I wish I could say this was surprising, but the Red Sox ownership couldn’t do anything that would surprise me.
The Cubs have been denied permission to ask about Lovullo’s availability for their managerial job, at least for now, as Red Sox higher-ups are claiming their agreement to allow Theo Epstein to leave to become Cubs president prohibits him from hiring away Red Sox employees.
Lovullo, the Red Sox bench coach, would appear to be a serious managerial candidate for the Cubs — if only he was given a chance by his current bosses. But at this point, Red Sox management isn’t allowing Epstein to ask for permission to interview Lovullo.
The Cubs were hoping to have a manager in place by the GM meetings next week in Orlando, so the goal was to hire a manager this week. If they believe it’s worth waiting for Lovullo, that may not happen.
Comments
They are being assholes, but depending on the wording/parameters of the agreement when Theo went to the Cubs, they are well within their rights to be assholes, unfortunately.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
So ex-catcher Matheny takes his team to the world series and Ausmus is poised to do likewise. Since the Sox won’t let the Cubs talk to Kevin Orie* then I nominate someone from this list of ex-catchers.
Paul Bako
Hector Villanueva (good with developing Latin talent)
Rick Wilkens
George Mitterwald (brings some old time grit)
Scott Servais
Micheal Barrett (known for handling pitchers)
*Orie, Lovullo, whatever. Same career.
SVBQuote Reply
IIRC part of the problem is that Lovullo only joined the Sox organization last year, and it’s unclear if the hiring ban would include him. Certainly the *intent* was to avoid raiding employees that they already knew.
BerseliusQuote Reply
@ SVB:
THE CUBES NEED TO HIRE JODY DAVIS MY FRENTS
BerseliusQuote Reply
Samardzija to Diamondback rumors?
WaLiQuote Reply
@ WaLi:
Maybe they can get Trevor Bauer! Oh wait.
BerseliusQuote Reply
@ Berselius:
Hopefully the Cubs can just send the Sawx Lendy Castillo or something similar and get it done haha.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Is Steve Lake available?
CurtisQuote Reply
Rice Cube wrote:
How long has Theo been here? I would have thought that the agreement was related to the period when he made the move, to keep him from taking people with him. After two years, it’s not really the same thing if someone wants to go work for Theo. Or do the Red Sox think that the deal lasts forever, and that no one who ever worked for the organization or ever will work for them in the future can ever take a job with Theo in Chicago. That, my frents, is fucked up.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
@ Suburban kid:
Ken Rosenthal wrote something about this:
http://mlbbuzz.yardbarker.com/blog/mlbbuzz/article/explaining_the_holdup_on_lovullo/14968745?new_post=true
The confusion is as you said, whether or not the agreement deals with existing employees or with any employee, like, ever. Also, I don’t recall what the original hire agreement was but I’m going to assume it was at least two or three years. If someone were to dig up the agreement I guess we can get to the bottom of it, I simply can’t remember though.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
@ Berselius:
Yeah, this.
dmick89Quote Reply
@GordonEdes 19 Dec 11
Sox and Cubs have agreed, according to one MLB source, that Theo will not be allowed to hire anyone else from Red Sox for 3 years
Rice CubeQuote Reply
@ Rice Cube:
deleted
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89 wrote:
Blocked.
sitrickQuote Reply
@ Rice Cube:
My guess is that the Cubs thought it included only employees as of the time when that Theo signing happened and that the Red Sox believe it’s any current employees. I just think it’s a dick move on their part to deny an employee a chance to interview for a job that’s not only a promotion, but one of the most sought after managerial gigs in the game.
dmick89Quote Reply
@ dmick89:
The Cubs would only make that assumption if the wording of the agreement allowed for that contingency, so I would agree that this is more a matter of the Red Sox being assholes. At least I hope that the Cubs had someone who was good at lawyerese when they signed that agreement.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
I’d think if the Red Sox actually declined the Cubs request then they’re probably within their rights to do so. Hard to believe that even these assholes would just deny it unless they were within their right to do so.
dmick89Quote Reply
@ dmick89:
From the Cubs’ standpoint I don’t think it hurt to ask, but it is disappointing that the Red Sox took such a hard line on it.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
As OV Counsel I want to assure everyone that I am working tirelessly to get the Cubs to send me to Boston so I can negotiate on their behalf. I have contacted Alvin, who promises to get me into a room with whoever owns the Cubs once he figures that out.
GBTSQuote Reply
[img]https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BYSDAQYIMAASVMV.jpg[/img]
WaLiQuote Reply
After last night, Bears fans should hope they let Cutler walk, draft a replacement on Day 2 of the draft and start McCown until the rookie is ready.
Omar LittleQuote Reply
@ Omar Little:
Please forgive Bears fans if they’re hesitant to play Day 2 Rookie QB Lotto.
GBTSQuote Reply
@ Omar Little:
You are right about QB’s being able to step in under Trestman’s offense. I don’t dislike Cutler, but not sure if he is worth what he is being paid.
I would love to get someone to replace Conte though. Holy shit he has to be the worst safety in the game.
WaLiQuote Reply
GBTS wrote:
Who do I choose, Kevin O’Connell or Stephen McGee?
MylesQuote Reply
GBTS wrote:
There are 12 QBs that would work well in that system. I think 3 will be gone before the Bears first-round pick, but 7 should be available for their first Day 2 pick.
I just can’t see Cutler taking a deal commensurate with his value to the Bears’ offense. That team needs a defensive overhaul, and the money you’d save on Cutler would be better used on Melton or Jason Hatcher.
Omar LittleQuote Reply
@ WaLi:
Trestman is a great QB developer and play caller. That’s the thing I miss most about Bill Walsh. He always seemed to be one step ahead of the defense, which is what you get with Trestman.
Yeah, Conte looked awful. He seems to be the SS, but he looked like Deion Sanders in run support. Unfortunately, this is shaping up to be a pretty bad year for safeties, but there are a ton of good CBs…a lot of them big enough to shift to safety a la Dashon Goldson.
Omar LittleQuote Reply
Omar Little wrote:
Exactly. Cutler is fine, but he’s not worth overpaying, especially when the Bears could use help at almost every single defensive level.
EdwinQuote Reply
@ Omar Little:
Are there any good FA safeties this offseason? If the Bears don’t spend on Cutler, where else coudl they put their money?
EdwinQuote Reply
Was it just me, or were the Bears running a ton of shotgun formation last night? One of my friends compared the Bears offense to the Saints offense over the past few seasons, is this a legit comparison?
EdwinQuote Reply
The NFC North is even right now. I think two of GB, CHI and DET get into the playoffs.
Early reports suggest Rodgers will miss three weeks, but those weeks are against PHI, NYG and MIN. I still think they go 11-5.
After going into CHI this weekend, DET’s only tough left are GB at home and at PHI. I think they go 11-5 and possibly 12-4.
CHI NEEDS to beat DET this weekend. If they do, I think they host GB for the division Dec. 29.
Omar LittleQuote Reply
@ Edwin:
Jairus Byrd could be available, and that’s about as good as it gets. Michael Huff is more of a FS, but he’d be an upgrade over Conte and he’s a FA right now. I assume SF will bring Donte Whitner back, but he’d be a good SS option if they don’t.
I think they have to use Cutler’s money on a 3T. Melton makes the most sense. If not, Jason Hatcher has been excellent this year. Geno Atkins will be available and he’s probably the best 3T in the NFL.
Omar LittleQuote Reply
@ Omar Little:
The win was great and everything, but the defense was barely able to stop a team with a QB who hadn’t thrown a pass in 2 years, was down two receiving weapons already, and had a coach who didn’t seem to notice that all he had to do was run, run, run the ball.
The Bears aren’t winning any division and will be lucky to win more than 3 more games.
Aisle424Quote Reply
Edwin wrote:
It’s not quite the same. CHI is running packaged plays, which is the wave of the future for the NFL, imo.
The offense goes to the line with a few different play options and they run whatever the defense gives them. The line blocks like usual and the QB decides whether to hand off or throw. It’s like the read option on steroids, and it has to be run from the shotgun or pistol to minimize the time the QB spends with his back to the defense.
Omar LittleQuote Reply
@ Aisle424:
No team in football is getting more yards per run than GB. SF is the only team to run for more yards per game than GB. I know a lot of that can be attributed to safeties playing deeper against Rodgers, but that’s still a decent offense without him.
CHI has BAL, DAL and GB at home. They should beat BAL easily. They go to STL, MIN, CLE and PHI. they’ll win at least 3 of those. If they beat DET, they’ll be 10-5 when GB rolls into town and they’ll hold the tiebreakers. Winner of that game takes the division. Loser is a WC.
Letdown games aside, I think the season comes down to the game against DET this weekend. Win and you’re likely playoff bound. Lose and you need help.
Omar LittleQuote Reply
More on package plays: http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-triangle/post/_/id/71569/packaged-plays-and-the-newest-form-of-option-football
More on CHI’s use of them: http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/ct-spt-1101-bears-bowen-chicago-20131101,0,1740543.column
Omar LittleQuote Reply
@ Aisle424:
It’s been pretty surreal watching a GB team with an above-average rushing attack.
BerseliusQuote Reply
Ryno, didn’t Atkins sign an extension this summer? I don’t think he’s available next year.
MuckerQuote Reply
The Red Sox bought a full page ad in St. Louis, thanking all the fans for a great WS, now everyone on both sides is patting themselves on the back for it. If only Meteor had won.
BerseliusQuote Reply
@ Mucker:
Just a few months ago, actually. I knew that didn’t seem right.
Melton and Hatcher make the most sense, imo, anyway. Maybe re-sign Melton and then draft the next Melton, Texas-RB-Turned-DT Chris Whaley.
Both were recruited to play RB. Both played one season at RB before switching to DT. They’re the same size. I’d say Melton was slightly more athletic than Whaley, but Whaley seems to have adapted to DT more quickly than Melton.
Omar LittleQuote Reply
@ Berselius:
It was pretty surreal watching a GB team with a below-average passing attack.
EdwinQuote Reply
btw, Kyle Long is really improving. The run blocking has been stellar all year, but he was getting pushed around in pass pro early on. He held up well last night. I think he’s the starting LT next season.
Omar LittleQuote Reply
@ Omar Little:
Yes, they SHOULD beat all those teams, but the defense blows and the offense, while better and clearly the strength of this team now (never thought I’d type that sentence about the Bears) is not good enough to overcome the defense being terrible.
They’ve gotten lucky. Two of their wins under Cutler came via Cutler making amazing throws at the end. If any of those teams even slows the Bears down on offense, they can make a game of it. Even the Bears’ special teams is shit now. That is not a recipe for losing only 2 more games the rest of the way. They may still sneak in as a WC, but they’re not winning the division.
Now, if they can hold it together and maintain a decent pass rush like last night, they can get in the playoffs, get Briggs back, and maybe catch that lightning in a bottle that sometimes teams seem to catch at the end, where seriously flawed teams look unbeatable in the playoffs. That’s the Bears’ best hope, in my opinion.
Aisle424Quote Reply
Total holding and false starts by the Bears’ offense last night: zero.
That’s amazing after where they were last year. Flat out amazing.
Aisle424Quote Reply
@ Aisle424:
Trestman and Co. have really turned around this shitty offense.
WaLiQuote Reply
[img]http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f293/madmonk1/Capturerichie.png[/img]
(dying laughing) If you want your name cleared of bullying, maybe inviting confrontation with the hashtag “bringit” isn’t the best way to go.
Omar LittleQuote Reply
[img]http://d3j5vwomefv46c.cloudfront.net/photos/large/819757860.gif[/img]
WaLiQuote Reply
@ Suburban kid:
The deal with the RedSox is for 3 years. They should hire Renteria and let the Sox explain to Lovullo why they don’t want him to have a managing career.
tschQuote Reply
They are welcome to have Jair Bogaerts back.
GWQuote Reply
Charlie Trotter died.
GBTSQuote Reply
Berselius wrote:
[img]http://gifsforum.com/images/gif/disgusted/grand/puke_gif.gif[/img]
Suburban kidQuote Reply
CHI would be perfect for him.
Omar LittleQuote Reply
I haven’t forgotten about the AFL or this site for the past few days, but I’ve had some work and sickness issues come up lately. I apologize for the delay, but I’ll probably just do a double AFL wrap-up tomorrow.
MylesQuote Reply
@ GBTS:
that sucks
dmick89Quote Reply
Myles wrote:
That half-assed apology and attempt to appease us will not fly around here. We want…no…we demand comprehensive AFL coverage every day.
Omar LittleQuote Reply
Omar Little wrote:
That…ass…we demand…coverage every day.
MylesQuote Reply
Myles wrote:
[img]http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2786737/Personal-foul.gif[/img]
Cannot change words. That’ll get called every time.
Omar LittleQuote Reply
I think the AZFL game is televised on MLB network tonight.
MuckerQuote Reply
Berselius wrote:
They’re just stealing the Blackhawks’ bit.
http://ftw.usatoday.com/2013/06/chicago-blackhawks-boston-newspaper-ad-bruins/
Aisle424Quote Reply
Aisle424 wrote:
“You’ve shown great strength and unity. We salute St. Louis for continuing to wear jorts for the 3rd decade since the last time they were an appropriate clothing option.”
JonKneeVQuote Reply
@ Omar Little:
If this whole thing doesn’t end up with the Dolphins (and potentially other teams, depending on how widespread the worst of this is) getting sued, I’ll be stunned.
uncle daveQuote Reply
Aisle424 wrote:
GBTSQuote Reply
@ uncle dave:
I wouldn’t be surprised if that happened, but I also think that suspending Incognito indefinitely is the first step toward a plea of ignorance.
The whole story is like Dazed and Confused meets A Few Good Men.
Omar LittleQuote Reply
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/dolphins-coaches-told-incognito-toughen-martin-report-article-1.1508027
sitrickQuote Reply
Started out as a thread about baseball team being assholes, now it’s football players/teams. Theme?
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Looks like Renteria is going to be the new manager.
BerseliusQuote Reply
@ sitrick:
It’s easy to blame Martin as well. People treat you how you let them.
The problem with Siragusa and Rolle’s takes is that Martin DID handle it himself and he DID keep it in the locker room. He decided that the best decision for him was to leave. He didn’t whine to the media. Reports indicate that he didn’t even whine to the coaches.
My guess is his decision was to fight (physically, mentally and emotionally) a group of veteran players on a daily basis or quit and pursue another career. Maybe he decided football wasn’t important enough to fight for. That doesn’t make him weak. That makes him smart.
Omar LittleQuote Reply
@ Berselius:
I’ll take a wait-and-see approach, thanks.
GBTSQuote Reply
Berselius wrote:
dmick89Quote Reply
New Shit
http://obstructedview.net/minor-leagues/stars-of-tomorrow-cubs-minor-league-recap-11413-and-11513.html
MylesQuote Reply