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Tuesday, October 3, 2006
BOSTON - Boston Red Sox General Manager Theo Epstein has a message for the fans who dissect every move he makes: This time, you're right.
"This is one of those years when I tend to agree with our critics more often than usual," he said after Boston missed the playoffs for the first time in his tenure. "We have elements of a very, very good baseball club here but there is no doubt in the world that we need to do better. I need to do a better job."
The Red Sox wrapped up their second season since their 2004 World Series title with an 86-76 record that left them 11 games behind the rival New York Yankees in the American League East and more disturbingly, a game behind the Toronto Blue Jays.
Boston had finished second in the previous eight years. But it went 9-21 in August, including the Yankees' five-game sweep at Fenway Park that essentially ended hopes of a fourth consecutive playoff appearance.
"We had some weaknesses. It was an imperfect team, to be sure," Epstein said. "Those weaknesses were not revealed in the first half when we were fresh and playing well. But they were exposed in the second half and that's our fault."
Among the weaknesses were depth in the starting pitching and bullpen, where Jonathan Papelbon (35 saves, 0.92 ERA) was the biggest highlight. Curt Schilling (15-7, 3.97) and Josh Beckett (16-11, 5.01) were solid, but not the co-aces the team needed to make up for its shortcomings elsewhere in the rotation.
Those problems were exacerbated when Tim Wakefield, David Wells, Matt Clement and Jon Lester were injured. But it also didn't help that Epstein in the spring traded away Bronson Arroyo (14-11, 3.29 to Cincinnati), who would have provided important pitching depth.
Although David Ortiz continued to drive the offense, leading the AL with 137 RBI and a franchise-record 54 home runs, Manny Ramirez (.321, 35, 102) could be on the trading block again this off-season. Catcher Jason Varitek (.238, 12, 55) was ineffective and injured and backup Doug Mirabelli (.193, 6, 25), brought back from San Diego just to catch Wakefield's knuckleball, offered little, even less when Wakefield was injured.
"Jason's had a tough year," Manager Terry Francona said in his office on Monday. "He said, 'I've got a lot of work ahead of me.' That's good news, because he's a good worker."
Varitek's injury was devastating because it happened hours after the trading deadline, and he couldn't be effectively replaced. The Red Sox tried Javy Lopez, without much success.
But neither Epstein nor Francona was ready to blame injuries for the team's disappointing finish.
"You can either handle it or you can't. At times, we weren't able to," Francona said. "I think it's too easy to say it was just injuries. We have to look further than that if we want to get better.
"The American League is so strong this year that if you have flaws it gets exposed pretty quick, like if your bullpen's a little beat up."
The Red Sox already have decided Papelbon will be a starter in 2007. Epstein said pitching on a regular schedule will cause less strain on Papelbon's shoulder.
Papelbon was 3-1 in 17 games in 2004 and figured to be in the rotation this year. But when Keith Foulke struggled early as the closer, Papelbon jumped into that role and finished with a 4-2 record, 0.92 ERA and 35 saves in 41 chances. He didn't pitch after Sept. 1 because of a sore right shoulder.
"Jonathan Papelbon is going to enter next spring training as a starting pitcher," Epstein said. "We talked about letting the medical issue dictate that."
Team medical personnel feel pitching every fifth day would lessen the strain on his shoulder, Epstein said.
Still unresolved are:
The overhaul began on Monday when the team decided not to renew the contracts of pitching coach Dave Wallace and hitting coach Ron Jackson. Francona said the team was not trying to blame the two, but merely to bring in a new "voice" that would be more effective.
"Please don't write that I think it's their fault," Francona said. "It's not a very fun decision to make."
Al Nipper, who filled in for Wallace while he had hip surgery, will be a candidate for the full-time job.
Epstein said Victor Rodriguez had been hired as minor-league hitting coordinator. Bench coach Brad Mills and third base coach DeMarlo Hale will be back.
Bill Haselman is deciding whether to return as first base coach or try to manage in the minor leagues.
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Also, I might point out that we did win a World Series with Francona and Epstein just two years ago…
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With all due respect, you have no idea what you are talking about. Mistakes were made, but unlike other Front Offices (Foxboro) we will never hear them admit to their errors. What Epstein did was stand up & take the blame - exactly what a leader is supposed to do.report abuse
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