Theo's Back

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Now Henry knows his Theo's been untrue
And that he left him in a gorilla suit
But he's so cool
He's so cute
When he looks into his eyes
He just sits back sighs
Ooo-ooh, what can I do
Ooo-ooh, what can I do

Epstein to rejoin Red Sox
January 19, 2006

BOSTON (AP) -- Theo Epstein is rejoining the Boston Red Sox, 2 1/2 months after he turned down a three-year, $4.5 million offer to remain as general manager.

Epstein and Red Sox management issued a joint statement Thursday saying he will return to the organization full-time, but they did not say in what capacity Epstein would rejoin the team. His return had been rumored almost since the day he slipped out of Fenway Park wearing a borrowed gorilla costume to avoid the media.

"As you know, we have spoken frequently during the last 10 weeks. We have engaged in healthy, spirited debates about what it will take over the long-term for the Red Sox to remain a great organization and, in fact, become a more effective organization in philosophy, approaches and ideals," the statement said.

"Ironically, Theo's departure has brought us closer together in many respects, and, thanks to these conversations, we now enjoy the bonds of a shared vision for the organizations future that did not exist on October 31. With this vision in place, Theo will return to the Red Sox in a full-time baseball operations capacity, details of which will be announced next week."

The statement came from Epstein, principal owner John Henry, chairman Tom Werner, president Larry Lucchino and Epstein.

[metirish]

]His return had been rumored almost since the day he slipped out of Fenway Park wearing a borrowed gorilla costume to avoid the media.

A gorilla suit?, I hadn't heard about that, it's hard to see what postion other than GM Theo would take, still I am glad he's back.

[Guest Bret Sabermetric]

I was worried for a while.

[metirish]

A poll at www.boston.com asks what position he should come back in...

President of baseball operations is winning by a wide margin.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

If he's going to be making less than $1.5 million per year, he ended up making a poor decision.

[Zvon]

This is certainly good news for Boston.
I knew there was something more going on here, but we all did.

Id let Ep be anything he wants and step out of his way.

Wonder how this will play in the Manny dealings.

[Willets Point]

I guess this means that Bret is a Red Sox fan again. Well, after his beloved White Sox of course.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I want to be such a big shot that I get less attention in a gorilla suit.

[Frayed Knot]

Welcome back to the fight, and this time I know our side will win

[soupcan]

This morning was the first I'd heard about the gorilla suit.

A guy I commutre in with told me that a ticket broker in Boston had a girlfriend who asked him for a fur coat. So the guy went to a charity auction and bought Theo's gorilla suit for like $9,000.00 or something and then presented it to the girlfriend as a 'fur coat'.

She was not impressed and said gorilla suit is now supposedly hanging on display in the guy's office.

[Frayed Knot]

Coughing up 9 Large for what was essentially a practical joke sounds a bit pricey ... but hey, that's just me.

[Guest Bret Sabermetric]

Frayed Knot wrote: Coughing up 9 Large for what was essentially a practical joke sounds a bit pricey ... but hey, that's just me.

You have no idea what ticket brokers in Boston charge, do you? Money means nothing to these people.

[Guest silverdsl]

Theo actually snuck out in a Gorilla suit? He couldn't just use a back entrance? Did he take the gorilla suit off before he drove off? Or were there also sightings of a Gorilla driving a car in Boston?

I know it's been rumored for a while that Epstein was going to go back to the Red Sox and it's obvious that he loves the team. But I'm not sure I understand why he left in the first place if he was going to continue to work with them as a consultant and then eventually return full-time.

[Guest Bret Sabermetric]

As I understand it, they called his bluff when he told them what he needed in his new contract. "We can't pay that, Theo, we can't give you that much control, we won't fire so-and-so, we won't hire so-and-so' and he just said "Buh-bye."

I'll think I'm getting better seats this year.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Which I heard you'll be sharing with your CPF buddies.

[Guest Bret Sabermetric]

Johnny Dickshot wrote: Which I heard you'll be sharing with your CPF buddies.

CPF been berry, berry good to me.

[Frayed Knot]

This week's Sports Illustrated has the "gorilla suit" story also -- except theirs mentions a ticket broker's wife not girlfriend and tag the price for the outfit at $11,000.
Apparently, whoever the chick was, she wasn't impressed by the gesture no matter which version of the story is used ... go figure!

[Guest Edgy DC]

Reports are rolling out that he's officially returning to the GM chair.

[Guest silverdsl]

I find the whole thing even more puzzling hearing that he's going to come back in the exact same position he said that he couldn't put his heart and soul into anymore just three months ago. What's different now?

[Willets Point]

silverdsl wrote: I find the whole thing even more puzzling hearing that he's going to come back in the exact same position he said that he couldn't put his heart and soul into anymore just three months ago. What's different now?

The power of millions of New Englanders bitching and moaning in one voice is amazing.

[seawolf17]

Willets Point wrote: The power of millions of New Englanders bitching and moaning in one voice is amazing.

Especially in that crazy accent.