29 replies to this topic

[Foulkey Reese]

I normally wouldn't start a thread for something like this, but I found this interview with Theo to be uniquely interesting and candid. I don't know if I'm just not used to hearing Theo speak, but it really did seem like he was being way more honest and candid then usual. Worth a listen if you have the time in my opinion.

Some highlights:

Buchholz's shoulder strength is at an "elite" level due to his off season works outs.

Schilling is a very unhappy camper when he's injured, more so then other players.

Coco is the incumbent CF until something happens to make him lose his job.

Acknowledged that both Tito and he made some mistakes with the whole Jay Payton situation.

Theo was "proud" to be in the Mitchell report because it showed that he and the Sox were doing their due diligence in regards to researching players.

Theo said that a few bad apples can ruin something like the upcoming Japan trip. Specifically named Mike Mussina and Kevin Brown as players who were "bitching" about the trip and then later using it as an excuse for their poor play.

WEEI

Edited by Foulkey Reese, 25 February 2008 - 01:57 PM.

[PedroSpecialK]

I thought the Santana bit was most interesting. Theo went out of his way to say that he thought the Sox' package was better than the Mets' package, and did acknowledge that there were two separate trade offers on the table (something I haven't seen confirmed by Epstein until this interview). Though he did credit Smith and the Twins' organization on being built on solid scouting, he did sound just a bit peeved still.

[SoxFanSince57]

Thanks for the heads up on the interview. It was very informative.

I too found the Santana summary insightful and very consistent with what had been reported. Like Theo, I am surprised that the Twins did not take the Sox package. Theo certainly conveyed that the Sox did not withdraw their 2 offers during the last few weeks of the negotiations. I had been really confused why the Sox did not land Santana. It is helpful to learn that the Twins (Smith) simply valued the Mets' offer more highly.

I will be surprised if Coco is not the starting CF on opening day. It looks to me that there are no trades on the horizon and the Sox will give Coco the chance to retain his starting job. Ellsbury will have to outplay Crisp during the season to become the starter IMO.

Edited by SoxFanSince57, 25 February 2008 - 10:43 PM.

[OCD SS]

Like Theo, I am surprised that the Twins did not take the Sox package. Theo certainly conveyed that the Sox did not withdraw their 2 offers suring the last few weeks. I had been really confused why the Sox did not land Santana. It is helpful to learn that the Twins (Smith) simply valued the Mets' offer more highly.

That's really kind of surprising (and I guess I'm not alone in that). Was he clear that the the report (by I forget who, Rosenthal?) that the Twins approached the Yanks about doing the deal with Kennedy and when they came to the Sox they pulled Lester and Ellsbury was false?

I ask because I remember the Sox (rumored) package for Teixeira (Youks, Lester, Wily Mo) and that they thought that should've been enough to get a deal done; I wouldn't be surprised if they had pulled those 2 players, but still put together an offer that the Twins didn't like as much as the Mets (something like Coco, Masterson, and Lowrie), but that Theo et all thought was superior...

Thanks for passing the highlights along to the rest of us.

[Rudy Pemberton]

I ask because I remember the Sox (rumored) package for Teixeira (Youks, Lester, Wily Mo) and that they thought that should've been enough to get a deal done;

The Sox offered Youkilis, Lester, and Pena for Teixera? I don't recall this at all.....

[kazuneko]

Like Theo, I am surprised that the Twins did not take the Sox package. Theo certainly conveyed that the Sox did not withdraw their 2 offers suring the last few weeks. I had been really confused why the Sox did not land Santana. It is helpful to learn that the Twins (Smith) simply valued the Mets' offer more highly.

This is truly remarkable news. I thought Smith looked bad when it seemed like his primary mistake was drawing out the process too long.
If this is true and he still had the option of going with Ellsbury (or Lester), Masterson, and Lowrie and still went with the Mets offer he looks even worse.
I can't for the life of me fathom how he could justify taking the Mets offer over that Sox offer. Unbelievable.

[Omar's Wacky Neighbor]

Thanks for the heads up on the interview. It was very informative.

I too found the Santana summary insightful and very consistent with what had been reported. Like Theo, I am surprised that the Twins did not take the Sox package. Theo certainly conveyed that the Sox did not withdraw their 2 offers suring the last few weeks. I had been really confused why the Sox did not land Santana. It is helpful to learn that the Twins (Smith) simply valued the Mets' offer more highly.

Two weeks ago tonight, a Mets FO-type told me pretty much the opposite: (short version) once the Yanks had Pettitte back in the fold, the Yanks lowered their offer to the Twins, and the Red Sox lower their offers accordingly (yes, there were originally separate Ellsbury and Lester packages, but never an Ellsbury AND Lester package). At that point, the Sox basically were offering any help/advice (to the Mets) they could to facilitate Santana to the Mets, and pretty much told the Mets that in so many words.....

EDIT: really pathetic half-assed attempt to be less specific on my source.

Edited by Omar's Wacky Neighbor, 25 February 2008 - 08:23 PM.

[Trautwein's Degree]

This is truly remarkable news. I thought Smith looked bad when it seemed like his primary mistake was drawing out the process too long.
If this is true and he still had the option of going with Ellsbury (or Lester), Masterson, and Lowrie and still went with the Mets offer he looks even worse.
I can't for the life of me fathom how he could justify taking the Mets offer over that Sox offer. Unbelievable.

I will go to my grave believing that Santana informed the Twins that he wouldn't waive his no trade clause unless he was traded to the Mets. Santana wasn't exactly Santana in his last 10 or so starts - going to the NL should certainly help to prolong both his effectiveness and his career.

[wade boggs chicken dinner]

I will go to my grave believing that Santana informed the Twins that he wouldn't waive his no trade clause unless he was traded to the Mets. Santana wasn't exactly Santana in his last 10 or so starts - going to the NL should certainly help to prolong both his effectiveness and his career.

Really? As opposed to Smith just not wanting to deal Santana to the MFYs or the Red Sox? And once Santana signs his contract, do you really think an elite level athlete will distinguish between playing in the AL and the NL?

Interesting interview. Theo seems almost introspective these days. Lots of speaking time. I wonder if he feels like Dylan after writing "Blowing in the Wind" - what am I going to do for an encore now?

Edited by wade boggs chicken dinner, 25 February 2008 - 09:53 PM.

[OCD SS]

Interesting interview. Theo seems almost introspective these days. Lots of speaking time. I wonder if he feels like Dylan after writing "Blowing in the Wind" - what am I going to do for an encore now?

Well, he could try repeating as World Series Champion. Is this available as downloadable audio?

[xjack]

This is truly remarkable news.

Pardon me if I don't believe any of it.

Theo uses the media very strategically, never says anything without a purpose and has shown a consistent willingness to shade the truth (if not outright lie) if the comments serve his interests or those of the Boston Red Sox. Even if the Red Sox never had a serious interest in Santana -- which I believe to be the case -- it would still be in the team's interest to make the world believe, after the fact, that its Santana pursuit was real. Otherwise, the next time one of these situations comes up, everyone would assume Theo's bluffing.

[ragnarok725]

I must say, and I'm not sure this is main board worthy, but I'll say it anyway - Theo comes off as just a really, really smart guy. And they're not standard cliche lines, he just seems to react in a sensible, measured way to all the questions askd of him. Now obviously most of this stuff he's given serious thought to and he knows this team better than anyone, but everything I hear from him makes me nod my head and say "that makes sense..." With so many GMs out there who make moves seemingly devoid of that level-headed sense... we're lucky.

Edited by ragnarok725, 25 February 2008 - 11:53 PM.

[DieHard3]

Pardon me if I don't believe any of it.

Theo uses the media very strategically, never says anything without a purpose and has shown a consistent willingness to shade the truth (if not outright lie) if the comments serve his interests or those of the Boston Red Sox. Even if the Red Sox never had a serious interest in Santana -- which I believe to be the case -- it would still be in the team's interest to make the world believe, after the fact, that its Santana pursuit was real. Otherwise, the next time one of these situations comes up, everyone would assume Theo's bluffing.

Another way in which it would be smart is to take the pressure off of Ellsbury and Lester. Right now there are sections of the fanbase who will be running to message boards and to sportstalk radio every time they have a rough game and bemoaning the fact that "We coulda had Joehand Santaner!" By putting it out that that the packages were on the table until the end, and that Theo viewed them as superior to the Mets package, he is saying, "All that kept us from getting Santana is the Twins stupidity."

I'm not sure I buy that the Red Sox package was such a nobrainer over the Mets though. If the Twins looked at Ellsbury the way many Coco fans on this board do, then its perfectly reasonable to rate the Mets outfielder as higher upside and thus more likely to fit with them the next time they're in the hunt. Masterson is viewed by some as a middle relief prospect at best and Lowrie could be viewed as a tweener. I don't agree with that assessment and think, as Theo does, that it's wrong; however, that doesn't mean it ultimately will be proven so.

[Pearl Wilson]

Well, he could try repeating as World Series Champion. Is this available as downloadable audio?

http://www.weei.com/pages/268228.php

Can't link you all the way through, but choose Dennis and Callahan, then you'll see the 3 Theo interviews listed (2 are talking head video). Click on the audio file as if you want to listen. Once it loads, you'll see a link to download toward the bottom left. That's the mp3.

The audio fits the discription of others here and contains the info I'm reading here. I don't know if the video interviews are the same thing or something different.

They don't make it easy but at least with some effort it's possible. If anyone knows a better way...

[Foulkey Reese]

http://www.weei.com/pages/268228.php
They don't make it easy but at least with some effort it's possible. If anyone knows a better way...

I've found that they best way to listen to WEEI interviews is to subscribe to the "Dennis and Callahan" and "Dale and Holley" podcasts on iTunes. I don't think that it's an official podcast, but it seems like somebody out there just downloads the MP3s and turns them into a podcast. That is where I came across this Theo interview.

Edited by Foulkey Reese, 26 February 2008 - 08:47 AM.

[xjack]

I'm not sure I buy that the Red Sox package was such a nobrainer over the Mets though. If the Twins looked at Ellsbury the way many Coco fans on this board do, then its perfectly reasonable to rate the Mets outfielder as higher upside and thus more likely to fit with them the next time they're in the hunt. Masterson is viewed by some as a middle relief prospect at best and Lowrie could be viewed as a tweener. I don't agree with that assessment and think, as Theo does, that it's wrong; however, that doesn't mean it ultimately will be proven so.

There's another way to look at it.

Let's say that the Sox were only interested in Santana at their own price -- perhaps $18 million a year. If the Twins pulled the trigger on a Santana-to-Boston deal and the Sox were unable to reach a deal on an extension, then Smith loses a ton of leverage with the Mets or any other trading partner.

Edited by xjack, 26 February 2008 - 10:42 AM.

[Foulkey Reese]

I was actually pretty shocked to hear Theo make those comments about an active player like Mussina. That definitely seemed out of character for him.

[Caspir]

Nice comeback by Mussina. I wonder if the reporter followed up with a question about what happened after the Yankees won the East? It did strike me as odd that Theo would take a shot at a veteran like Mussina, especially since he's an active player. That said, I seem to recall a few Yankees blaming that trip for any and all poor performances. The interview was interesting though.

[Rudy Pemberton]

Mussina wins! Theo can't sleep at night thinking about all the Divisions the Yankees have won on his watch! What a tool.

[Philip Jeff Frye]

That said, I seem to recall a few Yankees blaming that trip for any and all poor performances.

Watch out for those intestinal parasites, boys!

[8 and 9 in Left]

Pardon me if I don't believe any of it.

Theo uses the media very strategically, never says anything without a purpose and has shown a consistent willingness to shade the truth (if not outright lie) if the comments serve his interests or those of the Boston Red Sox. Even if the Red Sox never had a serious interest in Santana -- which I believe to be the case -- it would still be in the team's interest to make the world believe, after the fact, that its Santana pursuit was real.

I initially had the same thought, but there's still a problem with this theory. If popular perception in MN is that they got reemed on this deal (concededly I don't know if it is or isn't, but I bet it is), and it's also the case that Theo is shading the truth here, then you can be darn sure that Smith will be correcting the record on this.

[xjack]

I initially had the same thought, but there's still a problem with this theory. If popular perception in MN is that they got reemed on this deal (concededly I don't know if it is or isn't, but I bet it is), and it's also the case that Theo is shading the truth here, then you can be darn sure that Smith will be correcting the record on this.

Well, if Theo and Smith were collaborating to make sure the Yankees paid full price for Santana, then Smith isn't going to come out and say it. Theo would never take his phone call again.

[Lollardfish]

Nice comeback by Mussina. I wonder if the reporter followed up with a question about what happened after the Yankees won the East? It did strike me as odd that Theo would take a shot at a veteran like Mussina, especially since he's an active player. That said, I seem to recall a few Yankees blaming that trip for any and all poor performances. The interview was interesting though.

Ah, good old Lexis-Nexis. A quick search of "Mussina japan" gets us a few following notes (my other option was listening to the debate, and it was irritating me)

NY Times 3/31/04

Mike Mussina, who spent the days before the 17-hour journey to Japan complaining about how the long trip could adversely affect the Yankees, continued moaning by his locker before the game, then was probably dreaming about home after failing to protect leads of 2-0 and 3-2. Mussina was gone by the sixth inning, the Yankees gone with him.

He seemed to prove the notion that if you talk enough about being uncomfortable, you will end up feeling that way. That is what happened with Mussina. He disliked the idea of pitching a major league game here because it disrupted his routine; he expected the adventure to be a misadventure and it was.

''We looked flat,'' said Reggie Jackson, the Yankees' special adviser. ''But how do you look good when you give up 15 hits? You don't look good. You don't pitch good, you don't look good.'

NY Times 2/2/04

Even Mike Mussina, who dreaded the trip and pitched poorly in an 8-3 loss in the opener, acknowledged that the visit was more about good will than comfort. George Steinbrenner, who until 2002 had prevented his players from coming to Japan for the postseason all-star tour, endorsed the trip, partly to expand the Yankees' brand.

Daily News 2/2/04

Most of the Yankees embraced the trip, though some - Mike Mussina, most vocally - were unhappy with taking such a long journey to start the season. Questions about jet lag are certain to be plentiful if the Yankees play sluggishly over the next few weeks.

"No one should even think about that," Jackson said. "It's mental. There's a downside to everything in life, but if you don't allow it to enter your mind, you'll get over it and it won't be an issue."

NY Times, 4/12/2004

But Mussina didn't just spit the bit. He hated the idea of going to Japan, let everybody know it and very likely suffered from his frame of mind. In speaking critically of the trip to Japan, he sounded like a character out of Eugene Burdick and William J. Lederer's novel ''The Ugly American.'' Mussina denied that the second disastrous start in Tampa was a carry-over from the first, but he nevertheless pitched poorly and lost that game, too.

[HomeBrew1901]

Lollard, Dale and Holley just read the quotes you found on EEI. They gave you credit as a "poster from Sons of Sam Horn".

[Lollardfish]

Lollard, Dale and Holley just read the quotes you found on EEI. They gave you credit as a "poster from Sons of Sam Horn".

Well it's a good thing to know that if this medieval history professor gig doesn't work out, I've got a future as an intern for sports talk radio!

thanks for letting me know.

[someoneanywhere]

Not, in my opinion, a very good comeback by the BB. If anything it makes him sound just like the whiny little whiner that Theo accused him of being. You say you win the division when the other guy didn't -- but not when the other guy hammered you in the playoffs and won the world championship.

However, I do think there is a line of interest here. Theo's "research" as well as not came from the papers and general talks with Cashman. That you can bet a dollar on. As soon as that line of inquiry gets picked up, we could be in for some real fun.

[yecul]

Theo did the right thing to praise his players. However, he doesn't have to knock anyone else to prop them up. That is unnecessary and unprofessional. He's the top guy and shouldn't be doing it.

It's not a big deal. It's meaningless and won't have any impact -- though reporters will use it to make writing stories easier later on I'm sure. But it's also pointlessly stupid.

And Mussina's comment was right. They went over there, bitched and moaned, had a lousy trip... and still won the playoffs and were in position to make the Series. Doesn't seem that bitching is a big deal despite the outcome after going up 3-0.

[Omar's Wacky Neighbor]

Theo did the right thing to praise his players. However, he doesn't have to knock anyone else to prop them up. That is unnecessary and unprofessional. He's the top guy and shouldn't be doing it.

D&H played the clip again yesterday (in response to the Newark S/L picking up the story 5 days late).

From his tone, I'm guessing there's something more to this that we're not privy to, 'cause I just can't see Theo calling out Mussina and Brown out-of-the-blue like he did.......

[Foulkey Reese]

Earlier yesterday, Mussina got an apology from Boston Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein, who last Friday called Mussina a "bad apple" for complaining about the Yankees' 2004 trip to Japan.
Epstein told a Boston radio station that when the Red Sox go to Japan next month, they need to "keep the (Kevin) Brown-and-Mussina approach from infiltrating our clubhouse." Epstein called Yankees GM Brian Cashman on Tuesday night and asked him to relay his apology to Mussina.

"That was nice," said Mussina, who added "there was nothing" to apologize for.

http://www.zimbio.co... Epstein is a B