Thank God, Theo's Gone

With each second that passes, it seems more and more likely that Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein will leave the team for a position with the Chicago Cubs. It is likely that he will have control over all baseball operations in Chicago. This was not the case in Boston, as he dealt with oversight from team president Larry Lucchino. Epstein and Lucchino had their differences, which prompted Epstein to take a leave of absence from October 31, 2005 to January 19, 2006.

Epstein

As a  Red Sox fan, I am ecstatic that Epstein is moving on. As I wrote in an earlier post, the Red Sox have spent $308.7 million on the likes of five players who didn't do much for this team. The most important trade since Nomar Garciaparra was dealt to the Cubs was completed when Epstein was on his leave of absence (the Red Sox received Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell from the Florida Marlins in exchange for prospects Hanley Ramirez, Anibal Sanchez, and Jesus Delgado). This was the key to the Sox 2007 World Series victory. Lowell was the 2007 World Series MVP and Beckett finished second in the CY Young voting. This trade does not even count, since Theo ad nothing to do with it.

Theo's departure follows a September collapse of epic proportions and the departure of beloved manager Terry Francona. It was not Francona's fault; it was Theo's and now he gets to walk into a lucrative new job with the Cubs? That's not right.

Five Observations From the Bruins' First Four Games

We're four games into the 2011-2012 NHL season and the Boston Bruins look strong, despite their 1-3 record. Their two key offseason additions, Benoit Pouliot and Joe Corvo, have not hindered the flow or success of the returning Stanley Cup Champions. There have been a couple of bright spots, a couple of things that have not been perfect but should be improved as the season goes on, and one glaring weakness. This season should be another promising one.

1. Tyler Seguin: The Number 2 overall pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft had a tepid rookie season. 11 goals, 11 assists, 22 points (11-11-22) was left fans confused and somewhat deflated, after he was dubbed a "can't miss prospect" by many NHL experts. He was unimpressive. However, during the first four games of the 2011-2012 season, Seguin has been impressive. In the opening game against Philadelphia, he connected with Brad Marchand on a long pass, which led to the Bruins' only goal in the game. In tonight's game against Carolina, he picked up a loose puck near center ice, streaked down the right side, and sniped a beautiful goal over Carolina goalie Cam Ward's left shoulder. If he keeps this up, I can see 30 goals and 50 points for Seguin this season.

Seguin

2. The Schedule: In some ways the Bruins got screwed by the scheduling of the first week of the season. Terrible draw, with four games in the first six days, including the first two against Cup contenders in Philadelphia and Tampa Bay (Lost 3-1 to Philadelphia; Won 4-1 against Tampa Bay). I get that the NHL wants to promote and take advantage of the Boston media market (fifth biggest in America) the reigning Champs with two nationally televised games (10/6 against Philadelphia; tonight 12/12 against Carolina), but this is just brutal. Hopefully, when the team starts getting two, three, four, or more days between games, they can become more consistent.

3. Bad Luck/Just Wait: Some of the issues through the first four games seem to be related to bad luck. Bad bounces have led to opposing players having the puck in ideal scoring zones, leading to goals. In addition, the puck has seemingly hopped off of Bruins players sticks when they are in a good position to score. These just seem to be bad luck and they should even out over the next 78 games. Fans also need to have patience. The Bruins played meaningful games until the last possible date last year (Game 7 Stanley Cup Final, June 15, 2011). They had a shorter summer than any team except the Vancouver Canucks, their opponent in the Cup. They also toured "Lord Stanley" around their hometowns and the City of Boston. This led to a shorter summer of training than the players are accustomed to and they are not yet in top form on the ice.

4. The Top Line: In the NHL, every team has a top combinations of players that it can depend on to give the offense a boost or generate a scoring chance. Every team, except the Bruins. The No. 1 line of Milan Lucic, David Krejci, and Nathan Horton has not been consistent, dynamic, or reliable. They have been invisible. 1 goal, 1 assist, and 2 points (1-1-2). This is, apparently, the most efficient combination of forwards that the Bruins have. Where have they been? Horton was injured on Wednesday night, and with Seguin taking his place, the top line looked to have a little more pop.

5. Goaltending...Again: The Bruins had the best goalie in the NHL last season. Tim Thomas won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's top goalie from 2010-2011. This year, Thomas has a 2.02 goals against average (GAA) and his eventual successor, Tuuka Rask, checks in at 1.01. Their combined record of 1-3 is no their fault at all.They have given up 8 goals in four games and continueto be th backbone of this team.

Rask

Quick Notes on the Eve of the 2011-2012 NHL Season

Some quick thoughts one day before the 2011-2012 NHL season kicks off:

Lidstrom

• Why does it seem that every "expert" is picking the Washington Capitals and/or the San Jose Sharks to win the Stanley Cup? Both of these teams are notorious for being great in the regular season and choking in the playoffs.
• Why aren't more people picking the Boston Bruins to repeat? They barely lost any key players from their 2011 Stanley Cup championship team.
• I like the Tampa Bay Lightning's Steven Stamkos as the popular MVP pick, but don't count out the Anaheim Ducks' Bobby Ryan, Chicago Blackhawks' Jonathan Toews, or Pittsburgh's Evengi Malkin. 
• Detroit's Nicklas Lidstrom should win his 8th Norris Trophy, given out to the league's best defenseman. He should win, although Shea Weber of the Nashville Predators, Drew Doughty of the Los Angeles Kings, and Zdeno Chara of the Boston Bruins will make it a close race.
• The Montreal Canadiens will barely sneak into the playoffs, but will be swept in the first round. 
• Also, the Canadiens will frustrate opposing teams with their diving and cheap play.
• Alexandre Burrows of the Vancouver Canucks will not get a pleasant ovation when the Canucks return to the TD Garden for the first time since Game 6 of the Cup Finals. They play in Boston January 7th.
• The NHL has to deal with schedule issues now that the Atalanta Thrashers have moved to Winnipeg (they are now the Winnipeg Jets). Teams used to be able to do trips through the Southeast Division, but now they are going to need at least on day off to account for time zone differences and travel time.
• The Philadelphia Flyers will make the playoffs, but they are no longer and elite team after trading Jeff Carter and Mike Richards.
•   All of Canada wants the Stanley Cup to be won by a Canadian team, but that won't happen this year.



Burrows biting Patrice Bergeron Stanley Cup 2011

• The New York Rangers won the prize of the off-season, signing forward Brad Richards, but they are also not a contender.

• Is Alexandre Ovechkin the NHL's LeBron James? Is he a great player who can't get it done in the playoffs?

Ovechkin

The Red Sox Managerial Search

As we all know, the Red Sox and manager Terry Francona parted ways last weekend after the most painful collapse Boston has seen since the Patriots blew Super Bowl XLII against the New York Giants. Tito, as he was called, was a beloved member of Red Sox Nation and will forever be known as the man who managed the first Red Sox team to win a World Series title in 86 years.

But how hard is it to manage a baseball team? Compared to head coaches in other sports, it does not take much skill. A manager's toughest job has to be dealing with the players. Some players on this team, like Dustin Pedroia, need no guidance. They go out and play hard everyday, whether the game is meaningless or the most important game of their lives. Other players, notably John Lackey, Josh Beckett, and Kevin Youkillis, seem to be divas who need a good kick in the ass sometimes to keep them focused and productive.

However, there is very little skill, strategy or planning associated with being the manager of these Boston Red Sox. The lineup and pitching rotation pretty much fill-in themselves. Theo Epstein, the general manager, is going to sign and draft the players, and the players performance has very little to do with the manager's actions. The most a manager has to do is determine how to use the bullpen, which comes with precedent. For example, the Red Sox are playing the Milwaukee Brewers and are leading 3-2 in the 8th inning with 2 outs and runners on 1st and 3rd. Prince Fielder, a dominant left-handed hitter is coming to bat with a right handed pitcher on the mound. It has been embedded in the fabric of the game that the manager should pull the right-hander and put a lefty in to face Fielder. This move is not part of any individual innovation by any particular manager. They have been the accepted maneuver throughout generations.  

Compared to the other coaching jobs in Boston, the Red Sox managerial job may be the easiest, in terms of strategy and maneuvers. Bill Belichick, the New England Patriots coach, has to devise a different strategy for every game. Sometimes, he has to account for a dominating running game. Other times a great quarterback or an elite defense. Doc Rivers, the coach of the Boston Celtics, had to figure out the best way to utilize three future Hall of Famers who had carried teams alone throughout their entire careers. Last, Boston Bruins coach Claude Julien won the 2011 Stanley Cup without a dominant offensive player (nobody scored more than 62 points). He rode gritty play, physical dominance, the best goalie in hockey, and the most imposing defenseman to ever play the game to a title.

People say that being the Red Sox manager is one of the most sought after jobs in sports. They also say that it is tough. I have to disagree. 

The Red Sux...I mean Red Sox...No I Don't...

Seriously? What happened with the Boston Red Sox? Are you kidding me? $160 million can't even get you into the playoffs? Well there's plenty of blame to go around so...

1. John Lackey: He is the second highest paid player on the team; $15.95 million in 2011. What does that get you? 12-12 6.41 ERA. Not good enough Big Hoss. Honestly, any bum off the street could do this for fifty bucks and a case of beer. Two more wins and Boston would be primed for playoff baseball once again.

2. JD Drew: Another overpaid bum. At least Lackey proved he could do it at one point. With Drew all the Red Sox paid for was "potential." Before joining the Red Sox, he only eclipsed ninety RBIs twice and twenty home runs three times. He was a 2008 All Star, his only All Star appearance, meaning that he was never an All Star before he joined the Red Sox.  He only played in eighty-one games and hit .222 with four home runs and twenty-two RBIs. Curtis Grnaderson, an MVP candidate for the hated New York Yankees made $8.5 million. Seriously.

3. Carl Crawford: See JD Drew. His stats were .255 eleven home runs and fifty-six RBIs. That saying, "you get what you pay for" does not apply to this team. Crawford has been one of the most dynamic and consistent players in baseball since his major league debut in 2003. Maybe he is still getting used to being under the microscope playing in Boston. Maybe he is adjusting to playing in a real stadium rather than the monstrosity of a dome that they have in Tampa Bay. He has to be better next year for this team to succeed.

4. Theo Epstein: Once looked upon as one of the best general managers in baseball, a slew of bad signings have brought his ability to assess value to veteran players into question. No question he can draft and develop players, but he seems to have a hard time evaluating established players. JD Drew, John Lackey, Josh Beckett, Daisuke Matsuzaka, and Julio Lugo are all considered busts and fans have been dreaming of the day when their tenures with the team would be over (Lugo's contract expired after 2010). All, except Matsuzaka who played eight seasons in Japan before joining the Red Sox, were drafted and developed by other tams. All enjoyed varying degrees of success with those other teams, and by "varying degrees of success" I mean some good years, other not so good years. In all, Epstein committed $308.7 million to these five players and got very little in return.

5. Jonathan Papelbon: Personally, I like Papelbon as a player. I think he is a solid closer and can be effective in securing wins. In an age when there is only one elite closer in baseball (Mariano River, New York Yankees) and possibly three or four others who are better than Papelbon, the Red Sox could do worse. Remember the "closer by committee" in 2003? The problem with him is one that has developed since his meltdown in game 3 of the 2009 American League Division Series (ALDS) against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: when the lights are the brightest, he cannot produce. He blew game 162 of the 2011 season, in other words leading by one in the ninth inning, three outs away from a playoff spot, he caved. He could not take the pressure and it cost this team.

***Note: Manager Terry Francona, who will not be back in 2012, was excluded from this list. Many feel that he did the best job he could with the team he was given and he should be remembered as one of the best managers in Red Sox history.

Can't Wait for Hockey Season

It seems like just yesterday. June 15, 2011. Game 7 Stanley Cup. Bruins win. Canucks lose. Justice done. Well, a new season starts in the Hub of Hockey Thursday, October 9th. Guess what? The Bruins have a pretty good chance to repeat as champs. Last year's Cup winners, the Chicago Blackhawks, had trouble fitting player salaries under the Salary Cap and had to trade key players. Not this year. The Bruins lost three players: defenseman Thomas Kaberle (who was a liability both offensively and defensively throughout the playoffs), right wing Michael Ryder (who was the most frustratingly inconsistent player in recent history for the Bruins) and left wing Mark Recchi (who was one of the greatest players of a generation and a class act in his year and half in Boston). Kaberle was grossly overpaid by the Carolina Hurricanes as a free agent. Ryder took his talents south (no not Miami) to Dallas for a hefty contract. Recchi retired and is awaiting his all but sure induction into the Hall of Fame. The Bruins picked up Joe Corvo to replace Kaberle. Jordan Caron, a former first-round pick of the club, should be ready to step in for Ryder. Rich Peverley, a mid-season acquisition from the Atlanta Thrashers last year, could bring a new dimension of speed to the second line.
It should be an exciting year on Causeway St. and hopefully we will have another "rolling rally" through the streets of Boston next June.