Showalter rips Theo Epstein

[Dr. Jack]

“I’d like to see how smart Theo Epstein is with the Tampa Bay payroll. You got Carl Crawford ’cause you paid more than anyone else, and that’s what makes you smarter? That’s why I like whipping their butt. It’s great, knowing those guys with the $205 million payroll are saying, ‘How the hell are they beating us?’ ”

[Cali Roots]

I think Theo is a very bright guy, but Buck is right. I do not ever want to see Cashman, Theo, or any other top 3 or 4 payroll guy get gm of the year. They win because they sign all the free agents. I think Theo could do well some other place, but this statement is accurate.

On a side note, I know it was pre Buck but the Os were offering $120 mil plus for Texiera. Buck also would not mind managing a team with the payroll I'm sure. Nit sure what the Dbacks payroll was when they won, but Randy and Curt weren't making chump change.

Statement is accurate but Buck would be in that situation if he could, so it is hypocritical on his part.

[rjb1816]

Theo is pretty ****in smart...he learned under Towers who was also a very successful GM who worked with little to no payroll in SD but learned how to build a team. Boston is pretty good at building a team and if you look at most of their team they are home grown players. They have let FA's walk when they are not in the best interest to be re-signed

[Quiksilver]

Originally Posted by rjb1816

Theo is pretty ****in smart...he learned under Towers who was also a very successful GM who worked with little to no payroll in SD but learned how to build a team. Boston is pretty good at building a team and if you look at most of their team they are home grown players. They have let FA's walk when they are not in the best interest to be re-signed

Agreed. He's done a very good job at restocking the farm system and keeping quality players coming through the pipeline. Having said that, he dows have the luxury of of having owners willing to spend the money.

What the new ownership and Theo have done really well is improve the Red Sox brand and increasing the number of and quality revenue streams through other outlets.

Met him a few years back right after the 07 championship in December watching the Rickky Hatton-Mayweather fight. Good guy...more low key then I would have anticipated.

[rjb1816]

Originally Posted by Quiksilver

Agreed. He's done a very good job at restocking the farm system and keeping quality players coming through the pipeline. Having said that, he dows have the luxury of of having owners willing to spend the money.

What the new ownership and Theo have done really well is improve the Red Sox brand and increasing the number of and quality revenue streams through other outlets.

Met him a few years back right after the 07 championship in December watching the Rickky Hatton-Mayweather fight. Good guy...more low key then I would have anticipated.

Having the luxury to spend money and being smart are two different things...they are definitely not mutually exclusive

[Windy City Irish]

Originally Posted by Cali Roots

I think Theo is a very bright guy, but Buck is right. I do not ever want to see Cashman, Theo, or any other top 3 or 4 payroll guy get gm of the year. They win because they sign all the free agents. I think Theo could do well some other place, but this statement is accurate.

On a side note, I know it was pre Buck but the Os were offering $120 mil plus for Texiera. Buck also would not mind managing a team with the payroll I'm sure. Nit sure what the Dbacks payroll was when they won, but Randy and Curt weren't making chump change.

Statement is accurate but Buck would be in that situation if he could, so it is hypocritical on his part.

good post here!

[Keith]

Buck was also ripping on Jeter:




NEW YORK (WFAN) – Buck Showalter was Derek Jeter’s very first manager way back in 1995. Apparently the Yankees’ former skipper isn’t No. 2′s biggest fan. According to Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times, Showalter, now managing the Baltimore Orioles, rips into Jeter in the April issue of Men’s Journal.

Showalter’s main point of contention? Jeter’s exaggerated movements in the batter’s box, which could make borderline strikes seem like balls.
“The first time we went to Yankee Stadium, I screamed at Derek Jeter from the dugout,” Showalter said. “Our guys are thinking, ‘Wow, he’s screaming at Derek Jeter.’ Well, he’s always jumping back from balls just off the plate.” To Jeter’s admirers, it’s a savvy play. To his detractors, it’s nothing but a cheap trick. “I know how many calls that team gets – and yes, he (ticks) me off.”

Showalter didn’t focus all his ire on Jeter. Boston Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein was also on the receiving end. “I’d like to see how smart Theo Epstein is with the Tampa Bay payroll,” Showalter said. “You got Carl Crawford because you paid more than anyone else, and that’s what makes you smarter? That’s why I like whipping their butt.”

The Orioles have failed to make the postseason in recent years, often placing far below the Yankees, Red Sox and Rays in the AL East. Showalter sounds confident in his 2011 club.
“It’s great, knowing those guys with the $205 million payroll are saying, ‘How the hell are they beating us?’”

[rjb1816]

orioles did make a nice run at the end of last year under him we'll see

[Romanowski]

Originally Posted by rjb1816

Having the luxury to spend money and being smart are two different things...they are definitely not mutually exclusive

no doubt, the guy makes the most of the resources at his disposal

he will go out and spend if he thinks its worth it

not like he goes after every FA...the guy is an excellent GM

[ZoomVT]

so i guess the point he is making is that you should suck for about a decade so you can stock pile on high draft picks, then you have control over the kids for years and you can compete for 2-3year span. then its back to the drawing board.
Makes sense to me. Every team should do that

Theo is a sharp dude, he actually get less credit sometimes because he has a big payroll available, but he does not usually just throw it away. One example would be Jason Bay. He is not afraid of pull the trigger, and it doesnt have to do with having the money or not.

[Shark23]

Just to get the damage control rolling, I'd like to say on Buck's behalf that his comments were taken out of context, and that he and the entire Orioles organization apologize for any offense taken by the Red Sox, Yankees, and their organizations and fans. Thank you.

[Windy City Irish]

Originally Posted by Shark23

Just to get the damage control rolling, I'd like to say on Buck's behalf that his comments were taken out of context, and that he and the entire Orioles organization apologize for any offense taken by the Red Sox, Yankees, and their organizations and fans. Thank you.

wont work, you are still our bitches

[Sports Update]

Terry Francona is "aggravated" and says the Orioles manager was out of line taking a swipe at his boss.

Terry Francona's initial response to Buck Showalter's criticism of Boston Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein was diplomatic, saying he hadn't seen the comments and didn't care to respond.

But given more time to read Showalter's comments, Francona is "aggravated" and says the Baltimore Orioles manager was out of line taking a swipe at his boss, The Boston Globe reported.

On Thursday, Francona played down Showalter's comments to Men's Journal, in which Showalter suggested Epstein's success as Red Sox GM had more to do with his team's deep pockets than his baseball acumen. Francona said he hadn't seen the story and added that he thought Epstein was pretty smart.

Sunday, Francona had more to say.

"I got asked that the other day and I hadn't seen it. I got it third-hand and I kind of joked about it a little bit. Then I read it and actually I was kind of aggravated a little bit," Francona said Sunday, according to the Globe. "I don't think that's anybody's place. That's my boss. I was actually kind of aggravated a little bit. It's not the end of the world but I thought he shouldn't have done it."

"I just thought that was a little bit out of line," Francona added, according to the Globe. "I don't think he'd be appreciating if I said something about Andy [MacPhail, the Orioles' GM], which I wouldn't," Francona said. "It's none of my business. And for the record, I think Andy's really good."

More...