SB Nation Boston - Ben Cherington Officially Named New General Manager Of Boston Red Soxhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48863/boston-fave.png2011-10-26T17:39:28-04:00http://boston.sbnation.com/rss/stream/22776382011-10-26T17:39:28-04:002011-10-26T17:39:28-04:00Cherington Considering Clubhouse Beer Ban, Will Look For Manager With "Strong Voice"
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<p>New <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.overthemonster.com/">Red Sox</a> general manager Ben Cherington called for a more disciplined, orderly clubhouse<a href="http://boston.cbslocal.com/2011/10/26/new-red-sox-general-manager-ben-cherington-joined-felger-massarotti/"> in an interview</a> Wednesday on 98.5 The Sports Hub's Felger and Mazz show.</p>
<p>"It's not in keeping with what we expect from our players, and I think they understand that now," Cherington said of reports that players were drinking beer in the clubhouse during games. "Whatever behavior occurred in the clubhouse, that wasn't consistent with what we expect from the players. We'll address (that) directly with the players."</p>
<p>Cherington added that he was considering a clubhouse ban on alcohol and that drinking during games was "unacceptable." In order to further instill a sense of order, Cherington said he was looking to bring in a manager with a "strong voice," but that the players would have to cooperate in order for the manager to be effective.</p>
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<p>"The players do have to police themselves to some degree too; they have to be accountable to themselves and be accountable to their teammates," Cherington said. "We have to get back to reaffirming what we're about. Our best teams players have been accountable to themselves... we need to get back to that."</p>
<p>"I think we have extraordinary talent in this organization, on and off the field; enough to be really good in 2012 and beyond... and then there are areas that need to improve."</p>
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<p><i>Visit <a href="http://www.overthemonster.com/">Over the Monster</a> for complete Red Sox coverage throughout the first offseason of the Ben Cherington era.</i></p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/boston-red-sox/2011/10/26/2517103/boston-red-sox-ben-cherington-considering-clubhouse-beer-ban-new-managerAaron Taube2011-10-25T18:22:57-04:002011-10-25T18:22:57-04:00Ben Cherington: The Best GM Of All Time
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<p>Ben Cherington is already the best general manager that the <a href="https://www.overthemonster.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Boston Red Sox</a> has ever seen, and he's only been on the job for a little over three hours. The reason? Well, about 45 minutes into his press conference, he did this.</p>
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<p><span class="metadata"><span class="author"><a href="http://twitter.com/GethinCoolbaugh"><img src="http://a0.twimg.com/profile_images/1179308664/Picture0036_normal.jpg"></a><strong><a href="http://twitter.com/GethinCoolbaugh">@GethinCoolbaugh</a></strong><br>Gethin Coolbaugh</span></span> BREAKING: <span>John Lackey</span> will undergo Tommy John surgery, per new <a href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=RedSox" title="#RedSox search Twitter">#RedSox</a> GM Ben Cherington. <a href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=MLB" title="#MLB search Twitter">#MLB</a><br><span class="embedly_timestamp"><a title="Tue Oct 25 19:45:43 +0000 2011" href="http://twitter.com/GethinCoolbaugh/status/128920192813240320">Oct 25</a> via <a href="http://www.tweetdeck.com" rel="nofollow">TweetDeck</a></span><span class="tweet-actions"><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/favorite?tweet_id=128920192813240320" class="favorite-action" title="Favorite"><span><i></i><b>Favorite</b></span></a><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/retweet?tweet_id=128920192813240320" class="retweet-action" title="Retweet"><span><i></i><b>Retweet</b></span></a><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=128920192813240320" class="reply-action" title="Reply"><span><i></i><b>Reply</b></span></a></span></p>
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<p>Cherington basically told Red Sox fans that they won't have to watch John Lackey miss the strike zone for three hours every fifth night in the summer, and honestly, that's the greatest thing you can tell anyone. Ever. So, with that being the case, it's pretty clear that Ben Cherington has ascended to the top of the Red Sox' legends past that Theo guy to become the greatest front office member the franchise has ever seen. And it's only day one. In Ben we trust.</p>
<p><i>For more Boston Red Sox coverage, visit <a href="https://www.overthemonster.com/">our team page</a> and blog, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.overthemonster.com">Over The Monster</a>.</i></p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/boston-red-sox/2011/10/25/2514018/ben-cherington-the-best-gm-of-all-timeGethin Coolbaugh2011-10-25T16:48:11-04:002011-10-25T16:48:11-04:00Ben Cherington Speaks On Free Agents, Manager Search, And More
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<p>Addressing the media at the press conference in which he was introduced as the new GM of the Boston Red Sox, Ben Cherington spoke on some of the many challenges that he will face over the offseason.</p>
<p>To start, Cherington established a direction for the front office, acknowledging that while changes will be made, the team will still be built on the foundation established by Theo Epstein:</p>
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<p>We're going to continue with the culture that Theo continued to build with the Red Sox...That said, there comes time when it's time for a change. It's my job to preserve what we're good at and also be a catalyst to decide what we need. It's my job to move forward and identify what we need to do differently to have the kind of success the Red Sox and their fans deserve.</p>
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<p>Of things that needed to be done differently, free agency was front-and-center. While Cherington acknowledged that their track record in that department was "not good enough," he wasn't about to throw anyone under the bus, saying he was a strong proponent of the Carl Crawford signing and planned to meet with him over the offseason.</p>
<p>As for the other questionable big free agent on the roster, Cherington had big news: <a href="http://boston.sbnation.com/boston-red-sox/2011/10/25/2513758/john-lackey-tommy-john-surgery-boston-red-sox-mlb-news">John Lackey will undergo Tommy John surgery</a>, missing all of the 2012 season.</p>
<p>On what will be the Sox' first order of business--the hiring of a new manager--Cherington laid out his ideal candidate:</p>
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<p>Someone who's got a strong voice. I want someone who cares about players but is also willing to have a tough conversation with them.</p>
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<p>The softer style of Terry Francona came under fire after the Sox' month-long collapse to end the 2011 season, so it will assuage the concerns of some that Cherington does seem to be looking for someone who can be the disciplinarian if necessary. On the other hand, he'll have to avoid going too far away from the atmosphere that brought the Sox a pair of World Series championships in order to avoid a culture shock. It will be a tough line to walk, and Cherington has acknowledged that their answer may not come from within the ranks of current managers.</p>
<p>One thing that Cherington won't be doing is scourging the clubhouse of the 2011 team that proved so dysfunctional:</p>
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<p>We have a bunch of players that are really motivated by what happened at the end of this season. I don't believe that any player should be judged on one moment, one episode, one piece of behavior. We need to judge on the body of work.</p>
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<p>Included in that group are two big expiring contracts in Jonathan Papelbon and David Ortiz, both of whom Cherington acknowledged the Sox had begun talking to regarding extensions. The other potential departure--Marco Scutaro--has a team option which the Sox are interested in picking up. After a strong finish to the 2011 season and without many viable alternatives, it seems entirely likely that the shortstop will be making his return to the team in 2012.</p>
<p>Cherington is taking control of a team seemingly in crisis, but with the potential to get back on its feet in a hurry. With his first conference, the new GM has at least established a direction for the Sox to follow in solving their biggest issues, and hopefully has opened the page to a new chapter where the media will talk more about the actual construction of the team instead of fried chicken and beer.</p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/boston-red-sox/2011/10/25/2513783/ben-cherington-press-conference-red-sox-general-managerBenjamin Buchanan2011-10-25T15:00:49-04:002011-10-25T15:00:49-04:00Ben Cherington Named New General Manager Of Boston Red Sox
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<p>Ben Cherington has been named the new General Manager of the Boston Red Sox, confirming speculation that he would succeed Theo Epstein. Cherington was serving as the team's Senior Vice President and Assistant General Manager.</p> <p>Ben Cherington, welcome aboard. Well, he's already been here, but welcome to a bigger role and more responsibility. Cherington was officially named the new general manager of the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday morning and will succeed former GM Theo Epstein, who resigned and departed for the <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Chicago Cubs</a>.</p>
<p>Cherington is very familiar with the Red Sox and the organization, considering he was the team's Senior Vice President and Assistant General Manager to Epstein. Cherington also has experience handling the job of general manager for the Red Sox, as he and then assistant Jed Hoyer were the co-general managers when Epstein took a short leave.</p>
<p>Cherington is well suited for the position, graduating from Amherst College and receiving a Masters in Sports Management from the University of Massachusetts. Cherington was first hired by the team back in 1997 by then general manager Dan Duquette. </p>
<p><i>For more Boston Red Sox coverage, visit <a href="https://www.overthemonster.com/">our team page</a> and blog, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.overthemonster.com">Over The Monster</a>.</i></p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/boston-red-sox/2011/10/25/2510668/ben-cherington-boston-red-sox-theo-epsteinGethin Coolbaugh