Tuesday, January 24, 2006

The more things change...

Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald is reporting breaking news: Theo Epstein is coming back. But that's not the breaking news. Here's the lead:
The Red Sox are poised to announce Theo Epstein’s return as the general manager of the Red Sox, with roughly the same powers, authority and autonomy he had when he left on Oct. 31... In other words, nothing officially has changed.

Apparently he's even coming back with the exact same title -- General Manager. Cherrington and Hoyer will be reassigned in some capacity. So exactly what was this all about? Again, the Herald's take.

Since the team announced Epstein’s return last Thursday evening, it has refused to elaborate on his title and role but Henry has stated that Lucchino’s powers will not be diminished. One reason for Henry’s statement, it is believed, is because so many who have been following this story have assumed that Epstein would not return unless or until he could report directly to Henry or else hold more power in baseball operations decisions. Epstein has been said to chafe under Lucchino’s occasionally strong-armed management style.

That assumption has apparently been erroneous, however, and there is, according to sources both on and off the ballclub, a less complicated rationale for Epstein’s return. He has now become convinced that the work environment has improved to the point where there is more listening, more cooperation and more of an ability to compromise when there are differences.


Um... okay. That's what this was all about? Theo wanted someone to play nice? I think Silverman sums it up best in the next paragraph.
Given that nothing substantive has been changed with Epstein’s return, there is always the possibility that the resumed setup could be a time bomb of sorts that will detonate somewhere down the road, but that angle will not be acknowledged by the team today or anytime soon.

Tick tick tick tick....

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