All good things eventually come to an end, to bad it had to happen so soon. Theo Epstein's rein as the resident baseball god came to an end in Boston this week under somewhat murky circumstances.
As usual, the Globe had it all wrong as the paper had announced that Theo would be re-upping for 1.5 million a year on a three year deal. Of course the next day Theo was announcing his resignation from the club because he no longer could put in his heart and soul.
As the various news conferences unveiled and the talking heads had their say it became apparent that nothing of real substance was said by any of the parties involved about the real reason for Theo's departure. Only Theo and Larry Lucchino know fully what transpired between them but as an interested observer and a fan of the club I can only say that I hope Theo has not peaked and looks back upon these past three years as his crowning achievement. What personal slight could Lucchino have committed to get Theo's nose so out of joint?
Sure he will get another baseball job but how could it be the same as being the head of a club like the Sox? At 30 years old he was substantially involved in ending a champonship drought that had lasted 86 years. He was revered in town not only for his accomplishments but also how he conducted himself in the job and in the community.
As far as Lucchino is concerned, didn't Theo owe him a little bit of slack? Forgetting all the mentor non sense, it still was a fact that Lucchino had advanced Theo at every opportunity till he finally anoninted him to one of the top jobs in all of baseball. So Lucchino low balled Theo on the first couple of contract offers, so what. After all Theo was making $300,000/yr for the last three years. An offer of first $800k then $1.2 and finally $1.5 million seemed to be a pretty good indication the club wanted him back.
Theo was no stranger to negotiations. I think he might have made a few low ball offers in his time. Certainly David Ortiz comes to mind. Did he think he should get Beane money or Cashman money after three years on the job? Speaking of Cashman, whatever Theo had to put up with in working for Henry/Lucchino couldn't possibly compare to having to answer to the old irascible Yankee, Boss Steinbrener. Hell, I thought Henry was going to cry at the news conference over the loss of his boy wonder. Steinbrener would have kicked Theo in the ass for being so childish as to be offended by any "leaks" in the organization.
In any event the Epstein era is over way to soon in Boston. The kid would have been an icon here for decades to come, as it is his name will still be on the lips of every Red Sox fan for the next century. His real work was still being done and he should have stuck around to see the fruits of his labor in the farm system graduate and excel at the major league level.
In the end result, that may be Theo's real legacy here. After all, that is really the way a general manager over the long haul is judged. Yes we won a championship but Theo's contribution was not the only thing that put us over the top. Much maligned Dan Duquette as well as the ownership should get some or as much credit as Theo for the end of the curse.
Here's hoping he does well in any endeavor he chooses and that this decision has made him happier. I hope he didn't wake up the next day and wonder what the Hell have I done?" Or that in the future doesn't look back upon this as a hastily made foolish decision in youth.
He may end up being the Dodger's general manager or the new GM in Washington but will it come with a 120 million dollar payroll? Will he end up on the scrap heap with other general managers who have failed in medicore situations? Only time will tell but one thing is for certain, the Sox will still be the Sox. They will get a new GM, they will spend a bunch on payroll and they will draw around 2 million.
