Theo Epstein: it’s all in the plan
Yes, yes, ‘We’ planned it all. If one wonders why I start off like this, it’s partly because those are the words which are lying in sync with the Boston Red Sox, general manager, Theo Epstein. The top decision maker in the team has landed two blockbuster
moves for the club and if teams across the American League and the National League, want to look down on the side, they will feel the pressure in 2011 when the regular league will kick off in April, 2011.
The Red Sox have been branded the surprise package, this off season. They were miserable in the regular season but were truly amazing in the winter meetings. They have the meatiest bat in Major League Baseball and though there would be contention on that
comment, from the New York Yankees, the fact of the matter is, they can lay havoc on any club on a good sunny day. With Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford acquired during the meetings, Boston is now a force to be reckoned with.
Theo Epstein loves it and why wouldn’t he? He said he planned the whole move.
"Nothing that we did at these Meetings - or may have done or will do shortly - was the product of a last-minute idea," Theo said. "It was all a product of - hopefully - a well-thought-out plan over a long period of time, and well-documented with lots of
scouting, following players over the course of whole half-seasons, white papers written up about how the parts all fit together, a lot of thought and lot of commitment and belief - and commitment to winning and belief from ownership."
Theo hopes this will drive Boston to the top of the table. The belief comes with the idea that the right additions made to the side can steer the club to playoff glory. Looking at the batting line up, there is nothing one can think otherwise.
"Adding two (impact players), as long as they were the right players, in the right spots, in the right situations, would be even better," the General Manager said. "I'd like to think we don't do anything purely on a short-term basis. The moves that we make,
especially the significant moves, have to make sense from a short-term standpoint, mid-term standpoint and long-term standpoint. It has to make sense on the field in terms of talent, the way the parts fit together, the makeup of the players, the long-term
roster and payroll forecast. "
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