Last year at this time, Theo Epstein had a slash. When he exited Fenway Park in his gorilla suit in October, he was the outgoing ''senior vice president/general manager." Now other people who will clearly be answering to him have a slash. In fact, the longest title in the organization now belongs to Craig Shipley. He is the ''vice president/international scouting and special assistant to the general manager." Try that one with your mouth full.
Whatever the title, Theo Epstein is back. Let the spin begin.
There was no press conference to announce this development, merely statements issued from the Krem-, er, ballpark offices. Weary of the public scrutiny concerning their peculiar actions of the past few months, the Red Sox Inc. instead welcomed the sort of prodigal son back to the organization via canned quotes. The principals plan to meet with selected approved media in ''one-on-one sessions and small groups" today, supposedly to clear up the lingering mystery surrounding Theo's departure and return. Henceforth, says CEO (a weighty title, for sure) Larry Lucchino, ''We shall not address this internal office matter publicly."
Some would say the Red Sox have no obligation to anyway. In other words, why Epstein left in the first place -- and he did leave -- is none of our business.
That's fine, maybe it isn't. The Red Sox are not a public corporation officially, although we should point out that any company that wishes to impose its will on the city to the degree the Red Sox are proposing via their grandiose real estate designs for Kenmore Square and the Back Bay couldn't be more public. Like so many large corporations, the Red Sox wish to control the news. Hey, it works for the Patriots.
