Asleep at the Wheel....

 As fans, you always like to feel good about the people calling the shots for your team.  As a loyal fan of the Boston Red Sox, I have never got such a feeling from boy genius Theo Espstein.  It seems Epstein is the worse kind of GM, one who over values his players and prospects to the point where he is blinded by the what if's.  Epstein's tenure in Boston has been one of up's and down's.  In five plus seasons, the only thing Theo has ever really done, was lure Curt Schilling from the desert to Beantown, and of course his signing of David Ortiz.  Thats it, and thats all, not a real stong resume for five years on the job.  Yea yea, I know, the Sox have won two World Series titles under Theo, however both teams were a blend of Theo and former GM Dan Duquette, especially the 2004 team.

  If Epstein were a poker player, his weakness would be becoming pot committed to his players and prospects.  Year in and year out Theo has been presented deals for Boston prospects, and most always, he stands pat.  Epstein refuses to admit mistakes during the season, and is never fully committed to fixing the problem during the season.  The Yanks never have such problems, and they will blow it up every year if need be, making any deal they feel will make thier team better.  They have a commitment to win a World Championship EVERY season, not just when they feel like it, on thier terms.

  It has been obvious all year that the bullpen and starting pitching was problem.  However Theo has insisted that the problem will be fixed "internally", as if great bullpen guys were just lying around in Pawtucket.  The Sox have also needed some pop at the bottom of that dreadful line-up for most of the season, yet Theo has turned a blind eye to that as well.  There have been teams willing to deal for either Brandon Moss or Coco Crisp, yet both are still here.

  Theo's deadline deals are always less than steller, never the splash the Yankees seem to make year in and year out.  In 2003 Theo traded Freddy Sanchez to the Pirates for Jeff Suppan, and Scott Williamson, Sanchez of course is still in Pittsburgh, while Suppan had zero impact on the 2003 Red Sox season.  Williamson was hurt for most of his time in Boston, and he never made any contributions as well.  In 2004 Theo did trade Nomah for a couple of B type of players, none of which were in Boston after the 2004 season.  However it is hard to argue that the Sox would  have won in 2004 without speedy Dave Roberts.  In 2005, the Sox were plagued by bullpen and starting pitching problems, yet his only move that year was Tony Graffinino.  If I recall, Tony could not pitch from second base, and the Sox were swept out of the playoffs by the Chicago White Sox.  The 2006 season trade deadline brought the Sox Bryan Corey, that team was also short on starting pitching, and had massive issues in the bullpen as well.  The 2006 Red Sox of course imploded, and finished a disappointing third in the American League East ( something they will repeat this year).  Last season Theo went out and got Eric Gagne, a guy he could have had the previous off season for free, no prospects needed.  The Sox gave up Kason Gabbard, and ROY candidate David Murphy for Gagne.  All Gagne did for the Sox was blow about seven games and make a race out of the American League east for the Yankees.  Gagne pitched only one inning in the World Series, a game the Rockies trailed by ten runs.

  It is clear from Epstein's track record that he would rather have his team flame out this year, than do what is needed to ensure succes in the 2008 season.  This years edition of the Red Sox is pretty good, however in the last few days the balance of power has certainly shifted to the Yanks and Rays. This season could be saved by the boy from Brockton, however it is doubtful Theo will do what is needed to salvage this season.