Theo resorts to playground tactics

February 26, 2008 by Benjamin Kabak 24 Comments

Theo Epstein, in an effort to pump his team up for a thankless trip to Japan next month, called Mike Mussina a “bad apple” on WEEI in Boston today. Epstein criticized Mussina for complaining about the Yanks’ 2004 trip to Japan. Mussina had the last laugh though. “Yeah, we used it as an excuse for winning the division,” he said. Moose 1, Gorilla Boy 0.

My Pet Goat

Um… aren’t we supposed to, kind of… not talk shit about 2004? Not exactly a highlight for us.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Ben K.
  
  Aren’t General Managers supposed to be a little bit more mature than Theo Epstein? Calling someone in the game a “bad apple” because they had the audacity to complain about a trip halfway around the globe doesn’t exactly scream class.
- steve (different one)
  
  yeah, i kindof agree with both of you. Theo should STFU, but on the other hand, winning in th division isn’t something to hang our hats on knowing how things ended up.
Rob D.

I thought Epstein had more integrity than that. Silly me.
Guiseppe Franco

Theo probably wouldn’t notice Manny complaining about the trip to Japan because he complains about everything else the other 159 games.
http://www.samiamsports.blogspot.com samiamsports

Theo is immature but ill take him as a gm any day
- nefarious jackson
  
  i wouldn’t
  - Whitey14
    
    That’s okay, I don’t think he’s looking for a demotion ;-)
    - Whitey14
      
      But eventually he’ll probably try to recant and say he was taken out of context. It would have been easier if he hadn’t opened his mouth at all. I believe a Japanese Admiral once said it best with regard to Pearl Harbor “I fear we have awoken a sleeping giant”. I guess time will tell how big a blunder it was.
dan

He’s only 17, give him a break
- http://riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  Heh, nice.
http://www.samiamsports.blogspot.com samiamsports

whos only 17????
http://riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Did some of Tampa’s guys bitch about it as well?
Rich

Mussina’s 2004 season started to go off track when he had to leave ST as a result of the unexpected death of his father-in-law, which affected his ability to build up arm strength.

Theo should do a little research before he opens his mouth.
dan

I didn’t hear the interview, but apparently Cashman went on Mike and the Mad Dog today and said that barring a catastrophe in the rotation, Joba would be in the bullpen the whole year. Can anyone confirm this, or correct me if I heard incorrectly?
- Guiseppe Franco
  
  That’s BS. I don’t believe he said that for a minute.
  
  Whomever told you that rumor is pulling your leg.
  - dan
    
    It was my dad, he brought it up out of the blue
- steve (different one)
  
  i’m going to assume that if this really happened, the internet would have exploded
Peter

2004 and “last laugh” are two things that should never appear on a Yankees blog.

This blog would be wise to not bring it up. At all.
http://riveraveblues.com JimT

I think that he is sending a message to his own team rather than disparaging Mussina. Nobody is happy about this Japan trip. But on the other hand you can understand MLB’s desire to spread “the message”. Theo was pointing out to his team that the Japan trip is a reality. The real pros, as was the case with most Yankee players, will do thier best to deal with it. To complain incessantly can have a negative impact on the team.
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