If he's running the "business side", then he'd presumably have input on decisions involving player salaries, LT, etc., though "input" and "authority" are far from the same thing.I think its rather simple, Theo runs the entire baseball ops side and reports to Henry, Kennedy runs the business side and reports to Henry. Kennedy isnt qualified to have much input on the baseball ops side is he as far as personnel?
Memo to the next person who runs baseball ops for the Boston Red Sox: It’s going to end badly. Very badly.
But that’s just the way it is when you run baseball ops for the Red Sox, whether the title is “general manager,” “president of baseball operations” or “grand exalted poobah of hardball.” It’s going to end badly. Very badly.
And it’s not just that you’re going to be fired, though that’s most likely how it will come down. But worse even than being fired, you’ll come out of the experience bloodied, bruised and finding that your right eye twitches uncontrollably. You might even take to talking to the paintings and photographs on the walls of the executive level at Fenway Park, as Richard Nixon did during his last days in the White House before resigning the presidency.
What, you don’t think being general manager of the Red Sox could cause you to lose it? Consider that Epstein — again, he holds the distinction of twice quitting as general manager of the Red Sox during the ownership of John Henry and Tom Werner — put an exclamation point on his first resignation by skulking out of Fenway Park dressed in a gorilla suit.
I know they won the WS and everything, but Theo hasn't exactly shined in his time with the Cubs. He gave out horrible contracts to Darvish and Heyward. He has not developed their farm system. He traded Gleyber Torres for a half season of Chapman. He traded Eloy Jiminez in a deal for Jose Quintana.If he's running the "business side", then he'd presumably have input on decisions involving player salaries, LT, etc., though "input" and "authority" are far from the same thing.
Regardless, I'd be surprised if Theo comes back, because it's kind of a no-win situation for him. If he succeeds, it still can't ever be as glorious as his first stint here; if he fails, he's lost his touch. Maybe it would make sense for him come back as a last act before retirement, but he's nowhere near that old yet. I'd expect him to wind up in another "franchise with money to spend and nothing to show for it" situation like Seattle, the Mets, or the Angels. (Not necessarily implying any of those franchises is looking to make a change right at the moment -- just examples of the kind of situation that would seem to make more sense for Theo right now.)
Absence makes the heart grow fonder, I suppose, but I don't understand all the pining for Theo.I know they won the WS and everything, but Theo hasn't exactly shined in his time with the Cubs. He gave out horrible contracts to Darvish and Heyward. He has not developed their farm system. He traded Gleyber Torres for a half season of Chapman. He traded Eloy Jiminez in a deal for Jose Quintana.
https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/2019/09/13/speier/OZuVifXmiltozM89RxkbKL/story.html“I’ll tell you flat-out: [The Xander Bogaerts] deal would not have gotten done without Raquel, her leadership, her relationship with Xander, the trust and candor that they had with each other,” said Kennedy.
The same trust that allowed Ferreira to help convince Bogaerts to remain in Boston as part of the Red Sox’ future extends to homegrown players such as Mookie Betts, Jackie Bradley Jr., Matt Barnes, and Christian Vazquez, who have known Ferreira since their first days in pro ball. Those relationships are precisely why she’s been asked to help stabilize the organization — along with longtime colleagues O’Halloran, Scott, and Romero — during a time of change.
“It was a natural fit,” said Kennedy.
“We wanted to make sure that during the transition, the leadership of the department was handling all baseball operations matters and nothing fell through the cracks. We tried as much as possible to be conducting business as usual. Raquel has been here the longest. She has the deepest relationships throughout the entire organization of anyone.
“She, simply put, is a leader. People look to her for input and direction and guidance. It was a complete and total no-brainer.”
Certainly, if they had already decided that an internal candidate was to be DD's successor it's hard to see why they wouldn't have announced that by now. This doesn't necessarily mean they've made a definite decision against all the internal candidates, but it seems to imply that they want to at least talk to some candidates from other organizations before making a choice. Which makes sense.I'm wondering why the firing of Dombrowski was so urgent that it had to be done during the season - and yet they didn't have a replacement ready to be named.
The only thing I can come up with is that it's going to be someone outside the organization and they need to wait for baseball to end.
Otherwise, name your internal replacement and get things moving before October.
Dombrowski had asked the ownership team for clarity on his situation going forward, asking that he be let go immediately if they were not going to commit to him for next season. So they granted his request, which was the right thing to do.I'm wondering why the firing of Dombrowski was so urgent that it had to be done during the season - and yet they didn't have a replacement ready to be named.
The only thing I can come up with is that it's going to be someone outside the organization and they need to wait for baseball to end.
Otherwise, name your internal replacement and get things moving before October.
Maybe not specifically about the Bogaerts deal, but there was an article earlier this year that went into some detail about how Ferreira had a close relationship with the homegrown players. Plus, given the apparent tension between Dombrowski and his two cronies and the rest of the Yawkey Way offices, it probably wouldn't have been good for Raquel if it was leaked to the media that DD didn't really deserve all of the credit for what has shaped up to be possibly the best contract of his tenure with the Sox.nobody was claiming Raquel was the real catalyst behind the X deal until DD was fired. call me a bit skeptical.
Common sense isn't allowed here.nobody was claiming Raquel was the real catalyst behind the X deal until DD was fired. call me a bit skeptical.
The timing was due to Dombrowski asking to be let go immediately if the team was unwilling to commit to him beyond this season. The team did the right thing by granting his request. So, yes, the criticisms of the timing are unfounded.For those complaining about the timing of DD's firing, I don't understand your rationale. Are you concerned with appearances? Because I see no actual benefit in letting DD ride out the year. What purpose does it serve? So we can have a feeling of completion? So he can? DD sticking around for extended garbage time this season does nothing to advance the cause for the future. And it gives the Sox a jump on the time to actively consider and pursue other alternatives.
Maybe I'm missing it but this seems to be one of those times when people are criticizing for the sake of criticizing alone.
Yes. That’s always been DD’s MO. Get a head start on job openings. I’m sure he wants one last gig.The timing was due to Dombrowski asking to be let go immediately if the team was unwilling to commit to him beyond this season. The team did the right thing by granting his request. So, yes, the criticisms of the timing are unfounded.
Agreed that the team did the right thing by DD. For the reason you note.The timing was due to Dombrowski asking to be let go immediately if the team was unwilling to commit to him beyond this season. The team did the right thing by granting his request. So, yes, the criticisms of the timing are unfounded.
Do you mean Alex Anthopolous?I mean if we're wishcasting, the guy I'd love to see them try to poach is AA. Seems roughly as likely as Lunhow or Friedman to me.
Oh he absolutely has. Either a tweet or on a podcast he mentioned himI'm surprised Gammons hasn't mentioned anything about the Remarkable Peter Woodfork.
Which mess is this? Because you can't consider 2019 without also including 2018Common sense isn't allowed here.
Pining for Bloom or Forst over internal candidates who were part of this mess is just pure lunacy...
2018 was like so 2018Which mess is this? Because you can't consider 2019 without also including 2018
I prefer the term "Angel of Death"BJBossman was sent down here on a mission of mercy. His watch costs more than your car. He came here because Henry and Werner asked him to, they asked him for a favor. He said, "The real favor? Follow my advice and fire all their fucking asses because a loser is a loser."
Theo was unemployed for 10 days after he left Boston. Just awful.Buckley in the Athletic -
Memo to the next person who runs baseball ops for the Boston Red Sox: It’s going to end badly. Very badly.
What, you don’t think being general manager of the Red Sox could cause you to lose it? Consider that Epstein — again, he holds the distinction of twice quitting as general manager of the Red Sox during the ownership of John Henry and Tom Werner — put an exclamation point on his first resignation by skulking out of Fenway Park dressed in a gorilla suit.
I'd love for a woman GM here in Boston. Would be extremely progressive. Also by all accounts she's a huge piece of what is going on here. That being said I'm probably not hiring any of the 4 to be the GM and looking outside the organization. Tim Nahering would be my favorite for the job. Former Sox and an excellent proven talent evaluator. He's going to be a GM somewhere in 2020 or 2021 might as well be here.Give the job to Raquel Ferreira.
This is a really good article by Speier on how she plays a much larger role than her title says.
Including this from Kennedy
https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/2019/09/13/speier/OZuVifXmiltozM89RxkbKL/story.html
More at the link.
Honestly she has earned the promotion and if it helps us extend Mookie that’s a bonus (+)
And he was so broken by the experience that he was an utter failure in his next position.Theo was unemployed for 10 days after he left Boston. Just awful.
If he's available he goes to the top of the list. No question. You pay him any amount he asks for. Outside of him Nahering and Bloom look good.Piece in the Trib yesterday about how Theo's "honeymoon is over" with the Cubs. Doesn't really give any inside dirt, so it's hard to say that this is much more than a local columnist banging out clickbait on a deadline. But it does grasp the generally restless atmosphere with Cubs fans this year (oh, how quickly the grow entitled and impatient): the bizarre Zobrist situation, Kimbrel not being a cure all for the bullpen, Heyward & Darvish playing below their salaries, the stink of Addison Russell hanging around the team, Maddon's schtick starting to wear thin...
I think it's much more likely Maddon moves on the winter than Theo does, but a bigger house cleaning wouldn't be a total surprise. Nor would many Cubs fans be upset about it if they miss the playoffs.
To be clear, I'm not saying I want Theo back. I'm saying there's a chance he's looking for a new gig this fall...
Why?If he's available he goes to the top of the list. No question. You pay him any amount he asks for.
Proven. Knows the market and its demands. Succeeded with building a self sustaining flow of minor league talent to the bigs. Lots of reasons why Theo is the number 1 choice if available.Why?
He built a "player development machine" during his first run in Boston in part by taking advantage of the Red Sox financial might. He drafted well in part because the Red Sox spent more than most other teams, and were willing to overpay picks who slipped because other teams weren't willing to pay what they wanted. Can't do that any more. He spent heavily in the international market...can't do that any more.Proven. Knows the market and its demands. Succeeded with building a self sustaining flow of minor league talent to the bigs. Lots of reasons why Theo is the number 1 choice if available.
Theo to be fair also had a superstar in Westmoreland. Possible the Crawford signing never exists if he didn’t become ill.He built a "player development machine" during his first run in Boston in part by taking advantage of the Red Sox financial might. He drafted well in part because the Red Sox spent more than most other teams, and were willing to overpay picks who slipped because other teams weren't willing to pay what they wanted. Can't do that any more. He spent heavily in the international market...can't do that any more.
And to spite all those advantages, the machine was starting to run a bit dry at the end of his last tenure. Some of the big contract mistakes made at the tail end of his time were spurred by the lack of flow out of the minors. Lackey was signed because there were no more pitchers in the pipeline after Justin Masterson. In Theo's defense, the few promising prospects in 2009-2011 were tripped up by injuries (Lowrie, Kalish) or simply flamed out (Anderson, Lavarnway) but it's not like it was a "self-sustaining flow" even with those guys.
Then in Chicago, his pipeline of minor league talent was built largely on him stripping the team down and tanking for a couple years. The Cubs picked in the top 10 in the draft five years in a row (2011-2015) and picked Javier Baez, Albert Almora, Kris Bryant, Kyle Schwarber, and Ian Happ with those top 10 picks. All have been contributors to varying degrees in the Cubs success.
Maybe Theo can do that again in Boston, but I don't think the fanbase or the ownership group really has the patience for a full strip down and rebuild like that. I'm not going to strenuously object to bringing back Theo if that's what Henry and Werner decide to do, but I really don't see him as a clear cut #1 choice if he were to be available.
Yeah, he's gonna need to completely rebuild a farm that is one of the worst we've seen in a while.I mean, WHOEVER is the next GM (or Prez of baseball ops or whatever the title is) is going to have his or her work cut out for them, right? There's a lot to work with, but there are a lot of problems to be sorted through.
Right. You can't blame him for Westmoreland at all. Everyone on here thought he was going to be the second coming and is one of the bigger what ifs of the last 20 years or so. Reds assessment is correct however you can still get tough signs with the intention of sacrificing parts of the draft. So I'm not too concerned with him being able to adapt to the rules with the Sox given his success with the Cubs. He did also leave the Sox with Mookie on his way out the door. I don't think its realistic he returns due to his relationship with ownership but if he does then I'm confident he can draft talent without having to do a full strip down of the team. Its seemingly obvious that JD and Mookie probably wont be here next year so whoever comes into this situation is going to have a lot of pressure from the beginning.Theo to be fair also had a superstar in Westmoreland. Possible the Crawford signing never exists if he didn’t become ill.
This is a great call. Over the past 6 years, Taubman has worked in every department of the Astros baseball ops & was promoted to assistant GM this year. Hiring Taubman would import knowledge about the Astros’ successful approach, which the Sox would do well to adopt and adapt.My darkhorse candidate is Houston’s Brandon Taubman.
And, I would assume he has some sort of relationship with Cora.This is a great call. Over the past 6 years, Taubman has worked in every department of the Astros baseball ops & was promoted to assistant GM this year. Hiring Taubman would import knowledge about the Astros’ successful approach, which the Sox would do well to adopt and adapt.
Plus he has a background in finance, so he and Henry can kick back and talk about derivative futures or whatever.
Taubman was Director of Baseball Operations during Cora's season as bench coach. I'd assume they worked together quite a bit, which will make Cora's voice key if they do consider Taubman.And, I would assume he has some sort of relationship with Cora.
Wade Davis tooYeah, he's gonna need to completely rebuild a farm that is one of the worst we've seen in a while.
What they do with Hernandez is gonna have an effect on their winter as well. But I still don't expect whoever gets the job to spend big on a closer.
The last few big closer deals:
Kimbrel
Chapman
Jansen
Melancon
Kimbrel
Maybe 1 out of the 5 teams is happy with their deal.
Another fun reason to look at Bloom or Forst, they've been a part of teams that built pitching staffs out of scotch tape and bubble gum.
My point was that his drafting success with the Cubs was in large part rooted in having five straight years of picking in the top 10 due to the tanking. He worked the new draft slotting system well because he had a lot more money to use in his bonus pool. If they're not stripping down the Red Sox and rebuilding from scratch as was done in Chicago (and Houston and Atlanta), I think it's a much steeper hill to climb to restock the farm...for whomever the GM winds up being. I'm not convinced that Theo is going to have any sort of magical success that another young and hungry GM couldn't have.Right. You can't blame him for Westmoreland at all. Everyone on here thought he was going to be the second coming and is one of the bigger what ifs of the last 20 years or so. Reds assessment is correct however you can still get tough signs with the intention of sacrificing parts of the draft. So I'm not too concerned with him being able to adapt to the rules with the Sox given his success with the Cubs. He did also leave the Sox with Mookie on his way out the door. I don't think its realistic he returns due to his relationship with ownership but if he does then I'm confident he can draft talent without having to do a full strip down of the team. Its seemingly obvious that JD and Mookie probably wont be here next year so whoever comes into this situation is going to have a lot of pressure from the beginning.
Right.Wade Davis too
I'd rather get the best candidate without the need for useless virtue signaling or grandstanding.I'd love for a woman GM here in Boston. Would be extremely progressive. Also by all accounts she's a huge piece of what is going on here. That being said I'm probably not hiring any of the 4 to be the GM and looking outside the organization. Tim Nahering would be my favorite for the job. Former Sox and an excellent proven talent evaluator. He's going to be a GM somewhere in 2020 or 2021 might as well be here.
Bloom is the other one who would be great if they are rebuilding on the fly. Might take someone from Tampa to navigate replacing JD and Mookie while still competing.
Theo obviously had favorable draft positions, but he made some savvy pickups and under-the-radar moves too. He got all-star caliber guys like Rizzo, Hendricks, Arrieta, and Fowler for virtually nothing, and real contributors like Strop, Rondon, Travis Wood, Valbuena, Villanueva, Edwards Jr., Coghlan, Hammel, Caratini, Bote, DeJesus, La Stella, Montero and Montgomery off the scrap heap.My point was that his drafting success with the Cubs was in large part rooted in having five straight years of picking in the top 10 due to the tanking. He worked the new draft slotting system well because he had a lot more money to use in his bonus pool. If they're not stripping down the Red Sox and rebuilding from scratch as was done in Chicago (and Houston and Atlanta), I think it's a much steeper hill to climb to restock the farm...for whomever the GM winds up being. I'm not convinced that Theo is going to have any sort of magical success that another young and hungry GM couldn't have.
What? There's not going to be a job opening in Cleveland. Chris Antonetti holds the same position Epstein has in Chicago and has been with the organization since 1999. He was the de facto GM well before Mark Shapiro left for Toronto, as he was always Shapiro's first-hand baseball and analytics guy (he was hired to construct their entire evaluation system) whereas Shapiro was more of a front office facilitator. Antonetti isn't under fire (any team failure is rightly laid at the feet of cheap ownership) and obviously holds no wanderlust... if Mike Chernoff does, then they'll hire from within and groom the next guy (and obviously Epstein's not going to work under Antonetti). The last time the Indians hired outside the organization for the role was November 1987 when they brought in Hank Peters to revamp the organization top to bottom along with his protege John Hart. The only way I see Cleveland gutting its front office and rebuilding from the outside is if the Dolans sell the team to a bullish new owner.I think if Theo goes somewhere, it's Cleveland to try and put them over the top. Good team already, middle of the road farm system, good relationship with Francona, and a chance to end a third long World Series drought. He won't have a huge checkbook to work with, so there's probably some appeal there to show that he can do it without a big budget or a big market.