Fall Guy
Ego or money? To quote Mo Vaughn, "It's not about the money." The Boston Globe reports that talks between the Red Sox and local hero, World Series winning general manager Theo Epstein are at an impasse. What gives? Is it ego or money?
Does Larry Lucchino need to go to cocktail parties with movers and shakers and say, "Theo Epstein works for me" when he could say, "Theo Epstein works with me?" Is the understated Epstein a closet megalomaniac, or solely suffering from seasonal affective disorder and longing for San Diego or Arizona sunshine?
"Hey Theo, can you fetch me a coffee?" This isn't 'The Apprentice'. This isn't a mentor-mentee relationship. The Red Sox management to GM relationship isn't Tarzan and Cheetah. Or is that what management wants? Do they feel that they haven't gotten enough credit for laying out the big bucks? Do they want a pound of flesh for Jeremy Giambi, for Edgar Renteria, or Matt Mantei? Is the ego problem that uncontained?
If no deal is reached, Lucchino will be the Fall Guy, no matter how much he doth protest to the contrary. Baseball lifer Lucchino will be the quisling of Red Sox Nation, the Roy Munson of 'Kingpin' and Doctor Mudd of 'Your Name is" fame.
Maybe Mr. Henry needs to slap somebody upside the head with his wallet. We can't know, because the talks have been quieter than the Bush Senior and Clinton camp negotiations back in 1992 with the 'Jennifers.'
Come on, gentlemen. Grow up. Go pick up a copy of "Everything I Needed To Know I Learned in Kindergarten" by Robert Fulghum and then scan "Man's Search for Meaning" by Victor Frankl. Stop being petty and start being professional. Bury the hatchets. The clock is ticking. Get it done. If not, we'll be talking about the Curse of Lucchino.
-- Ron Sen, Boston Dirt Dogs contributor and founder of Red Sox Reality Check
