Cubs vs. Red Sox a Series preview?
BOSTON — The Cubs invade Fenway Park this weekend for a series that could be a World Series preview.
Cubs players
and lead the large contingent of former Red Sox employees, which obviously also includes President the man who helped end the two most famous droughts in sports.
Epstein’s return will be the most hyped aspect of the series, which will be televised nationally this afternoon on Fox and Sunday night on ESPN.
Red Sox second baseman ,a vital cog on Epstein’s ’07 championship team in Boston, said it’s a homecoming that shouldn’t be missed.
“Obviously I’m sure he’s very proud,” Pedroia said. “He has done things in baseball that nobody has ever done with two franchises after long droughts between winning. He should be proud of that. He’s coming, right? Hopefully I’ll get a chance to see him and say hi.”
Epstein missed the Cubs last trip to Fenway in 2014 because his wife was about to give birth to their second son. General manager
who also worked under Epstein in Boston, went instead and the Cubs swept the Red Sox with
flirting with a no-hitter in the opener.
This time Epstein not only will be on hand, but also will host a party tonight for his charity, Hot Stove/Cool Music. Both teams are invited and longtime friend
will perform. Pedroia predicted Epstein would keep things low key at Fenway, pointing out he preferred to be “behind the scenes’’ during his days as GM.
Epstein said Thursday he planned to spend time with family and friends in Boston, but was looking forward to seeing the players, staff, Fenway employees and manager
“It’s not just any road city for me,’’ he said. “It’s home, and the place I spent 10 years. I’m not going to, like, walk around the concourse with my World Series ring or anything like that.’’
Whether Epstein will break out the gorilla suit he COMMENTARY wore one memorable day as Red Sox general manager remains to be seen. He didn’t leave on good terms with Red Sox ownership, who asked the Cubs for compensation for signing him even though they wanted him out.
The Cubs wound up sending prospects
and to the Red Sox for Epstein and a player to be named, who turned out to be 19-year-old
the younger brother of
now a Red Sox star. It may not go down as Brock-for-Broglio, but rest assured Chairman
is not complaining. Epstein had a famous falling out with his mentor, Red Sox President
and was ready to move on. Ricketts made him an offer he couldn’t refuse and the rest is history.
During spring training of 2015, after the Cubs had signed Lester, I asked Lucchino if he was happy for Epstein for what he had accomplished at that point in the rebuild.
“What has he done in Chicago?’’Lucchino replied.
Still, Epstein said he received congratulations after the Cubs’ World Series win from Red Sox Chairman and speaks almost every week with CEO
one of his best friends from Little League and during his Red Sox era.
“My feelings are that I still feel really connected to the Red Sox because of Sam, because of (what happened) before,’’Epstein said. “I’m still really close to the front office, people in baseball ops that I spent 10 years with, and it’s also the team I grew up rooting for.
“I also feel connected to some of the players, like Pedroia, Bogaerts,
I follow them a little bit closer than I do the average player.”
Epstein has been gone for 51⁄2 years, but his fingerprints are still on display in the Red Sox clubhouse.
“They’re kind of everywhere, aren’t they?” Pedroia said.
Seven players on the current Red Sox roster were either drafted or signed during Epstein’s reign, including Pedroia, Bogaerts, Betts, outfielder
catcher
and pitchers and Others are in the minors, including catcher and pitchers and
Epstein remains popular in Boston for what he accomplished during those 10 years, most notably ending their 86-year drought.
“Theo was larger than life when he was here after ending the curse,” Red Sox fan said Wednesday night at Fenway. “Now he’s probably bigger than ever since the Cubs thing.”
That’s why Red Sox players believe Epstein will get a warm reception in his return to Fenway, even if it’s difficult to find any mention of Epstein in the many historical displays around the concourse.
“He has done a lot of great things for the city, and the city respects him,” Bradley said.