Sox should strike while fire is hot
October 9, 2005They have taken pains, all of them -- Theo and the Trio -- to keep negotiations on a new deal for general manager Theo Epstein out of the public purview. Principal owner John W. Henry's most recent public comment on the issue, a couple of weeks ago, was to express confidence -- little doubt, actually -- a deal soon will be in place. On the surface, the match between franchise and brainy native son appears to be too perfect to be trifled with.
''We look forward to a prompt resolution so that we can deal with the myriad issues that will face us this offseason," president and CEO Larry Lucchino wrote in an e-mail yesterday.
But with the Red Sox season over and Epstein just three weeks from free agency -- the three-year contract he signed in 2002 expires Oct. 31 -- the Sox would seem to be running an unnecessary risk by not striking a deal quickly. There will be too many other opportunities available this winter -- jobs in Arizona, Washington, Tampa Bay, Philadelphia, Baltimore, San Diego, and New York (Yankees) have either opened or could open -- for the Sox to allow Epstein to discover just how wealthy and powerful another major league owner would like to make him.
So what has kept a deal from being struck already? In a perfect world, Epstein would undoubtedly prefer greater autonomy under the very hands-on Lucchino. Although some sources with some inside knowledge insist Epstein has broached the topic of reporting directly to Henry, Lucchino said yesterday ''there has been no exploration or discussion of 'chain of command' issues," and Henry also disputed the accuracy of the sources.
Most likely Epstein understands the structure here is not going to change and is averse to creating the perception of wishing to usurp Lucchino's power. Yes, occasionally there is tension in his relationship with Lucchino, the sources say, Epstein at times chafing at having to justify his baseball decisions to Lucchino, whose biography proudly points out he is the first president/CEO to win pennants for two franchises since Larry MacPhail did so with the Brooklyn Dodgers (1941) and New York Yankees (1947). Lucchino, who turned 60 last month, also has two World Series rings, the one he was awarded as the Orioles' general counsel in 1983 and the one he earned last season.
But how much conflict is there? One source cautioned against describing it as such, saying it was the kind of tension that often arises between mentor and protege. It was Lucchino, after an initial push from Dr. Charles Steinberg, who identified Epstein as a talent from the time he arrived as a PR intern in Baltimore. Lucchino took Epstein with him when he went to the Padres, pushed him to go to law school, and placed him under the tutelage of Padres GM Kevin Towers, then persuaded Henry to take the boldest step of all and anoint him baseball's youngest general manager at 28 years 11 months.
Source: http://www.boston.com/
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