12eight

Theo on the podium now... re-reading his statement, and asking that once the press conference concludes, that the media respect his privacy.  Voice buckled a little bit in the middle of the phrase 'World Championship'.  He does, however, look like a guy who was really really relieved by this decision.  Looking at him here... no chance at getting him back, folks.  He's gone, and he's happy about it. 

He took a bullet on the Shaughnessy question, and he's clearly saying it impacted him but only in as far as it cast a shadow on the office.  There was NO agreement in principle on a new contract, contrary to Globe reports.  Nothing that could have been done to keep him here, it wasn't the right fit.  He's not going to name names, there won't be a big story here, and the details of his decision will remain personal; he said he is NOT burned out, and vaguely dodged the question of a year off.

Brushing off privacy issues as a motivating factor for leaving; it was tough but he was able to reconcile it, not a major factor, but led him to questions.  Anyone takingthe job knows about it going in. 

Aside: good lord, away from everything else, how likeable is this guy?  Answer: extremely.  Like, I wanna hang out with him.  I also love the fact that whenever he mentions the accomplishments, he's obviously looking at people standing to the sides.  Don't know who they are, but the compassion is evident. 

Theo made recommendations with ownership about how to proceed and how to maintain the strong base.  Somewhat dodged the question of whether the relationship with Larry was a contributing factor; said there were a lot of factors, but never denied it.  Asks the fans for patience with the team... is that a signal that there might be a slight rebuild?  "In some ways we've had some unprecedented success over the last three years"... you think, buddy?

Hey, I can recognize Bob Ryan's voice.  That's scary.  He asked the first confrontational question of the PC, going through all the things Theo ruled out as a reason for leaving and asked if all those things weren't it, what was?  The answer was basically that there was a bunch of stuff and that you need to believe in the whole organization, and it wasn't quite right.  Theo thinks the organization will be fine 'if we handle this the right way'.  Now he's smacking down someone or other... I hope it was Shaughnessy, but I doubt he's there.

During the negotiations, the FO was 'excruciatingly honest' with one another, and in the end he decided that was that.  There were 'some breakdown' in the ability to keep leaks under control at the end.  No shit.  Also saying that once next week rolls around, he'll listen to other teams.  Concentrating on Lucchino's role is 'inappropriate', hearing some of the things said about Lucchino recently has been hard for him (sounds of a small violin).

Dude has balls; I expected him to look like shit here, and waver a bit, but he was resolute and firm and confident.  Good for him, then.

John Henry on the podium now, this should be interesting.

"I've never seen anyone work harder."  Henry says he may not 100% agree with the decision, he believes it's driven by a love for the franchise.  No comes the damage control where Henry tells us that what's been said about Lucchino is unfair, and that Lucchino gets blamed for everything.  He doesn't look all that angry, really, but then I'm not sure he could.  And... whoa.  He's taking blame for everything.

Holds himself completely responsible as primary owner; losing Theo is a great loss, and there was plenty he could have done.  Asks himself if he's fit to be the owner but "there's no crying in baseball" but I think he's hurt here.  Henry 'didn't hear Theo blaming Larry Lucchino'.  He maybe wasn't listening.

It 'wouldn't be fair' for Henry to comment on why Theo's leaving, but it wasn't blindsiding.  Henry is taking every single possible bullet.  "Did I blow it?  Yeah... yeah, I feel that way."  Feels someone needed to stand up for Lucchino; Lucchino's not there for that reason, that Henry had the responsibility to tackle it.

The new GM search won't be rushed, and they're trying to make the right decision. 

Money was at one point an issue (and... you know, it IS a job) but it wasn't the parting factor.  There were a multitude of issues.  Henry won't speak for Theo.

Sounds like there will definitely be changes here; Henry won't comment.  Commenting now on the media frenzy over the last two years that's above and beyond what was even here before.  He doesn't blame the media, but things that were said were inaccurate.

So... that's it.  I guess I'm now past angry, and past sad, and am just resigned to this.  I don't know what happened, nor do any of us; we'll never ever know.  I have my suspicions, and frankly nothing said today negates any of it.  But, what is done is done.  I know I'll wait with bated breath to find out where they move from here; will we contnue along the path Theo laid down here, or will we move from it?  We can only wait.

Good luck, Theo, in whatever you do.