The Red Sox management have been busy little bees, it would seem, during the last several days outlining potential replacements for ex-GM Theo Epstein. One such candidate, Jim Bowden of the Nationals had this to say about his pending interview with the Red Sox:
"I'm really looking forward to it," said Bowden, who previously was GM of the Reds. "I've never had a big payroll to work with before. A lot of people have said I'd be good with a big payroll. I'd like to give it a try."
I don't know about the rest of you, but his last two sentences SCARE ME TO DEATH. That, to me, sounds something like a 16-year-old getting behind the wheel of a Shelby Mustang GT for the first time and saying "Wow, I've never had 600 horsepower to work with before, but my friends all say I'd drive GREAT at high speeds. I'd like to give it a try."
That's when you take the keys away.
This statement by Bowden would lead one to believe that FO funds and GM operation are like Monopoly. You throw some play money around, invest in this, dabble in that, take chances here and there and hope to land on Free Parking to sign David Ortiz before anyone else does. Careful now, that Luxury Tax will hit you big and you best not pass Go if caught with steroids.
But I digress....
I'll be interested to know how the Sox contingent fares at this week's meetings. I don't expect much to happen, but I'm really hoping that Boston's next GM comes from inside the organization. Who else would know the way things are working (and they're working well), not to mention the ways things DON'T work. I'm cautiously optomistic, but also fully confident that the Sox FO (just like the team) can blow it.
...........Again.