Rays/MLB

Beleaguered Bosox GM paints rosy picture

By TIMES WIRES
Published August 21, 2006

BOSTON - Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein urged caution Sunday, insisting "the big picture is pretty darn good" despite flops in the three straight games against the Yankees that left New York a season-high 4½ games up in the AL East.

"We're trying not to overreact to a bad brief period of time," he said before Game 4 of the five-game series. The game had not ended by press time.

"Things haven't changed because we lost three games, things haven't changed because we're thinner pitching-wise than we want to be. We're still on the road to get where we want to be. You don't start questioning everything about your processes because of a moment like this."

Epstein, who has promised a lower profile since last winter's bizarre nonresignation saga, came out to calm the panic after the Yankees won three straight by a combined 39-20. Boston lost 10 of 14 entering Sunday night's game and watched its 3½-game lead turn into a 4½-game deficit in less than a month.

"It's proven to be more of a struggle for us. Doesn't mean we can't win, doesn't mean we're giving up," Epstein said. "Our goal is to put ourselves in position to win 95-plus games and make the playoffs every year. And that's always been our goal for this year, and for next year and the year after that. We still have a chance to do it."

Since Epstein took over in November 2002, the Red Sox have not missed the playoffs. But they entered Sunday's game on a pace to win about 92, which would be their fewest since Jimy Williams was fired during the 2001 season.

Epstein responded to criticism that he was outmaneuvered by the Yankees when he failed to make a move at the July 31 trading deadline while New York picked up Bobby Abreu.

Boston could not afford the more than $27-million Abreu would have cost them in salary and luxury taxes this season and next, Epstein said.

"We have tremendous resources, don't get me wrong. But that's not something we can do," Epstein said. "We're in a position, competing with less resources, where we have to keep one eye on the future. We can't do certain things."

New York has had injuries to outfielders Hideki Matsui and Gary Sheffield, second baseman Robinson Cano and pitchers Jaret Wright and Carl Pavano, but Boston has had its share. Outfielders Coco Crisp, Wily Mo Pena and Trot Nixon, catcher Jason Varitek and pitchers David Wells, Matt Clement and Tim Wakefield have missed significant time.

"We're banged up right now," Epstein said. "We have a lot of young players who because of injuries and lack of depth been thrust into positions a little prematurely, taking on more responsibilities than the way we had drawn it up."

[Last modified August 21, 2006, 01:56:27]