The Epstein Doctrine Explained
“ Achievement is never possible except against specific, limited, clearly defined targets…Only if targets are defined can resources be allocated to their attainment, priorities and deadlines set, and somebody be held accountable for results” - Peter Drucker
When running any large-scale, multi-million dollar corporation, it's important that you develop specific organizational goals consistent with your deeply held beliefs. Then you have to articulate those beliefs into a concise, coherent business plan, communicate the plan to everyone if your organization, then execute the plan. In other words, you have to have vision.
Sports franchises are no exception. You can’t put together a winning team until you first decide what it is you believe in. For instance, do you intend to fill your roster with high priced veterans or build through the draft? Are you looking for a high powered offense that’ll sell tickets or do you believe defense wins championships? Do you want to sign a bunch of superstars or are you trying to develop a “team first” philosophy? These are the questions you need to answer in your own mind before you can build a successful organization.
Consider the Patriots. Their philosophy is very simple: they look for solid, mid-salaried guys that are tough, smart, love football, and will put the team above their own needs. The Bruins? They build their team around the cheapest talent they can find. And when the few remaining fans they have storm the gates of Causeway Street carrying torches and pitchforks demanding a winner, the B’s sign one or two decent players just to placate the masses. Then when the team tanks it, they blame it all on the guys they signed, ship them out of town, and vow never to spend another dime on real championship caliber talent again. The Celtics philosophy is to draft young, raw talent and ask us to be patient while the players develop. Then they trade the young guys for overpriced, horribly flawed veterans and watch the other guys blossom into perennial All Stars.
The point is, regardless of what your team’s philosophy is, you’ve got to have one and stick to it. There may be no better example than the Red Sox under the steady, consistent leadership of Theo Epstein.
Over the last couple of seasons, Theo has accumulated more than his fair share of critics. People have questioned his moves. They say he’s being inconsistent. That no one can figure out what kind of team he’s trying to assemble. To Theo’s biggest detractors he’s become mercurial, his vision for the team incoherent, his trades and signings reactionary and arbitrary.
Nonsense, I say. In the four years (off and on) he‘s been running the Sox, Theo has been a model of firm, unwavering leadership. And to his critics, I offer this simple, easy to understand primer to The Epstein Doctrine:
Spend Money Wisely- Theo said it early on in his Sox GM career: the worst thing he can do is saddle the team with bad contracts. He knew his predecessors, Lou Gorman and Dan Duquette, made dozens of bad deals that hamstrung the team with has beens like Andre Dawson, Matt Young, Jose Canseco and Kevin Mitchell. Even a superstar like Manny Ramirez, because of the obscene contract he signed with the club, made it difficult to sign the players they need to become a winner. “Payroll flexibility” is one of Theo’s core beliefs.
Pay Whatever It Takes- The Sox bid against themselves when the signed a 32 year old Jason Varitek to a 4 year, $40 million dollar deal last year. Likewise Julio Lugo (4 years, $36 mil) and JD Drew (5 years, $70 mil). After all, it’s only money; you can always make more.
Avoid Risks- Theo believes it’s best to take a pass on high priced, aging veterans who are likely to break down in the future. So when Pedro Martinez and Johnny Damon were offered $50 and $52 mil respectively, he had the guts to let them walk. By the same token, this year he didn’t offer a contract to the perennially injured Trot Nixon.
Take Risks- His choices to replace those guys have been Matt Clement (12 starts in 2006) and Drew, who’s appeared in more than 135 games twice in his career.
You Don’t Need a Closer- In 2003, the “Committee” of Red Sox “Closers” included Mike Timlin, Chad Fox, Brandon Lyon, two other guys named Chad, the guy who sits outside the Cask & Flagon wearing a priest collar and rattling a tambourine, and Alan Embree.
You Have to Have a Closer- By midseason, Theo traded Shea Hillenbrand for Byung-Hyun Kim. That winter, he signed Keith Foulke. This year it’s his top priority as he’s talked to everyone who’s ever closed from Eric Gagne to Ricky Roma from “Glengarry Glen Ross.”
You Need Pitching and Defense- In 2004, the Sox led the league in runs scored and ERA, but they weren’t winning. Theo’s answer was the logical one: it must be the defense. So he traded Nomar Garicaparra for Orlando Cabrera. In time, the defense settled down and they won a championship.
You Need Offense- Immediately after the season, he let Cabrera walk because he wasn’t disciplined at the plate, and replaced him with Edgar Renteria, who led the majors in errors. Last year Theo signed Alex Gonzalez, the best defensive shortstop in baseball. This year he signed Lugo, who has a decent OPS but who fields the ball like he’s chasing a live chicken.
You Need to Keep Good, Young Pitching- This year, citing the importance of building a pitching staff for the future, Theo passed up numerous chances to trade Jonathan Papelbon, Jon Lester, Manny Delcarmen and Craig Hansen.
Give Up Good, Young Pitching- He flipped Bronson Arroyo, Cla Meredith and Anibal Sanchez.
Find Players That Can Thrive in Boston- Theo understands as much as anyone the central place that baseball occupies in the hearts and minds of the fans in the region. And that it takes a certain kind of player to feed off the pressure and use it to help him achieve great things. Clearly Damon was such a player. As was Pedro. And David Ortiz. Even some lesser players like Kevin Millar thrived in this environment.
Anyone Can Thrive in Boston- Renteria got off easy here, but he still thinks we treated him like he was Michael Richards at the NAACP Image Awards. He openly admits he’s a lot happier in Atlanta, and they were mathematically eliminated on Mother’s Day. And there’s no doubt in the mind of anyone who’s ever met Drew that he’s going to act like The Green Monster is The Green Mile.
The Sox Can’t Compete Financially With the Yankees- From Damon to Bobby Abreu and now Andy Pettite, the New York continues to be able to overspend on the guys they want, and the Sox have to be cleverer and find better bargains in order to stay competitive.
The Sox Can Spend with the Yankees- The Sox bid $20 million more than New York just as a security deposit (first month/ last month not included) on Daisuke Matsuzaka. But the way the talks are going, maybe Theo was right the first time.