Lucchino on The GM Search and Roger Dodger

10.31.02:  Larry Lucchino (LL) from Thursday's 'Executive Report' on WEEI's Dennis and Callahan Show with John Dennis (JD) and Gerry Callahan (GC):

JD: ...Larry the Lobster at Fenway tonight. Halloween party at Fenway... will Steinberg be SpongeBob SquarePants?

JD: Herald no, Globe yes. What's the deal on Beane?

LL: Don't want to say directly, but a little bit of both. We certainly have an enourmous amount of respect for Billy Beane but there has not been a direct path to talk to him. I'll leave it at that. There is a bit of a misunderstanding here, but we'll try to get it clarified. Should be resolved today or tomorrow after a phone call. Confident we'll get the right person. A permanent GM will be in place.

LL: Yes, proper protocol is to call someone back promptly. Lee McVail (Cubs) called me when I was in the middle of something, but knowing him as I do, wanted to call him back by end of day. That's not always possible, but...

LL: I told media that winter meetings were an outside time. The media has made a lot of the few weeks that have passed. My nature, I tend to want to knock on every door, look at less conventional candidates Yes it's possible you won't know the names. That's OK. People didn't expect Towers and Bethard in 1978. Hope to have same kind of success. Heck of an opportunity, more and more clear to me at WS. People coming up to me with recommendations, nominating themselves for the job, it was a land rush, I didn't have a meal alone the whole time I was there. People realize that this franchise, with this nucleus, is a great opportunity.

JD: GM wants his own manager, owner wants own GM right?

LL: Mike Port was well aware we had an obligation to conduct a thorough search. He's done a fine job. Being an inherited person is not important, we've had a season together. There is something to GM having an opportunity to pick a manager, important one. GM is likely in this stage of the year, to stay with the circumstances we have presently, I expect Grady to be manager.

JD: Is the reason for the perceived slow process Larry himself, too involved, part of the problem?

LL: Saw that reference, thought it was red herring. Anyone who is CEO of baseball org. is going to have a say in decision making. We're looking for a GM with input, not a fair observation. The number of people who have lobbied recently. Playoffs and World Series prevented things from moving quickly earlier. Certain people in the game themselves involved. Just ended 72 hours ago. Subscribe to old maxum: hire slowly, fire quickly. We will have someone in place by winter meetings (Dec. 10).

JD: 4-5 hour meetings with candidates, what's the most imp. question?

LL: Make Callahan an applicant, we'll do interview. Pays more than you're currently making (JD: don't be so sure!)several hundred thousand, to over million.

Questions: Give me your assessment of the state of the Red Sox, both ML club and minor league system. (Callahan bad answers).

Who are the best GM's in the game? GC: Kevin Towers was nice guy (when I wrote for SI). Billy Beane, Brian Sabean. LL: Who are the worst GM's? GC: Steve Phillips, Dan Duquette. Do you really ask that? LL: Yes.

GC: What's wrong with Mike Port?

LL: You're assuming there is something. Mike remains a candidate, will be a finalist in process. But want to see who's out there, given how important and desirable it is. We should take a few weeks and look around.

JD: Thomas one year? Why not Mike?

LL: Mike is a possibility in that type of arrangement, Mike or Lee would be perfect if we chose to go that route.

LL: Theo is going to be a GM someday. I don't think that "GM in waiting" is something we would say at this point though. Implies he's going to be GM for this team.

GC: LL above, Theo below, causing some problems?

LL: I suppose if there was personality problem. But haven't heard that. Theo one of the hardest working people in the game. GM can hire other positions. Special Assistants, VP Scouting, etc. are open so this person can have his own people around him.

JD: Would you spend a minute on Clemens?

LL: Absolutely. What's going to happen is Mike Port, Lee Thomas, and Theo will go over list of FAs. Roger's name will come up. We'll come up with a set of people. I expect Roger's name will come up for discussion yes.

JD: We had a poll: Floyd or Clemens: LL: Floyd, younger, but I like pitching, Roger a bit long in the tooth.

JD: Glavin or Clemens? Glavin better fit for us than Clemens. Local boy, lefty. I don't know Roger the dodger all that well, just familiar with his antics. Likelihood we will add a FA or two. Other ways to get players: can trade guys, get ML free agents, foreign players. Not going to turn off any of those possibilities. May not be the $20M FA of past years, but that's a vanishing breed, hopefully.

JD: Old friend Hillary was in town did she call you? Hillary did not call me. Yes she would recognize me. It's been a while, so maybe a polite handshake (versus hug greeting).

JD: She was single when you two worked together right?

LL: I didn't go there, you shouldn't go there.

JD: Brady or Bledsoe

LL: Brady, wears that Red Sox cap since I've been here. I'm a Brady guy.