New GM/Cubs Future News Articles

[Vinestal]

It's also possible that permission paperwork was signed and dated but hasn't been delivered to MLB offices (which is where I assume the source is located). So permission could be in effect but the source has no knowledge of it and just assumes it hasn't been given.

I guess if the source is a Boston connection this is all pretty moot. I just hope his source is wrong, it kind of ruins my weekend. *sigh*

Edited October 8, 2011 by Vinestal

[PrimeTime]

Can we get Theo already so he can start working on this if Fielder or Pujols don't work out?

 

ESPN's Buster Olney reports the Reds are prepared to listen to offers on first baseman Joey Votto.

[UMFan83]

I don't believe the Facebook story. It doesn't take that long to decide. If Theo's not sure he wants to interview at this point, the answer is probably no. What does he have to lose by just listening to the Cubs offer?.

 

I'd assume that if Theo was 95% wanting to stay in Boston he wouldn't risk hurting his standing among Sox fans by interviewing with the Cubs and then staying in Boston.

[Soul]

I don't believe the Facebook story. It doesn't take that long to decide. If Theo's not sure he wants to interview at this point, the answer is probably no. What does he have to lose by just listening to the Cubs offer?.

 

I'd assume that if Theo was 95% wanting to stay in Boston he wouldn't risk hurting his standing among Sox fans by interviewing with the Cubs and then staying in Boston.

 

Maybe they're just keeping the permission close to the vest so that this scenario doesn't happen. I don't know though.

 

Like some others, I would just like to hear the "no" sooner rather than later, if that's what it will be. Then we can focus on others.

[Vinestal]

I don't believe the Facebook story. It doesn't take that long to decide. If Theo's not sure he wants to interview at this point, the answer is probably no. What does he have to lose by just listening to the Cubs offer?.

 

I'd assume that if Theo was 95% wanting to stay in Boston he wouldn't risk hurting his standing among Sox fans by interviewing with the Cubs and then staying in Boston.

 

Maybe they're just keeping the permission close to the vest so that this scenario doesn't happen. I don't know though.

 

Like some others, I would just like to hear the "no" sooner rather than later, if that's what it will be. Then we can focus on others.

 

 

Yup, the uncertainty sucks.

[cubsclapp]

Can we get Theo already so he can start working on this if Fielder or Pujols don't work out?

 

ESPN's Buster Olney reports the Reds are prepared to listen to offers on first baseman Joey Votto.

No way would the Reds even think about dealing him within the division.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I don't believe the Facebook story. It doesn't take that long to decide. If Theo's not sure he wants to interview at this point, the answer is probably no. What does he have to lose by just listening to the Cubs offer?.

 

I'd assume that if Theo was 95% wanting to stay in Boston he wouldn't risk hurting his standing among Sox fans by interviewing with the Cubs and then staying in Boston.

 

The Red Sox guys talked about this in their radio interview. They said they have a blanket policy not to discuss this stuff, because someone comes out looking bad. Either the team looks bad because they get turned down, or the interviewee looks bad because they don't get offered the job.

[Bull]

Yom Kippur is almost over.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Looks like the answer is no so far:

 

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Joe-Amorosino/132253236838991

 

Theo Epstein Locked in Boston for Now

 

As of 1pm today (Saturday 10-8-11) the Red Sox have not granted the Cubs permission to interview Theo Epstein; this according to a MLB source who confirmed the Cubs did ask for permission.

 

While the Red Sox owners are considering whether or not to let the Cubs speak with their General Manager, Epstein himself isn't sure what he wants to do. According to the same MLB source, Epstein is torn between taking over another storied and championship starved franchise in the Cubs and remaining loyal to the Red Sox and his extended family here in the Boston area.

Epstein's uncertain future in Boston is also holding up the Red Sox search for a new manager. As this point, the owners and front office are doing backround checks on possible cadidates but not ready to interview. If you're trying to figure out

who's on the Red Sox short list, think "Terry Francona in November of 2003" and not any of the "Anti-Tito" guys who've been rumored as candidates.

 

So for all the people who think all this stuff is going on behind the scenes and they are just finalizing things, according to

that, this is not the case and nothing has been going on

behind the scenes.

 

Basically this means that we are back to square 1. Sounds like they haven't granted permission because Theo hasn't made up his mind if he's interested or not. I hope Ricketts has been busy with other canidates and isn't just waiting on Theo, who may not even be interested. This is pretty bleak news. oh well time to stop paying attention to the

Theo/Boston rumors for now until some new word comes out that he's interested or they have given permission to speak with him. What a waste of time all this speculation has been.

 

Right now my fear is the reason this is taking so long is because The Red Sox are trying to get Ricketts to give them as

much as possible, and they're back and forthing about the compensation and I just hope he doesn't cave if it means giving up any of the few valuable players or prospects we have.

[Backtobanks]

All of this speculation/rumors/talk had better happen because Ricketts and his second choice are going to look pretty stupid if it doesn't happen.

[WilcoFan]

All of this speculation/rumors/talk had better happen because Ricketts and his second choice are going to look pretty stupid if it doesn't happen.

 

Yeah--stupid Ricketts. How dare he beg the media to write a series of speculative articles!

[Vinestal]

All of this speculation/rumors/talk had better happen because Ricketts and his second choice are going to look pretty stupid if it doesn't happen.

If Theo doesn't want to come here there is nothing Ricketts can do about that. He tried if nothing else, at least we know he's trying to get the best.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

The Cubs would only look bad if everyone assumes Epstein is their first choice. All that's been reported is that the Cubs have sought permission. So that means he's on the list. Who knows where on the list he is.

[Guest]

The Cubs would only look bad if everyone assumes Epstein is their first choice. All that's been reported is that the Cubs have sought permission. So that means he's on the list. Who knows where on the list he is.

 

I think it's fairly obvious that his position on the list is "If you want, the job you're hired!" To pretend otherwise would be as transparent as the Bears insisting they wanted Martz all along.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

The Cubs would only look bad if everyone assumes Epstein is their first choice. All that's been reported is that the Cubs have sought permission. So that means he's on the list. Who knows where on the list he is.

 

I think it's fairly obvious that his position on the list is "If you want, the job you're hired!" To pretend otherwise would be as transparent as the Bears insisting they wanted Martz all along.

 

Why is that obvious?

[UMFan83]

The Cubs would only look bad if everyone assumes Epstein is their first choice. All that's been reported is that the Cubs have sought permission. So that means he's on the list. Who knows where on the list he is.

 

I think it's fairly obvious that his position on the list is "If you want, the job you're hired!" To pretend otherwise would be as transparent as the Bears insisting they wanted Martz all along.

 

Why is that obvious?

 

Because it's Theo and because Ricketts is publicly obsessed with the Red Sox.

[Backtobanks]

The Cubs would only look bad if everyone assumes Epstein is their first choice. All that's been reported is that the Cubs have sought permission. So that means he's on the list. Who knows where on the list he is.

 

At this point, anybody who doesn't think Epstein is the first choice is either naive or stupid.

1. Ricketts basically said that the Red Sox are his model as to what he wants to do.

2. The media in both towns and nationally are jumping all over the story.

3. He has asked permission to talk to Epstein.

4. The delay can be explained by the Jewish holiday and/or the discussion of compensation.

 

Now tell me that Ricketts won't look like an idiot if he has a press conference next week to introduce his new GM - Rick Hahn (who he claims was his first choice all along).

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Because it's Theo and because Ricketts is publicly obsessed with the Red Sox.

 

And he was publicly besties with Hendry, right up until it turned out he'd fired him a month ago without telling anyone.

 

I think Ricketts has proven that any correlation between what he intends to do and the public perception he gives off is purely coincidental.

[Guest]

The Cubs would only look bad if everyone assumes Epstein is their first choice. All that's been reported is that the Cubs have sought permission. So that means he's on the list. Who knows where on the list he is.

 

I think it's fairly obvious that his position on the list is "If you want, the job you're hired!" To pretend otherwise would be as transparent as the Bears insisting they wanted Martz all along.

 

Why is that obvious?

 

 

We're talking about perception here anyway, not reality, correct?

 

It's quite clear what the public perception is, in this case. The reality may be different, but that doesn't really matter in terms of what we're talking about.

[Guest]

The only way it could conceivably even be sold as somebody else being the guy they wanted all along is if that somebody was Friedman.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

We're talking about perception here anyway, not reality, correct?

 

It's quite clear what the public perception is, in this case. The reality may be different, but that doesn't really matter in terms of what we're talking about.

 

Well, in that sense, I agree. But the public perception is also that the Cubs would be idiots not to make Ryne Sandberg the next manager.

 

So the public perception can go take a flying [expletive] at the moon.

[Guest]

Now tell me that Ricketts won't look like an idiot if he has a press conference next week to introduce his new GM - Rick Hahn (who he claims was his first choice all along).

 

Why would he look like an idiot for being turned down by guys who are pretty likely to turn the job down?

[UMFan83]

Because it's Theo and because Ricketts is publicly obsessed with the Red Sox.

 

And he was publicly besties with Hendry, right up until it turned out he'd fired him a month ago without telling anyone.

 

I think Ricketts has proven that any correlation between what he intends to do and the public perception he gives off is purely coincidental.

 

That's different. You are comparing the public perception of an employee of Ricketts with the publically stated model of how Ricketts wants to build his baseball team. Unless of course you think Ricketts is trying to throw people off by saying he wants to emulate the Red Sox when in reality he is building the team like the Dodgers. Expect the Ned Colletti hiring any day now.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Because it's Theo and because Ricketts is publicly obsessed with the Red Sox.

 

And he was publicly besties with Hendry, right up until it turned out he'd fired him a month ago without telling anyone.

 

I think Ricketts has proven that any correlation between what he intends to do and the public perception he gives off is purely coincidental.

 

That's different. You are comparing the public perception of an employee of Ricketts with the publically stated model of how Ricketts wants to build his baseball team. Unless of course you think Ricketts is trying to throw people off by saying he wants to emulate the Red Sox when in reality he is building the team like the Dodgers. Expect the Ned Colletti hiring any day now.

 

No, I think he wants to emulate the Red Sox in broad strokes. But he's proven, at least to me, that he's a patient and cautious decision-maker. Maybe he wants Epstein no matter what, but I think there's also a real possibility he just wants to interview several people on his short list, and won't make up his mind until he's done the interviews.

[Soul]

The Cubs would only look bad if everyone assumes Epstein is their first choice. All that's been reported is that the Cubs have sought permission. So that means he's on the list. Who knows where on the list he is.

 

At this point, anybody who doesn't think Epstein is the first choice is either naive or stupid.

1. Ricketts basically said that the Red Sox are his model as to what he wants to do.

2. The media in both towns and nationally are jumping all over the story.

3. He has asked permission to talk to Epstein.

4. The delay can be explained by the Jewish holiday and/or the discussion of compensation.

 

Now tell me that Ricketts won't look like an idiot if he has a press conference next week to introduce his new GM - Rick Hahn (who he claims was his first choice all along).

 

He's trying for Theo, who knows what else he is doing?

 

If he introduces someone other than Theo next week, he simply doesn't discuss first choices or second choices. It's not the first time teams have struck out on a first choice guy. Happens all the time. Doesn't necessarily mean the guy you get is bad. If someone asks that question, the answer is going to be something nebulous that follows what all others would say "we had a number of candidates, the process was thorough and well-executed, yada yada."

 

There are a number of ways to handle something like that in a PR sense. Ricketts isn't going to have egg on his face just because he tried for a certain guy and it didn't work out. I don't think it's necessary to be so dramatic about it if he loses out on Epstein.