Unlike Lucchino, Kennedy's responsibilities will not include having a hand in baseball operations.
bellowthecat said:Will be interesting to see if this leads to any fundamental changes in the way the Sox acquire talent. I will say thank you to LL for the years of success and investment in the team, but I am glad he is stepping down now and giving the opportunity to lead this organization to someone else. Big news that I think will be looked back on as the right time for him to go.
nattysez said:
I wonder if LL, considering retirement anyway, is falling on the sword for his loyal employee. The timing is odd unless you think of this as a reaction to the growing sentiment that Cherington's days have to be numbered (I believe the Globe had a column in the past day or two saying as much). If LL is willing to take the fall for the team's recent failings, the public may be willing to give Cherington a couple more years to right the ship. I predict a story or three implying that LL was behind the big-name signings in the off-season that include lines like "this gives Cherington a chance to spread his wings and rely only on the judgment of his staff."
Michael Silverman @MikeSilvermanBB 1m1 minute ago
John Henry: '15 Red Sox "huge disappointment'' and "We have begun transitioning personnel." Boston Herald will have more from him soon.
Savin Hillbilly said:
Of course, it's also possible that the bolded is, you know, true.
According to multiple reports, Larry Lucchino will be leaving his post as Red Sox president/CEO as early as the end of October.
Lucchino will reportedly be replaced by current Red Sox chief operating officer Sam Kennedy. The 42-year-old Kennedy, a Brookline native, is not believed to have a role in player acquisition in the manner Lucchino did since joining the club in 2002. ...
It has long been rumored that Lucchino would be stepping aside from his current post, with the longtime baseball executive — who will turn 70 next month — seemingly wanting to diminish his workload. The current president/CEO hasn’t been as visible this season, with much of his focus turned to the the purchase of the Pawtucket Red Sox and that organization’s quest to build a new stadium in Providence.
Or if they want to attract a big time GM from the outside, they'll be able to give complete control.canderson said:Could this perhaps be a Cherington power struggle victory since they say Kennedy won't have a role in acquisitions?
This is how I interpret it. The new CEO will choose a new GM, who will choose a new manager.Bob Montgomery said:Or if they want to attract a big time GM from the outside, they'll be able to give complete control.
That's what I'm thinking. Give BC full control with as little input from ownershipcanderson said:Could this perhaps be a Cherington power struggle victory since they say Kennedy won't have a role in acquisitions?
Given the Forbes valuations prior to the last season-and-a-half of futility, I wouldn't even be surprised if the Sox owners would be willing to offer an equity stake to lure Beane.soxhop411 said:Unless they plan to go after Billy Beane in the offseason and give him the "head of baseball ops" role?
He already has an equity stake in the A's. As much as I'd love to see it, I really don't think Billy is going anywhere.Buzzkill Pauley said:Given the Forbes valuations prior to the last season-and-a-half of futility, I wouldn't even be surprised if the Sox owners would be willing to offer an equity stake to lure Beane.
Bob Montgomery's Helmet Hat said:It doesn't really sound like a historic shake-up. More like a natural succession at the end of the season with a transition leading up to it.
The difference is in the details.Bob Montgomery said:He already has an equity stake in the A's. As much as I'd love to see it, I really don't think Billy is going anywhere.
It's a strong evolutionary re-structure. Historic is a big word.DrewDawg said:Except for the replacement not having a hand in baseball ops. Which means more baseball ops power concentrated in other people. Which makes them more powerful.
Bob Montgomery's Helmet Hat said:Or if they want to attract a big time GM from the outside, they'll be able to give complete control.
Maybe he'll take it this time. But he turned down an offer to be the highest paid GM in the history of sports last time, so he's clearly not all about money. He also has said that he's not sure how well he'd deal with being mobbed by well meaning but strong opinioned Sox fans every time he goes to Starbucks. He also has twins he may not want to uproot. Bottom line, as frustrated as he sometimes gets out there, he's pretty damn comfortable.Buzzkill Pauley said:The difference is in the details.
If Beane's offered an equity stake in the Sox equalling the current value of his stake with the A's (with no new stadium deal pending), the question becomes which will be more likely to increase in value.
And, of course, how much more appealing a job it would be to deal with an ownership group actually willing to spend money up to the salary cap.
After all, the Sox have won 3 World Series since Beane turned them down. The A's have won none, and they still play in the (literal) shithole called the Coliseum.
Few thoughts on Beane:Bob Montgomery said:Maybe he'll take it this time. But he turned down an offer to be the highest paid GM in the history of sports last time, so he's clearly not all about money. He also has said that he's not sure how well he'd deal with being mobbed by well meaning but strong opinioned Sox fans every time he goes to Starbucks. He also has twins he may not want to uproot. Bottom line, as frustrated as he sometimes gets out there, he's pretty damn comfortable.
A key is we really don't know how much of a role LL has had in the recent signings like Sandoval, the pitcher extensions, etc.derekson said:I think this makes more sense than handing the full reins to Cherington. The results over the past two seasons don't really show anything to support the idea that Cherington deserves more power over decision making. I suspect that they'll bring in a hot shot GM prospect to be "President of Baseball Operations". The question is whether Cherington gets to keep his titular GM job, while falling under the authority of a new President, or if he gets fired.
Didn't he turn it down the first time because his kids were really young?Bob Montgomery's Helmet Hat said:Maybe he'll take it this time. But he turned down an offer to be the highest paid GM in the history of sports last time, so he's clearly not all about money. He also has said that he's not sure how well he'd deal with being mobbed by well meaning but strong opinioned Sox fans every time he goes to Starbucks. He also has twins he may not want to uproot. Bottom line, as frustrated as he sometimes gets out there, he's pretty damn comfortable.
EDIT--but regardless, there are going to be strong candidates from the outside if they offer full authority
A. Do you really go around looking for one sentence in a paragraph long post to point out as needing it's own thread?HriniakPosterChild said:
This usually requires its own thread.
It was one of the reasons. That daughter is now grown up. But he's remarried and has twins that are still young.soxhop411 said:Didn't he turn it down the first time because his kids were really young?
Much easier to move for him now. His daughter, being from his prior marriage, would have been clear across the country.Bob Montgomery's Helmet Hat said:It was one of the reasons. That daughter is now grown up. But he's remarried and has twins that are still young.
Adios Allard BairdBuzzkill Pauley said:This is how I interpret it. The new CEO will choose a new GM, who will choose a new manager.
[EDIT:] Between this news and the succession planning that must have preceded Werner running for Commissioner, it really feels even more like the Sox have been planning a serious shake-up.
True. But additional to Beane there's also Dombrowski, as mentioned above. And, IMO even more preferable to either, Michael Girsch. And any number of other candidates.Bob Montgomery's Helmet Hat said:Maybe he'll take it this time. But he turned down an offer to be the highest paid GM in the history of sports last time, so he's clearly not all about money. He also has said that he's not sure how well he'd deal with being mobbed by well meaning but strong opinioned Sox fans every time he goes to Starbucks. He also has twins he may not want to uproot. Bottom line, as frustrated as he sometimes gets out there, he's pretty damn comfortable.
EDIT--but regardless, there are going to be strong candidates from the outside if they offer full authority
Buzzkill has to be correct. This is no mere changing of the guard. This is the first step in a wholesale house cleaning. It's simple common sense. 2013 was the outlier. The 2011 collapse and last place finishes in 2012, 2014 and, probably, 2015 are the new norm for the team. That is untenable. Reagardless of the merits of potential GMs, the jewel in the crown is Beane. My bet is Henry wants him, period.Buzzkill Pauley said:True. But additional to Beane there's also Dombrowski, as mentioned above. And, IMO even more preferable to either, Michael Girsch. And any number of other candidates.
This move opens the door to bring in a new paradigm.
Pilgrim said:Dave Dombrowski has still not signed an extension with the Tigers...
Scott Miller
@ScottMillerBbl
Hearing Lucchino will take some time away and then maybe look for one more run with one more club.
8:07 PM - 1 Aug 2015
Green Monster said:
If this is true, then Lucchino leaving has nothing to do with him being 70 years old.
I'd love to see what a CEO Billy Beane and GM Michael Girsch team could build together with the Sox lower minors depth and under-25 MLB talent as a starting point.fineyoungarm said:Buzzkill has to be correct. This is no mere changing of the guard. This is the first step in a wholesale house cleaning. It's simple common sense. 2013 was the outlier. The 2011 collapse and last place finishes in 2012, 2014 and, probably, 2015 are the new norm for the team. That is untenable. Reagardless of the merits of potential GMs, the jewel in the crown is Beane. My bet is Henry wants him, period.
Estimated value of the team usually is around 2.1 billion. 10% of the club should be attractive. Plus a % of the profits and salary.Yes, I am guessing. Yes, I know I should not.Buzzkill Pauley said:I'd love to see what a CEO Billy Beane and GM Michael Girsch team could build together with the Sox lower minors depth and under-25 MLB talent as a starting point.
The A's and the Cards have just been such model franchises in terms of player evaluation and development.
Yeah, that package is a bit aggressive.fineyoungarm said:Estimated value of the team usually is around 2.1 billion. 10% of the club should be attractive. Plus a % of the profits and salary.Yes, I am guessing. Yes, I know I should not.
It's only twice as much as Panda got...Bob Montgomery's Helmet Hat said:Yeah, that package is a bit aggressive.
Bob Montgomery's Helmet Hat said:Yeah, that package is a bit aggressive.
Mostly because I think the Sox would be better off keeping separate the CEO function from the GM function.SoxLegacy said:For those of you touting Dombrowski, I ask why? In 26 seasons with 3 teams, he's got 6 playoff appearances (1 with Florida and 5 with Detroit), 3 division pennants (1 FLA, 2 DET) and 3 World Series, with the only win being the '97 Marlins. Throwing out the early years with the Expos still doesn't make me think he's any better than what we have now.
Theo has a loaded young team, and the chance to break another, even longer drought. He's reveling in it and he's not going anywhere.Vegas Sox Fan said:Billy Beane is a stretch but would Theo be any more of a stretch? Let's assumeLucky is the reason he left, wouldn't Lucky leaving and the promise of more power and some equity be pretty enticing?