Lucky Lucchino losing power?

[BosRedSox5]

http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2015/07/18/baseball-talking-about-expansion/ty33Xdhj9Ez6tqEB84TwcK/story.html
 

3. Tom Werner, chairman, Red Sox — There’s a buzz in the ownership/management community that the well-respected Werner could be more involved in the daily running of the team, with president and CEO Larry Lucchino being less involved. Werner, who finished runner-up to Rob Manfred for commissioner, is being viewed in a more influential role both with the team and in baseball overall. His pace-of-play ideas have worked out well, as MLB had cut some nine minutes off the average time of a game through the All-Star break.
 

 
I wonder how much there is to this. LL gets a lot of flack from fans, but all in all he must be doing something right because the team has been really successful with him as CEO. At the same time, it seems like whenever a questionable move is made, it gets tracked back to Lucchino. Things like the Cliff Floyd deal, or Carl Crawford signings. Is he just a good soldier taking blame for things and keeping heat off the ownership group or is he more of a hinderance? 

FWIW, Werner seems like the world's nicest man so having him take more of an active role might be good. What do we know about his decisions so far, apart from being influential in pace of play changes?

 

[Savin Hillbilly]

FWIW, Werner seems like the world's nicest man so having him take more of an active role might be good. What do we know about his decisions so far, apart from being influential in pace of play changes?

 
Well, there's this:
 

 
Francona described how he nearly walked out of a meeting he had in 2010 with majority owner John W. Henry, chairman Tom Werner and CEO Larry Lucchino after Werner complained about declining TV ratings on NESN, the team-owned regional network, and said, "We need to start winning in more exciting fashion."

 
Not exactly the world's most unbiased source, but it doesn't fill me with enthusiasm about the idea of Werner playing a larger role in personnel decisions.

 

[Tomclash]

This would seem to herald a shift to marketing from operations. Hopefully, I am wrong or we are in for a few years of root canal, Charlie.

 

[PedroKsBambino]

This would seem to herald a shift to marketing from operations. Hopefully, I am wrong or we are in for a few years of root canal, Charlie.

 
Werner is more marketing and LL is more operations---I think you have the players wrong. 

 

[threecy]

For what it's worth, Lucchino turns 70 in September (Werner and Henry are both in their mid 60s), so it wouldn't be surprising if he's backing away from day to day business.

 

[Tomclash]

This would seem to herald a shift to marketing from operations. Hopefully, I am wrong or we are in for a few years of root canal, Charlie.

 
Werner is more marketing and LL is more operations---I think you have the players wrong. 

I think I understand respective owners' capabilities. Maybe you read the post too quickly?

 

[Manramsclan]

Tom Werner
 

 
FWIW, Werner seems like the world's nicest man so having him take more of an active role might be good. What do we know about his decisions so far, apart from being influential in pace of play changes?

 
What does the bolded have to do with anything? 
 
Besides that fairly ridiculous comment, Tom Werner had a terrible track record before the Red Sox. Padres' fans hate him because he made so many terrible blunders including failing to sign Todd Helton as a second round pick, and then forcing out GM Jim McIllvane who refused to conduct a fire sale by trading Gary Sheffield, Fred McGriff and others.
 
A simple googling will tell you that Tom Werner is not the guy we want handling baseball decisions. He's not a baseball man, he's a Hollywood producer.

 

[Murby]

Tom Werner
 
 
What does the bolded have to do with anything? 
 
Besides that fairly ridiculous comment, Tom Werner had a terrible track record before the Red Sox. Padres' fans hate him because he made so many terrible blunders including failing to sign Todd Helton as a second round pick, and then forcing out GM Jim McIllvane who refused to conduct a fire sale by trading Gary Sheffield, Fred McGriff and others.
 
A simple googling will tell you that Tom Werner is not the guy we want handling baseball decisions. He's not a baseball man, he's a Hollywood producer.

 
Agree with this 100%. Not only is he a Hollywood producer, he is apparently now bad at that as well. He's a clown and I want no part of him running any aspect related to the product on the field. Ever.

 

[moondog80]

 
 
Not exactly the world's most unbiased source, but it doesn't fill me with enthusiasm about the idea of Werner playing a larger role in personnel decisions.

 
To me that quote always sounded like something Werner said tongue-in-cheek that Tito took literally.  I mean, could someone in such a position really by so obtuse?

 

[BosRedSox5]

 
To me that quote always sounded like something Werner said tongue-in-cheek that Tito took literally.  I mean, could someone in such a position really by so obtuse?

 
I dunno... according to Feeding the Monster he seems both nice to a fault and kind of in his own world. As a Hollywood producer, it does seem like something he might say. Francona is no stranger to comedy, I can't see someone making a joke and it flying over his head to the point where he gets upset and almost walks out of a meeting, but maybe.

 

[MuzzyField]

If Tom has been fixing NESN, it's obviously time to turn him loose on the roster building.

 

[Philip Jeff Frye]

 
To me that quote always sounded like something Werner said tongue-in-cheek that Tito took literally.  I mean, could someone in such a position really by so obtuse?

So you're saying Tito was too obtuse to understand Werner's wit?

 

[MuzzyField]

I miss Tito!
Would the Indians trade Tito for JF? Hell no, advantage Indians!
And JF is Cleveland born and bred as a player and GM in training. It's crazy that I watched him pitch in Waterbury.
Yay 2013, thanks Vic for staying healthy and taking a beating, but don't the Yankees and Cardinals ownerships find a way to keep Tito and Theo and enjoy the long-term ride?
I don't think Ben was the brightest bulb in the Theo build front office. Did he turn down any outside promotions to stay or lose,out to,brighter bulbs?
There is no way a full power LL doesn't blow baseball ops up... Ben appears to be JWH's boy and if Tom is gaining more power in baseball decisions we are in for a long term correction of suck.

 

[threecy]

I don't think Ben was the brightest bulb in the Theo build front office. Did he turn down any outside promotions to stay or lose,out to,brighter bulbs?

...except that Ben had been in the Red Sox front office for three years prior to Theo coming to town and "building" the front office...

 

[Granite Sox]

To me that quote always sounded like something Werner said tongue-in-cheek that Tito took literally.  I mean, could someone in such a position really by so obtuse?

 
"1-2-3... Let's Go Red Sox!... Let's Go Red Sox!..."
 
*crickets*
 
We love Werner's money.  That's it.  He should have zero influence on the actual on-field team.  Zero.
 
If Werner was responsible for the Jamie Erdahl era, then I'll give him credit for that as well.

 

[CoRP]

Come on. Give Werner a break. After all, he produced this:
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYwMF5UeYcM

 

[smastroyin]

Lucchino is going to be involved I'm sure in whatever the PawSox end up doing, and probably pretty heavily if there is a stadium built (whether in RI or MA or wherever).  This news isn't that surprising.  Werner running operations seems odd and not really a great idea.  But at least I'm sure he's figured out that winning is the best incentive for people to come to the park and continue to pay the huge ticket prices.