''You weren't surprised, were you?" Ricciardi asked.
The answer would be no. In fact, conversations with a handful of general managers and agents indicate that Epstein never completely left, inasmuch as co-GMs Jed Hoyer and Ben Cherington regularly consulted with Epstein and operated this offseason much as he would have, with the exception being some tactics employed by president/CEO Larry Lucchino in the Johnny Damon negotiations.
Furthermore, the perception widely held within Red Sox Nation that the team's baseball operations department was rudderless is not an opinion shared by San Diego GM Kevin Towers, Oakland GM Billy Beane, Cleveland GM Mark Shapiro, Ricciardi, and prominent agent Scott Boras, all of whom have dealt with the Sox this offseason.
Rather, Hoyer and Cherington have come off as capable and creative executives in the mold of Epstein. Remember, Ricciardi said: ''These guys have done a lot of work to help with the success Theo had."
Beane, who dealt with the Sox at the winter meetings, called Hoyer and Cherington ''outstanding in our brief dealings. That shouldn't be any secret. Both are class acts and smart guys. It wasn't a major difference."
Boras worked with Hoyer on the Damon negotiations and with Hoyer and Cherington when the Sox made a brief but concerted run at pitcher Kevin Millwood.
''One of the things I found to be a very helpful part of the Red Sox is their availability and objectivity to ideas, Jed and Ben both," Boras said. ''We had many late nights. I think a lot of what Jed and Ben did, their approach, was largely because of the approach Theo and I took in the past. That working relationship was extended."
At times, Boras said, it did take longer to do business.
''With Theo, I knew he had the authority to the level of being able to do deals in one phone call," Boras said.
