Dancing with the one that brought you
By Karlsie
In November I wrote the following about Theo Epstein's dramatic departure from the Red Sox:
"For a couple of weeks now I've been saying that I wonder if he needs to step out of the shadow of Fenway and spread his wings. If he needs to pick up his guitar and play for a while or try something different than baseball. Perhaps he's in that petulant child mode of "I'll show you I can do it, really I can," because he just isn't sure if it's him or not and is looking to see if the magic was his or those around him. Maybe it's a little of everything or all of nothing. We won't know until some tell-all biopic comes out.
No matter what he does, I wish him well. I only believe in a handful of villains and Sox management is not in that handful. This is a growing pains incident - one most of us have experienced from one side or another. This is the childish "up yours" as you slam the door on your way out to show your folks that you can do it, you are a grown up and won't they be sorry when you're gone. This is WP Kinsella's every man who went to college 3,000 miles away to get away from his father after reading "Catcher in the Rye" and whose last words to father were to say his hero, Shoeless Joe Jackson, was a cheater because that was the one thing he knew would break his spirit as well as his heart.
Hopefully, if Theo is really as good as we want to believe he is, in a couple of years he'll be back, more mature and slightly sheepish as he asks if we want to play a catch."
Last night, a couple of weeks of rumors were finally confirmed when the Sox announced it this way:
"As you know, we have spoken frequently during the last 10 weeks. We have engaged in healthy, spirited debates about what it will take over the long-term for the Red Sox to remain a great organization and, in fact, become a more effective organization in philosophy, approaches and ideals. Ironically, Theo's departure has brought us closer together in many respects, and, thanks to these conversations, we now enjoy the bonds of a shared vision for the organization's future that did not exist on October 31. With this vision in place, Theo will return to the Red Sox in a full-time baseball operations capacity, details of which will be announced next week."
John Henry sent out the email saying Larry Lucchino is still the president of the club with all the duties and responsibilities he has always had. The speculation is currently that Theo would take over player operations - a step back from the GM position but one that it just as important, especially since half of the two headed beast used to have that spot and is responsible for developing guys like Jon Papelbon.
So let me lay down my hopes right now.
Theo is young, as are Cherington and Hoyer. They have intelligence, energy, drive, vision but they don't have wisdom. This is where I hope a couple of the "old men" at Fenway - namely Dick Bresciani and Lou Gorman - can be the lighthouse beacon for these young Turks as they bravely rush in where fools dare not tread. Those two men have forgotten more than guys like Theo know. When you then turn to look at guys like Johnny Pesky, Jim Rice and Luis Tiant - all of whom are listed as "instructors" and are always nearby, you have a great team of elders from which to learn.
I keep hoping the diva that was Theo - the one that stomped out of the dance in a very public break up - is coming back wiser and ready to dance with the one that brought him. But as they say: only time will tell.
