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Buster Olney on M&M: Red Sox lack ‘defined chain of command’ 07.11.12 at 3:17 pm ET
By Jashvina Shah

Buster Olney

ESPN MLB analyst Buster Olney joined Mut & Merloni for his weekly appearance on Wednesday afternoon, saying the Red Sox need a stronger chain of command. To listen to the interview visit the Mut & Merloni audio on demand page.

“That’s really what a lot of this stuff comes down to, without having specifics of who’s having disagreements with who,” Olney said. “Ultimately the reason why all this is happening, and the same reason why years ago there was the issue between Larry [Lucchino] and Theo [Epstein] was because there wasn’t really a distinct chain of command that was determined by the ownership. They need to [fix] that and [the problem's] not going to get solved until that happens.

“All these issues of who’s speaking to who and who’s not talking to who and who’s not getting along with who, that’s not going to be settled until they deal with that. Again, as we’ve said in recent weeks, they can still win in spite of that. They’ve got a tremendous amount of terrific players.”

The analyst couldn’t comment on rumors of Boston restraining Bobby Valentine from using his managerial style, but Olney said the problem — if it exists — stems from ownership.

“Here’s the bottom line: That’s something where the ownership, if that’s an issue, whether it’s letting Ben [Cherington] have full control or letting Bobby be Bobby and do what he does, that’s got to come from the top,” Olney said. “That’s got to come from John Henry in the same way that they had to decide, ‘OK Theo you run baseball operations. Larry, you stand over here.’ Or ‘Larry you’re going to run baseball operations and Theo answers to you.’ They have to determine those things but that’s clearly, it’s sort of at the root of the issues they have that there isn’t a defined chain of command where they need it.”

Olney said when he noted Red Sox problems in a column he was referring to ongoing issues as opposed to ones already reported.

“I kind of find it funny because, within the baseball industry, it’s not even a secret,” Olney said. “It’s such an open conversation about issues that different people in that organization have that it’s funny that it hasn’t been written about more there, to be honest with you.”He also addressed possibilities of the Red Sox shopping Jacoby Ellsbury, Josh Becket and Jon Lester at the trade deadline.

“I can’t imagine that they would trade Ellsbury,” Olney said. “I just can’t even imagine that because we saw last year how good he can be. If you see Lester now let’s face it, you’re selling him at a time when there are more questions about him than ever about what exactly is he. Is he an ace, is a he a No. 2? And with Beckett, given the amount of money that’s owed to him, it would be a situation where they wouldn’t get a lot of value and they’d probably eat most of his contract.”

Read More: ben cherington, buster olney, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jon Lester Print  |  Email  |  Bark It Up!  |  Digg It
  • AndyP

    So, Olney thinks the veteran pitchers aren’t pitching up to their ability is because their isn’t a clear chain of command in management?  That seems pretty far-fetched.

  • InPhx

    totally agree….bottom line Lester and Beckett have stunk. That is why they are where they are. Bobby V has done a good job except for the Youkilis debacle. By the way, wasn’t Olney one of the people that Youkilis had little value to a club ? And by the way why the heck is Middlebrooks stealing bases anyway ?

  • MLO

    Something is very screwed up. We all know it. Perhaps this is the tip of the iceberg.
    Whatever it is, they had better figure it out. Another year like this and there will be a revolt from the “Nation”.

  • ratchman

    everybody in the baseball industry…..when is someone going to fill the public in…..i beleive they call it REPORTING…….for god sake  , when is someone going to have the balls to go on the record!!!! keep your head bobby!!!

  • AL34

    This franchise went from a proud number 1 franchise in baseball to a complete joke. There is no leadership and that starts from John Henry at the top. But he was great when Tito was fired he supposedly hurt his back on his boat. I think Cherrington is a babe in the woods with these other GMs and has made three crummy deals for Reddick, Theo Compensation, and the Youkillis trade. The team needs leadership at the top, they need a GM who knows what he is doing like a Billy Beane, and they have to let Bobby Valentine Manage. Bobby has more baseball knowledge in his pinky that Young Ben has in his whole body.

    As far as the players, Pedroia who I know has been huer has not done much this year. AGON has turned into a punch and Judy hitter but at major league slugger prices. Beckett and Lester have been completely mediocre, Bucholtz is not having a great year, and Matsusaka is the only guy I saw come back from Tommy John surgery who looks worse than he did before the surgery.

  • Anonymous

    This actually might help the club settle some of its issues since it’s out in the open now and they have to do something about it.

    InPhx…..Middlebrooks stealing bases because he’s a ballplayer and not a wussy….don’t be an armchair manager about guys doing their job and getting hurt…it would be different if he was out there doing something stupid and got hurt.

  • Anonymous

     The only reason this franchise went from a proud #1 to a complete joke is 25% media 50% players and 25% stupid fans who keep acting like the sky is falling and they just lost their cat/dog that got run over by a truck and than the guy in the truck backed up and went over it again.  It’s a game people they will be fine with or without you throwing a hissy fit over everything and anything.

  • sjangers

    As Olney says, the Red Sox management problems are no secret to anyone who has been paying attention.  Chain of command has appeared to be an issue.  Another issue is lack of a coherent plan in baseball operations, although that may well be a function of the first issue.  Players certainly deserve their share of the blame for the team’s problems, but it’s somewhat understandable that they might not be able to produce to their full potential in a confused and uncertain environment.

  • Js

    Nothing will change as long as those chowder- heads keep showing up to do the wave and sing that dopey song!

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