NH native Ben Cherington has his day

BOSTON -- After rising through the franchise as a scout, farm director and assistant GM, Ben Cherington officially replaced Theo Epstein Tuesday afternoon during a press conference at Fenway Park. This where Cherington, of Meriden, N.H., watched his first game from the bleachers as a 5-year-old. The highlights:

• Cherington came across as genuine when saying he felt the anguish and "pain" along with Red Sox fans during a tumultuous September and into the off-season. "We've let our fans down in some important ways recently," he said.
• Sad news for other teams: John Lackey won't be pitching in 2012. Boston's overpaid, TMZ-hating starter is undergoing Tommy John surgery any day.
• The Red Sox have a "handful" of candidates for manager. Cherington wants “someone who cares about players, but is also willing and ready to have tough conversations with them ... I want someone who’ll collaborate with the front office and ownership but also is willing to make an argument when he disagrees.”
• When addressing the team's downward spiral and questionable clubhouse behavior, he said, "There is a great motivation to clean up what needs to be cleaned up.”

                                                   Michael Ivins/Boston Red Sox

Breaking: Red Sox, Cubs, move forward on Theo deal

It's now official that Theo Epstein has resigned from the Red Sox, taking the position as president of baseball operations for the Chicago Cubs. Compensation has yet to be hammered out, but both clubs have agreed to a process in which that will be resolved "in the near term," according to a Red Sox statement. The Red Sox will name Ben Cherington general manager during a press conference on Tuesday at Fenway Park.


Later, during a lunch at Harry Caray's Steakhouse, Theo and Ben can hammer out player compensation for the Red Sox.

Red Sox targeting Trey McNutt

There's no way the Chicago Cubs should give up Trey McNutt as compensation for Theo Eptein, who leaves behind a quagmire of terrible signings: Carl Crawford, John Lackey, Bobby Jenks and Jarrod Saltalamacchia.


McNutt, Chicago's top pitching prospect, revved up his fastball to 95-96-mph this year and has been rusty yet effective in two AFL starts (one earned run). Cubs need starting pitching and might be better served dangling OF Brett Jackson in talks with the Red Sox. Reports out of Chicago have the Cubs targeting McNutt.

Big Ben to the rescue

WHAT A MESS. Red Sox owner John Henry came out swinging yesterday, taking the airwaves at 98.5 The Sports Hub in Boston and speaking to the media outside the Brighton studios. 


The usually quiet and private owner, in response to getting "hit below the belt," said the media has created a frenzy over the Red Sox' collapse. That tends to happen when a team with Boston's payroll and tradition suffers the worst September collapse in baseball history. 


Now it's up to New Hampshire native Ben Cherington to rescue a scrambling front office. Cherington, hired as a scout by Dan Duquette in 1999, is the only choice to succeed Epstein.


“He's been in the organization for a long time. He knows the people, and he's learned a number of different jobs to learn the business from the ground floor up,” said Red Sox GM Dan Duquette, who hired Cherington in 1999.


Duquette spoke with me at length yesterday, talking about Cherington's rise to the top and what qualities distinguish him from other top baseball execs. 



“Ben really has a passion for baseball and works well with other people and because he has a steady, even-keel personality, I think he's a big asset in this market. Most importantly, what probably distinguishes himself is he knows talent," Duquette said. “He has a real good instinct for players. I also think one of his best qualities is that he's a good listener. Executives that can listen are rare.”


Cherington, climbing the ladder to farm director and assistant GM, helped build Boston's farm system that produced all-stars Jacoby Ellsbury, Jon Lester, Jonathan Papelbon and Dustin Pedroia.

"Theo Epstein is my new GM"

Growing up in New Hampshire, Brad Zapenas went to as many Red Sox games as possible and always dreamed about playing at Fenway Park. Today the goal is to sign a contract with Theo Epstein and play at another of baseball's cathedrals, Wrigley Field. 


Zapenas, drafted by the Cubs this summer, awoke Wednesday morning to learn Epstein was leaving Boston and taking on the ultimate challenge of leading the Cubbies to the World Series.


"I was excited. He's been a familiar face throughout college," said Zapenas, who played for Boston College. "I had the chance of meeting him when we played at spring training. He's young, and it's a great opportunity for him to come to the Cubs and help us win a World Series just like he did in Boston, which would be an unbelievable accomplishment for him, as well as for the Cubs."

The Cubs, honestly, were his second choice for a career move.


"In high school, I always wanted to go to the Red Sox, but I thought the Cubs would be a coll team since they haven't won a World Series in so long, and I feel like everyone in the baseball world is just hoping it will happen soon since they are such a storied franchise," said the Cubs farmhand, an infielder.

"It would be special to be part of this organization when they do win a World Series, and I think bringing Theo in as GM means they are really looking to be successful in the years to come."

Breaking: Theo Epstein to the Cubs

Theo Epstein, the kid who ended the 86-year curse in Boston is heading to Chicago. Epstein already has agreed to a five-year deal with the Cubs believed to be about $15 million.

The deal is expected to be finalized by the end of this week, once negotiations for compensation with the Red Sox have been finalized, according to WEEI's John Dennis. 


Can't say I'm surprised. It's a great opportunity for Theo, who takes on the ultimate challenge of bring a World Series champion to the Cubs.


You can bet Epstein's successor will be New Hampshire native Ben Cherington, who played high school ball at Lebanon (N.H) against my Plymouth Bobcats. Remember, it was Cherington who took over as co-GM along with Plymouth, N.H., native Jed Hoyer for a brief stint in 2005. Cherington and Hoyer pulled off the trade for Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell. Here's a look at Cherington as the right man for the job, an extensive piece written by Alex Speier.