Theo out in Boston
One of the bigger surprises in baseball for sure- Theo Epstein basically quits on the Red Sox. He clearly plannned on being in Beantown or he wouldn't have bothered negotiating all this time. During the process, he realized he wasn't being valued enough by his own boss so he walks away.
In some respects, this comes down to ego. Now that the Red Sox have finally won a title, everyone is convinced they were the reason for the success. We've seen dynasties (or what would have been dynasties) brought down before. Remember Jimmie Johnson leaving Dallas after a dispute with the owner? How about Shaq, Kobe and Phil? How about Larry Brown leaving a Detroit team that's been to the finals two years in a row?
Lots of examples that show success doesn't always eliminate politics and infighting. It happens in our workplace every day- it just doesn't make the papers.
If Theo's boss Larry Lucchino had valued his young understudy more, he would have rewarded him with a contract extension last year. Instead he probably felt he was the brains in the organization, and Theo was just a cog in the wheel so to speak.
How does this impact the Mariners?
Unfortunately it likely doesn't mean much now. If the M's were smart they would try to hire Theo as a consultant if he really does intend on taking a year off.
Theo likely will need money. Sure he's been making almost half a million a year, and probably has some money socked away. Still, that money disappears quickly when nothing is coming in. Bringing him on board might give Bavasi some creative ideas to try and solve the pitching riddle that is the '06 Mariners.
Of course there is no chance this will happen. Bavasi has an ego, and the M's FO doesn't want to look like it doesn't have a plan all figured out.
Yet believe me when I say they have no plan right now- they could use all the help they can get to put one together.
It will be interesting to see what Theo does this year.
Too bad it can't involve the Mariners.
One of the bigger surprises in baseball for sure- Theo Epstein basically quits on the Red Sox. He clearly plannned on being in Beantown or he wouldn't have bothered negotiating all this time. During the process, he realized he wasn't being valued enough by his own boss so he walks away.
In some respects, this comes down to ego. Now that the Red Sox have finally won a title, everyone is convinced they were the reason for the success. We've seen dynasties (or what would have been dynasties) brought down before. Remember Jimmie Johnson leaving Dallas after a dispute with the owner? How about Shaq, Kobe and Phil? How about Larry Brown leaving a Detroit team that's been to the finals two years in a row?
Lots of examples that show success doesn't always eliminate politics and infighting. It happens in our workplace every day- it just doesn't make the papers.
If Theo's boss Larry Lucchino had valued his young understudy more, he would have rewarded him with a contract extension last year. Instead he probably felt he was the brains in the organization, and Theo was just a cog in the wheel so to speak.
How does this impact the Mariners?
Unfortunately it likely doesn't mean much now. If the M's were smart they would try to hire Theo as a consultant if he really does intend on taking a year off.
Theo likely will need money. Sure he's been making almost half a million a year, and probably has some money socked away. Still, that money disappears quickly when nothing is coming in. Bringing him on board might give Bavasi some creative ideas to try and solve the pitching riddle that is the '06 Mariners.
Of course there is no chance this will happen. Bavasi has an ego, and the M's FO doesn't want to look like it doesn't have a plan all figured out.
Yet believe me when I say they have no plan right now- they could use all the help they can get to put one together.
It will be interesting to see what Theo does this year.
Too bad it can't involve the Mariners.
posted by Tom at
1:18 PM
