Theo Nathan Epstein
by BobZupcic on Feb 25, 2010 2:52 PM EST
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PrintIn November of 2002 the Red Sox ownership brought on board a then 29 year old Theo Nathan Epstein who was working as Director of Baseball Operations in the San Diego Padres organization. Over the course of the past 6 seasons (2003-2009) Epstein has been at the helm of player acquisitions, drafting and scouting and numerous other tasks as the General Manager for the club. During his tenure he has been both lauded and often ridiculed by parts of the Nation. How has he done?
The Red Sox Under Epstein's 6-Year Tenure
- 660 Wins vs. 474 Losses - 0.582 Winning Percentage
- 5 out of the 6 seasons the Red Sox have won 95+ games
- 5 out of the 6 seaons the Red Sox have made he playoffs
- 2 American League Pennants
- 2 World Series Championships
- Current Farm System that is ranked in the top 10 by numerous organizations (some in the top 5)
- Active and fruitful international scouting program (Dice-K, Okajima, Iglesias, etc.)
I don't really get some of the Theo bashing that goes on on other boards. I guess some in Sox Nation are not happy with success? Someone fill me in on what I'm missing apart from a few bad signings which every GM who takes risks goes through.
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What you're missing:
“What have you done for me lately” attitude based entirely on illogical predictions of next season.
USG
and yet
Theo is the GM who values players like Drew over most of the slop you consider better. Think about it…perhaps the most successful GM over his tenure in all of MLB thinks Drew is more valuable than Bay. Does that make you want to understand what you are missing?
Im not sure there is really that much criticism of Theo around though.
Pretty much around the net he is considered the best GM in baseball.
There is some criticism from the NE media (the CHBs and Borgeses of the world)
And there’s a lot in the comments from “fans” on the Globe’s and Herald’s websites.
I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.
by Drugs Delaney on Feb 25, 2010 4:24 PM EST up reply actions
and sometimes people are just idiots
hi steelersfamily7…
Homer: Kids, you tried your best and you failed miserably. The lesson is, never try.
by DougieWentDeep on Feb 26, 2010 7:47 AM EST up reply actions
Consider all that Mr. Epstein has NOT done:
- Have a pitcher throw a perfect game.
- Field a 155 game-winning squad.
- Produce the Cy Young, ROY and MVP winners all in the same year.
- Engineer a cure for Cancer.
- End the Wars in Iraq & Afghanistan.
- Solve Haiti’s problems.
- Be sainted by the Roman Catholic Church.
With all of these accomplishments yet to be achieved, it’s easy to see why exacting New Englanders are not fully behind him.
We have lingered in the chambers of the sea /
By sea-girls wreathed with seaweed red and brown /
Till human voices wake us, and we drown.
The only criticism I can think of
is Lugo. I have no clue what he was thinking!! Im not just saying that after the fact, knowing the results. Lugo had potential but I didnt think he had proved it enough to deserve that contract in any way, shape, or form. I would have rathered keeping Renteria for another year to see if that bad one was an aberation.
At the time I also didnt agree with the Drew contract. It was too much money and too many years for a guy that had been hurt every year he had played. I didnt see him as a middle of the order guy at all, and 14 million, at that time, should be a middle of the order guy. Now looking back the contract has worked out pretty good. 14 million/year is for a good, solid, player which Drew is. I also didnt realize how good he was on defense until the first game I watched. Drew was a lot better in RF than I had expected. Hopefully Drew stays healthy for the remainder of the contract.
Outside of those 2, off the top of my head, I thought the rest of his moves were pretty good at the time that he made them. Some worked out, others didnt!!
He was thinking that when Lugo played for Tampa, he hit very well in Fenway
And if you go back to when Lugo signed with us, an awful lot of folks here thought it was a great move.
Though some of us cough cough thought it was not a good idea.
Not only that
Lugo was such a pain in the ass when he played for Tampa. He reminded me of Johnny Damon. He also stung the ball much more solidly than when he got here. The old Lugo would foul off pitches, get on base and immediately steal. He was a major pest and a good defender.
When he got to LA he aged quickly. We assumed the 2 months of performance was an aberration and he would return to his old ways. He did not.
I was very happy when we signed him, though I thought it was a high price. We absolutely needed a SS and he was the only one around – and a guy we had coveted for a while. That offseason we needed a RF and a SS and it was basically Drew and Lugo or bust. We got our guys – they both did reasonably well (but not as well as we had hoped) and we won the World Series…
I thought it was a good move at the time – and one we had to make for lack of alternatives.
Criticism
Trading for a certain closer in 2007 mid-season comes to mind (Sorry I can’t even type his name) and that trade with SD for Mirabelli.
"That was a lot of fun… You just keep pounding balls into the gap. The one thing you don’t want to do is hit a home run. That’s a rally-killer." Jeff Francoeur
How would you guys rank Theo among all active GMs with atleast 3 years of service?
by German Red Sox Fan on Feb 26, 2010 9:19 PM EST reply actions
Absolutely #1
Built two teams capable of making the World Series in just his first two years as manager. The only reason the 2003 team didn’t make the World Series is a boneheaded decision by a guy named Grady. For all of Epstein’s missteps, one has to consider his batting average is still much higher than the rest of baseball’s. In addition, the move to build up the minor league system is already paying rich dividends.
It's really tough
because GMs have such different situations. Theo has done great, but with a big payroll. Some teams, like the Marlins, seem to be able to compete frequently despite a tiny payroll. Really I don’t know how to judge them compared to each other unless they’ve run several different teams in different situations (and you have to assume if several different teams have hired them, they are probably a pretty decent GM)
I do know that Theo makes great decisions and I’m glad he’s the Sox GM.
well a lot of times people get fired as a scapegoat
usually i gotta think someone thinks they’ve been doing something right if they’ve been hired back for the same position with different teams.
Sure, there are exceptions, like Omar.
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