Theo Epstein Takes Out Full-Page "Thank You" In Globe

by Marc Normandin on Oct 23, 2011 10:51 AM EDT in News

As you know (assuming you haven't been intentionally shying away from the news until compensation is figured out) Theo Epstein has officially left the Red Sox to become the president of baseball operations for the Chicago Cubs. His contract is signed, he no longer works for Boston, and is now taking part in the negotiations for compensation himself. That's why today, in the Boston Globe, Epstein took out a full-page ad to thank... well, everyone... for the last decade.

I know I haven't been here at Over The Monster for a very long time -- just since June -- but if you've been reading, you have a good sense of how I feel about Theo Epstein, his work here, and what he is leaving behind. Regardless of how you feel about his free agent signings, or his leaving the team while under contract, or any of that, you have to admit that this letter in the Globe is a classy move.

You'll be missed, Theo, but you'll have to forgive me for hoping we won't miss you too much.

If you care to see the actual letter, hit the jump, or click through to see it on the Globe's website.

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Classy.

Thanks for your work and the two World Series titles, Theo. You ended almost a century of disappointment and made rooting for the Red Sox hopeful again. I hope you have the same kind of success you had in Boston, in Chicago (except when playing the Sox ;)).

Thank you Theo.

My Twitter @totheights

by totheights on Oct 23, 2011 11:28 AM EDT reply actions

Thank you too, Theo!

Always classy and professional.

Best of luck with your new challenge – you are going to need it!

Hopefully we can meet in the ’Series …. where hopefully the Red Sox can extend the Billy Goat curse! :-)

Which makes me wonder … maybe Theo will have to adopt a pet goat to keep at Wrigley in order to break the curse? Will he show up at Tuesday’s press conference with a goat in tow?

NBA Officiating - Corrupt? Incompetent? Which is worse? Does it matter? It sucks.

by mmmmm on Oct 23, 2011 11:52 AM EDT reply actions

or will he just show up in a goat costume?

by wolf9309 on Oct 23, 2011 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Man, now I'm depressed all over again

Your presence will be missed in Boston, Theo. Here’s hoping you can enjoy just being a Sox fan again, even if you can’t admit it on the record. ;)

(As a side note, I’m really glad Theo’s going to maintain the Foundation To Be Named Later as a Boston-centric charity. Good on yer, mate.)

by Tarrsk on Oct 23, 2011 11:58 AM EDT reply actions

I am thankful for all Theo's done for the Red Sox

and wish him great success with the Cubs.

This new beginning will be great for all involved, and this is why I have no regrets or grudges for any parties involved.

Galactus does as he pleases. Because Galactus is drunk.

@#$%ing Twit: @blogtard
OTM | Silver Seven

by Bloggy on Oct 23, 2011 12:08 PM EDT reply actions

Farewell, Theo

I admit to being upset you were leaving us, at first, but this is clearly the best for everyone. Good luck.

by Sologub on Oct 23, 2011 12:17 PM EDT reply actions

Thank You Theo

I am thankful for the first 5 years of your innovative, fantastic contributions.

I will choose to remember you for those first 5 years, as opposed to the second 5 where I feel like you made some really bad choices, and baseball as a whole caught up, and it some cases surpassed whatever it was that made you so good in the first 5.

At least this time when you quit, you don’t have to do so in a gorilla suit.

The 2011 Over the Monster Gedman League Fantasy Baseball Champion

by gizmosandy on Oct 23, 2011 12:44 PM EDT reply actions

I'll take his whole body of work,

Including his good moves during the past 5 years of adjusting to the system by getting top draft picks, bringing in Gonzo, Scutaro, Salty and a half dozen other difference makers. Even more for keeping the community spirit alive.

by GerryT on Oct 23, 2011 4:17 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

ah, the sting of the backhand

NBA Officiating - Corrupt? Incompetent? Which is worse? Does it matter? It sucks.

by mmmmm on Oct 23, 2011 9:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Actually not a backhand,

though I can see that interpretation. I was in a hurry with guests ringing the doorbell. What I woulda/shoulda said said was keeping the Sox so involved in the community on his watch that everyone on the team and FO seemed to be involved in charity work, support for RBI and other youth programs, to the extent that Wake & Papi received the very prestigious Clemente Award. Theo took care of business on so many levels. I neglected to mention Theo’s recent successes with Tazawa, Juan Carlos, Coello, Nava, Atchison, Aviles, etc., all smart moves of a competent, confident GM. Some may disagree, but Chicago is a great city while maintaining a friendly Midwest attitude. They deserve to win and with Theo, Jed & co they have a shot at getting there, fulfilling one of my dream series: Cubs vs Red Sox. Make it so, Theo.

by GerryT on Oct 24, 2011 12:59 AM EDT up reply actions

I was referring to 'sandy's.

NBA Officiating - Corrupt? Incompetent? Which is worse? Does it matter? It sucks.

by mmmmm on Oct 25, 2011 1:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Thanks Theo!

Thanks for Lackey, Lugo, Renteria, Drew, Crawford, Cameron, Willy Mo, and everyone else!

by Scoo Cat on Oct 23, 2011 5:54 PM EDT reply actions

Right, lets just focus on the negative here.

What about Schilling, Ortiz, Foulke, Dave Roberts, Orlando Cabrerra, Millar, Mueller, Gonzo, Beltre, Bay and Aceves? Or how about drafting guys like Pedroia, Buchholz, Bard, Papelbon, and Ellsbury?

Might also want to mention the two World Series they won under Theo too. But yea, lets just focus on the bad moves he made. Ugh…..

by dja9783 on Oct 23, 2011 7:38 PM EDT up reply actions 8 recs

+1

God forbid we stay classy and acknowledge the positives of a relationship when saying goodbye.

Unfortunately, haters gotta hate and ass-wipes gotta wipe ass.

NBA Officiating - Corrupt? Incompetent? Which is worse? Does it matter? It sucks.

by mmmmm on Oct 23, 2011 9:10 PM EDT up reply actions

damn M u funny

Jeffrey M Melhorn

by 18-1 damn on Oct 25, 2011 2:04 PM EDT up reply actions

I also..

…would like to express my thanks for Drew.

by Dale Sams on Oct 23, 2011 10:58 PM EDT up reply actions

LetS look at that

Drew was a good signing just on his superior defense in RF. He also had some really big offensive streaks and we can thank him alot for 2007. Does anyone really believe Crawford won’t have a rebound year and contribute on offense and defense? Forget their contracts unless Henry borrowed the $$ from you. Lackey? Who knew a soap opera came with his contract? He was a better than average 3-5 when Theo signed him, an Angel Ace. Gagne also went from great to off a cliff when be arrived. Is it something about Fenway or the fans?? Wily, Lugo, Renteria … Everyone is entitled to a few mistakes every decade or so, as long as he vets us a couple of WS and breaks the curse. It’s time to celebrate as life continues to move on. Move on and enjoy it.

by GerryT on Oct 24, 2011 1:19 AM EDT up reply actions

Thank you, Theo.

We’ll miss you in Boston. Good luck in Chicago.

Writer at Over The Monster. Follow me on Twitter! It'll be super awesome fun! @mattymatty2000

by Matthew Kory on Oct 23, 2011 6:02 PM EDT reply actions

Absolutely

a class act. Let’s just hope the ownership (or whoever smeared Tito) doesn’t do the same to Theo. Thank you Theo for the memories you help create.

by aubatron2011 on Oct 23, 2011 7:29 PM EDT reply actions

This may have been a preemptive against that.

Galactus does as he pleases. Because Galactus is drunk.

@#$%ing Twit: @blogtard
OTM | Silver Seven

by Bloggy on Oct 23, 2011 9:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Theo Epstein will go down as one of, if not the, greatest general manager in Red Sox history

And certainly among the elites in baseball history.

Good luck on the North Side, Theo. We’re rooting for you.

by Anthony Emerson on Oct 23, 2011 10:59 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

If 50 years from now the Sox haven't won another Series

head-in-a-jar of Dan Shaughnessy will write another horrible book called “The Curse of Theo Epstein.”

Maybe his recent moves haven’t worked out, but Theo will be missed.

Monster carcass in Fens this morning, bat splinters on burst stuffing. This team is afraid of me. I have seen its true face. The players are inveterate quitters and the pitchers are full of fail, and when the playoffs are within reach, they will all choke. The accumulated filth of all their beer and clubhouse rivalries will foam up about their waists, and all the fat Texans and horrid relievers will look up and shout, "Save us!"... and I'll look down and whisper, "NO."

by 0157H7 on Oct 24, 2011 8:23 PM EDT reply actions

no, no, no

The curse of Manny

by wolf9309 on Oct 24, 2011 9:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Sorry no such thing

Manny was manny and never will he be babe. Course our future Dh is playing 1st base in the WS right now, when the time of albert arrives we’ll all say manny who? Oh the send best RH in MLB. RHP he’ll DH LHP he’ll play 1st with Adrian at DH. sound like a plan?!

Jeffrey M Melhorn

by 18-1 damn on Oct 25, 2011 2:08 PM EDT up reply actions

send= second

Jeffrey M Melhorn

by 18-1 damn on Oct 25, 2011 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions

yeah, I wouldn't count on it

but um even if it did happen, why would you platoon defensive positions?

by wolf9309 on Oct 25, 2011 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions

to focus on hitting same side pitchers

Jeffrey M Melhorn

by 18-1 damn on Oct 27, 2011 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions

I really think that would have absolutely, literally, 0 effect on their hitting

god knows that switching people to DH certainly doesn’t automatically make them hit better.

In any case, not really worth discussing as there is quite literally no chance that the Red Sox go and get Pujols.

by wolf9309 on Oct 27, 2011 11:33 AM EDT up reply actions

This is a definite thing that needs to happen more often. Having someone from the Globe thank the Red Sox Nation will definitely boost fame and popularity, as well as get people move and more involved in the Red Sox and baseball as a whole.

Halloween World

by thorstenmikkelsen on Oct 24, 2011 11:50 PM EDT reply actions

First Post here...

As a Cubs Fan, I just hope we’re getting all we hope we’re getting in Theo. I feel this was a classy move on his part (The Thank You ad). I also wanted to say that (IMHO) a great many Cubs Fans rejoiced in the first WS win by Boston…it gave us hope. I can only imagine YOUR EXCITEMENT after what, 86 yrs? It’s obvious your sentiments were split on TE…I’m sure both sides have their reasons… Anyway, best wishes for your Bo-Sox in 2012! I hope you miss Theo, but not too much. I-F my Cubbies ever make the WS, I’d like to think, if it’s not v The Red Sox…Boston Fans would be classy enough to back the Cubbies. Thanks for letting me visit. JS2

There are no facts, only interpretations.
Friedrich Nietzsche
Lets Go Theo!!! 10/13/2011

by jeffstorm2 on Oct 26, 2011 9:47 PM EDT reply actions

You are welcome!

I wouldn’t call it a ‘split’ on Theo. Probably the vast majority have nothing but positive thoughts about Theo. A fair share of those also think that even if he did nothing wrong, a decade is about the right term length and that its a good time to move on for both his and the organizations’ sake.

There are a small handful who just hate everything.

NBA Officiating - Corrupt? Incompetent? Which is worse? Does it matter? It sucks.

by mmmmm on Oct 26, 2011 11:18 PM EDT up reply actions