Theo Explains Why He Left Boston

Happy Theo Day Everybody. Shortly after 11 o’clock this morning, Theo Epstein was officially introduced as the new president of baseball operations for the Chicago Cubs.

Many have speculated over recent weeks why Epstein would want to leave an organization where he has enjoyed so much success with, and come to an organization that has not won a World Series in 103 years.

Before Epstein took the podium today, his explanation of why he left Boston was already made public. Epstein has spent the past weekend on his farewell tour, saying goodbye to the Red Sox organization and their fans. With Epstein set to become an official member of the Cubs’ front office today, the former Red Sox general manager wrote an article published in the Boston Globe today explaining why he decided to leave the Red Sox in favor of the Cubs.

The initial belief was that Epstein’s relationship with Red Sox team president Larry Lucchino has reached the point to where the two can no longer co-exist in the same front office. Despite those difference, Epstein took the high-road in his article saying he enjoyed his relationship with Lucchino in spite of labeling it as “complicated.” Lucchino may want to take some notes. While Epstein took the high-road and do not take any parting shots at Lucchino, the expectation from many reporters is that Lucchino will not hesitate to take some final blows at Epstein. Nonetheless, it is impressive and shows a great amount of class from Epstein to not make any ill-feelings he may have towards Lucchino public.

As for the reason why he left Boston, Epstein wrote that is had “nothing to do with the power, pressure, money, or relationships.” Though some could argue that some of those factors played into Epstein’s decision to head the Cubs baseball operations. With his new five year, $18 million contract Epstein is now among the highest paid executives in all of baseball. Granted Epstein is from Boston and loyal to the Red Sox organization, but in this society, nothing speaks louder than money. But to say that Epstein left Boston because of the pressure that comes from being the Red Sox general manager would not make sense. Epstein left Boston to become the end all, be all in the Cubs’ baseball operations. Epstein has already been billed as the “Savior” to a franchise that has not won a World Series in 103 years. While soon to be Cubs’ general manager Jed Hoyer will be the face that media sees, Epstein is going to be the one that will be credited for what the Cubs do from here on out. There is already an incredible amount of pressure on Epstein to succeed with the Cubs’ organization, and that pressure will remain until the Cubs reach the World Series.

Epstein based his decision to leave the Boston Red Sox organization in favor for the Cubs’ organization on an old saying legendary football coach Bill Walsh would use. Walsh believes that coaches and executives should seek change after 10 years with the same team. Epstein admitted in his hand-crafted article that he was going to leave the Red Sox organization after his contract expired after the 2012 season. Epstein began discussing that scenario with newly promoted general manager Ben Cherington. Epstein entered the month of September with the belief that he was going to be back in Boston for the 2012 season, but that was before the Red Sox collapsed and missed the post-season entirely. After the season the Red Sox opted to part ways with manager Terry Francona, and that is apparently when Epstein began to consider leaving the Red Sox. Rather than staying with the Red Sox and conduct the managerial search “under less than ideal circumstances”, Epstein elected to join the Cubs while allowing “Cherington to take control of the process.”

Epstein closes his article by saying to Red Sox fans: “may we meet again in an October not too many years from now”. The World Series is definitely the goal for Epstein, but as he admitted today, he knows that the Cubs are not where they need to be right now. However with Epstein now officially running the baseball operations for the Cubs, the organization is trending upwards.