alone, the Red Sox have selected 13 players before the second round.

Let’s reword Epstein’s statement to reflect why the Red Sox have been so successful…

“Obviously they’ve been picking tons of players in the first round of the draft for the better part of a decade now and they haven’t missed with those picks. When you draft 13 first round players in four years, a team is bound to hit the bullseye a couple of times even if their eyes are shut. They’ve got plenty of them and they’ve done a great job hording compensation picks as well as copying the organizational philosophy of the Evil Empire by throwing $100 million at a pitcher that might win 16 games…”

Theo Epstein on the Rays [MLB ON XM]