First Paul Podesta, fired by the Dodgers. Now Theo Epstein, resigning after he couldn't come to an agreement on an extension with Red Sox president and Epstein mentor Larry Lucchino.
Is this the end of the seamnerd era in big-league baseball?
Not at all. With old-school Pat Gillick ticketed to come back, either in Philly or L.A., it might well be painted as such. But as David Pinto has pointed out over at Baseball Musings, Gillick was a Moneyball GM before the term existed:
His offenses were built around players with great OBAs. He knew when to replace high priced stars with cheaper ones who also had talent. His trade of Fernandez and McGriff for Alomar and Carter made the team younger and better, especially as he was able to move Olerud into the first base slot. It was a great Moneyball deal.
Epstein will be back, perhaps after a year off -- remember, he's only 31, and already with three years experience as a GM, including a World Series title. And if you missed it, here's his pal J.P. Ricciardi, not quite believing the news (and insisting that, with two years left on his deal in Toronto, he's not going anywhere):
"I'll believe it when I'm at the general managers' meetings next week in Palm Springs and he's not in his chair. It's like a Mafia hit. You don't believe it until you see the guy at the funeral."
For what this means to Red Sox fans, let's just say this is not a good day.
Oh, and listen up for this one: Tom Cheek, the Blue Jays' original ironman announcer who died last month at age 66, is back on the ballot for the Ford Frick Award. C'mon now, everybody, vote for Cheek here -- and remember, you're allowed one vote per day, so take advantage.
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