OCTOBER 24th: Cherington will be announced as executive vice president/general manager of the Red Sox at a 3pm press conference tomorrow, announced the team. The Cubs, meanwhile, will introduce Epstein as president of baseball operations three hours prior.
OCTOBER 13th: The Red Sox are calling on Theo Epstein's top assistant to restore order in Boston. They have told assistant general manager Ben Cherington that he'll be the team's next GM, according to Yahoo's Tim Brown. Cherington will assume the responsibilities of the GM once the Cubs and Red Sox finalize the arrangement that will send Epstein to Chicago.
Cherington started his baseball career with the Indians in 1998. He joined the Red Sox under Dan Duquette and worked extensively with Epstein, who he considers a mentor.
"I learned more [from Epstein] about the game and people and how to get things done and how to do all of that with a sense of humor and compassion," Cherington told me in August. "It has made me a better person and if I’m ever lucky enough to be a GM it’ll make me a much better GM."
Cherington has experience as an area scout and has also worked on player acquisitions, arbitration and quantitative analysis. His first job as a general manager will begin with a search for manager Terry Francona's replacement.
I’m disappointed with the way the owners handled Francona’s and Epstein’s departures, and the end of the season/entire situation in general. Cherrington has success as a long-time assistant GM, and I’m looking forward to what he can do to help this team succeed.
Good for you guys! Hopefully this will cut through a lot of the turmoil and get you guys moving into 2012. It’s time!
Well, at least that’s 100% resolved. Can we maybe find a manager now?
It’s good to have “chair”ington on the bench
Oh, that was so bad, so, so bad.
Now go get Dave Martinez. Please?
Thank you for not stealing Rick Hahn from the White Sox. I want him to be the White Sox next GM, hopefully after next season when KW is finally fired or quits.
Wow, I had no idea Cherrington would be the next BoSox GM!
people love to put that extra r in his name. they just love it!
Does it really matter that much to you to put a sarcastic post about it?
it matters that much and more. good news for you is that having now made TWO sarcastic posts in the last 10 minutes, i am exhausted
maybe it bothers him into posting about it as much as his post bothered you into posting about it
That’s because people like cherries.
Congrats Ben.Please dont make the same mistakes theo did.Im going to give Ben a chance to succeded here.Everyone should.I just hope he doesn’t become a puppet gm for the owners
I ve been a Red Sox fan for well over 40 years now. A lot of players on this last years team got fat and lazy. I seriously doubt John Henry will put up with it. While I hate to see Theo and Tito go, a housecleaning is needed. Tito clearly lost the team. NOT a lot on the player front, maybe a 4th starter, fix the pen, backup catcher. David Ortiz and his comments are kind of offensive. Saying he isnt sure he wants to be here.. well then fine.. see ya.. YOU disappeared in Sept again. Where was the leadership? Wakefield… thanks and enjoy retirement. What the Sox need is a right handed outfielder, get Crawford right, get a DH… and figure out what to do with Lackey. He is un tradable at this point.. at best he is the 5th starter. That being said, this team is STILL very dangerous. A good a** kicking this off season should make the Sox have a HUGE chip on their shoulders next year…
Josh Willingham would be a good option for DH what ya think? He’d come cheap too. I’d like Atlanta to make a serious run at him…It isn’t the Fielders, Reyes FAs etc its this kind of signing that can mean the difference between a championship and a 3rd place finish.
YES. Now that that’s over with, lets go get that manager. And do regular offseason stuff. And just generally try to move past the horror that has been the last month or so.
Great news. Definitely a sign that the front office is looking to restore stability quickly.
Cherington has been one of the men behind the curtain for Epstein for awhile. Good luck Cherington and Epstein in your new jobs.
Ditto and 100% in agreement with the GM choice. people are looking at just the title (GM) and thinking of making deals perhaps, you as well are looking at how well he should continue running important matters such as the draft and farm system that Epstein put into place.
doesnt have the same ring as Fantasy_Theo:(
any suggestions?
We have a list going now…whom ever receives the most “likes” will be my new name!
Fantasy_Cherry?
i lol’d
the poster formerly known as…
Become a Cubs fan?
only thing that comes to mind is ArmCher_GM
sonny and cher?
referring to an armchair….but Cherington starts with CHER not CHAIR….I never claimed that it was good.
I got it the first time 🙂
my bad.
Fantasy_BenCh
Cherry Pickin?
…if ya know what I mean….
Soxpocalypse 2011 has a nice ring to it..
That just reminded me of an SNL Skit from earlier this year.
Cherry_town!
Mmmm cherry pie! 🙂
I’m waiting for the Red Sox to release Theo Epstein’s medical records.
What are they waiting for? — the compensation from the Cubs for releasing him to be final or what?
Or have they finally become too embarrassed to do it because, for once, the voices of those in the media calling them on their assassinate-the-character-of-those-leaving approach has reached critical mass, the pattern has become too obvious to ignore, or their behavior has gotten so shameful that it can’t be ignored?
Because the medical records will reveal that they are actually sending Lackey to GM the Cubs.
in a gorilla suit. THEY’LL NEVER KNOW
Lackey for Dunn Hmmm – Warm like cherries, bad contracts blah nevermind
ben, i think finding Terry’s replacement should be your second priority.
cause your first should be (and i know you have no control over this) driving Lucchino out of town.
….And hey, maybe (just maybe) he can “drive” Lackey right along with him (even if he has to stuff him in the trunk). :p
It’s entirely within his control. I’m happy to do whatever’s required of me to help the team.
Cherington Picking
Close. Soon enough someone will start a Sawks fan blog called Cheri’ Pickin’ (maybe even someone on this board). You watch!
Now name Tony Pena as manager.
Ben, the way I see things the Sox will need you to trade Beckett and Lackey. Re-sign Papelbon, Replace Ortiz,Varitek,Scutaro, go out and find a big RH Bat to protect AGon, find a SS, Find two starting pitchers to replace Beckett and Lackey, Find the 3rd pitcher the Sox have needed since last August, Find a back up catcher, a back up Outfielder, get compensation for losing Theo, whew!!! You will be busy my man
– summarization
get bulldozer, tear it down.
In a related story, the alignment on my car is slightly off, I think it’s time to drive the thing into the Charles.
you’re probably just a drug addict
SHUT UP MY KNEES HURT
Well you’re just around for the good stuff, huh? When they miss the playoffs after winning 90 games, let’s just tear it all apart because a 90 win team is a fluke with that kind of talent! Keep telling yourself that’s what needs to be done, sir.
Beckett puts up his best season in years and you want him out? Is fried chicken THAT big of a deal?
I keep seeing all these people clamoring that he’ll be a dud again next year, except no one seems to want to account for the fact he had a fantastic season while posting the worst average fastball velocity of his career.
Pro-Tip: Beckett learned how to pitch better. The End. Shipping him out would be about the worst move they could make.
Fried chicken is a pretty big deal
CJ Wilson is a FA. Else a SP will have to come through a trade. Bowden one of Kalish or Reddick could be used to acquire a SP. IDK not much SP on the FA market.
Good move.
Its Cherington. Good!
Now, hire a manager you can work with, Ben.
You and he then set some rules for the team, like,
– No booze in the club house!
– No eating while game is in progress
– All players not assigned to the bullpen, play or sit on the bench while games are in
progress
– No loitering in the clubhouse during games are in progress
– All players will be in full uniform (including cap) when on the field or on the bench
– All players will attend team meetings when called
– All players cannot socialize with members of the opposing team on the field and
while games are in progress.
– No electronic devices turned on while games are in progress
– No gambling
Next, sign those players who need to be signed. Retire those players who need to retire.
Demote those players who should be demoted. Find replacements for all. Then, play ball.
I find some of this stuff a bit draconian (Looking at you, no eating, that’s just ridiculous), but the no socializing one is just nuts. This isn’t a war, it’s a game. Most of these guys have friends on other teams. It’s never proven to be a distraction before and there’s no reason to institute something like that.
You must spend a lot of time at the water cooler to feel that way. The operative word here is “focus”. For the money we pay to see the Red Sox play they are obligated to give us a “professional” performance, on the field, in return. Besides, there is nothing in my list above that exceeds what any employer would expect of his/her senior employees while on the job.
“You wanna eat, drink or socialize with your friends, do it on your own time” etc..
You just named off all of Billy Martin’s vices 😉
– no kids on the lawn
he means business too
MLB is not child’s play. It is “work”. These guys get paid big bucks to “perform” for 3-4 hours for 162 games, in a professionalized, competetive sport, over a span of 6 months. They have 6 months paid vacation too. The least they can do is pay attention and not abuse their stature as professional ball players while games are in progress.
If you or I gambled, drank, ate and/or socialized, etc., while “on the clock” we would be fired.
— On Thu, 10/13/11, Disqus wrote
While I agree with some things here, honestly, I’d rather have one of my players eating a snack during the game than getting dizzy from a low blood sugar moment…
satire or get off my lawn?
People don’t realize this is still a playoff caliber team. Losing Theo and their manager doesn’t mean they are going to lose.
And here I am hoping Dan Duquette would return, god damn it.
I like the idea of hiring from within,Cherington knows the system and will make for an easy transition which is something the front office and Boston media has no clue about. The biggest problem he faces is alot of players are not on board in Boston at this point!
Am I the only one here that worries that the Sox just jumped at the first obvious choice? I know when I hire people, I interview dozens of candidates. The few times I have hired the first obvious choice, it has never worked out really well…
They didn’t want to lose precious time in this EXTREMELY hectic offseason finding someone new, and then having them find staff members they’d want to work with, and then have them and current Boston staff get acquainted and decide on a gameplan. Cherington will continue Epstein’s system, with his own personal changes, and be able to get started immediately. With the enormous laundry list of things the GM needs to get done right now in Boston, plus the controversy probably scared away Bostons top choice GMs, they just wanted someone who could step in right away. It might not have been the best choice, but I don’t think this was hasty, I think Boston has been planning to make Cherington GM if Epstein left for a while now.
There are exactly three GMs I would rather have them Cherinton: AA, Friedman and Epstein. AA is in the middle of a solid looking rebuild and isn’t likely going anywhere, Friedman is rumored to be ready to turn down a President position with the Angels (And still having unfinished business with the Rays) and, well, Epstein’s obvious.
There was no better realistic option and no point wasting time on an interview process.
Then there was the choice of me. I would have made a FABULOUS GM! Just ask me! ;O)
see if the marlins want to do beckett for hanley again, then send lackey in josh’s uniform
The Sox only problem this off season is pitching. They have good starters in Beckett, Lackey, and Buchholz, they need to add 2 more starters and upgrade the pen. Hanley is not the type of player they need, maybe sign Reyes and trade Youk and Ellisbury for front line pitching like Shields and another starter.
your serious ideas were less realistic than my fake one
Two current general managers are now Amherst College graduates, the other being Neal Huntington of the Pirates. Go Jeffs!
I see Cherington officially assumes his rightful place on the throne
Everyone is talking about the lack of the top pitching prospect in the Sox organization. What ever happened to Ranaudo ?
he’s a top prospect, but he’s in the lower minors. they don’t have any top pitching prospects that are near mlb-ready