BOO... Hiss!

FENWAY SHOCKER: THEO GOES

"'Who is the GM going to be?" (David) Ortiz asked. 'And who is going to want to become GM of our team to work for somebody else? A GM wants to be somebody in a position [of power]. If you're going to be the GM, just to get orders from someone else, it's something they aren't really comfortable with.

"'We need Theo. Hopefully, they put it together to keep Theo.

"'I think the problem is Theo is not getting enough of a position to say, 'I'm going to do this, if I [mess] up, I [mess] up.'" -- 11.1, Chris Snow, Boston Globe

A Dirty Trick

Gammons: Dream Job No Longer Right for Epstein

"New GM has to try to trade Manny, Wells for the same reasons (as Theo)
of claustrophobia." -- Peter Gammons on ESPN Sports Center

"(Red Sox VP and friend Sam) Kennedy talked to Epstein every few hours trying to convince him to stay. Red Sox ownership, specifically Larry Lucchino, tried to convince him to stay, offering more money than they ever dreamed of paying. But Epstein chose to move on, because while he loves the Red Sox, baseball and running a baseball operation, he did not love this job -- the hype, PR, spin-doctoring, leaks and rock-star status it entailed... As for a successor, it would seem that the line would start behind Gerry Hunsicker, unless the Tigers would let Dave Dombrowski out of his contract in Detroit." -- Peter Gammons, ESPN Insider (subscription only)

So Who's on Deck?

Can Lucchino Control Towers?
Don't Rule out Milwaukee's Doug Melvin
Can Dave Dombrowski Get Out of Detroit?
Gerry Hunsicker Should Be in the Hunt
Can They See David Forst Through the Trees?
Could Gillick Stick? Sabean There? Hello Hoyer?

Edes: One Name to Circle is Towers
McAdam: Duquette on the List
Silverman: Hunsicker, Gillick?

'Over Here! Over Here!'

...And Let's Bring Back Nomar Too