Lucchino on D&C: 'Stop dwelling on the past'

Red Sox president/CEO Larry Lucchino participated in an often testy discussion on the Dennis & Callahan show Friday morning, as he presented an impassioned defense of his boss, John Henry.

The arguing began a few minutes into the interview when Lucchino talked about new general manager Ben Cherington and made a reference to the media's role in publicizing the Red Sox' clubhouse discord.

"We were able to start a new chapter," Lucchino said. "I think Ben Cherington introduced himself beautifully the other day. You see the kind of general manager who is going to be leading the baseball operations of the Red Sox going forward. And we were able to make some progress and stop dwelling on the past and playing the blame game and doing all the nonsensical things that the media was leading us into. We were able to move forward. I think bifurcating those things was a good thing."

Co-host Gerry Callahan, who last week wrote a column for the Boston Herald that was critical of Henry and the owner's surprise appearance on another local radio station, called out Lucchino for bringing up the media's role.

"Did he just say it was the media's fault? I think he did," Callahan said. "You said the media was leading you into these awful things?"

Responded Lucchino: "Yeah, Callahan, I think for example it led you into a pathetically petulant and misleading article about John Henry."

Asked Callahan: "What was misleading?"

Said Lucchino: "His role in the organization. You don't even understand it. And how about the motivation as to why you wrote it? I think you took a situation -- first of all, John can defend himself, and will. But you were -- let's use the word angry -- because of an appearance on another station where John went to defend himself and his wife from some nasty personal accusations. That was the motivation for an article that doesn't appreciate the role that John Henry plays in the governance of the Red Sox. The whole fundamental premise of the article was flawed."

Callahan claimed Henry was not honest during an earlier appearance alongside Lucchino on D&C when it was implied that ownership supported the signing of free agent Carl Crawford. During Henry's appearance on the other station, he noted that he did not agree with the deal.

Said Lucchino: "Callahan, there you go again. We're both telling the truth. There's a reconciliation there that's obvious. And if you don't see it, then I'm sorry. I talked about a collective decision. That means that various people participated in the decision. It was not one person. The suggestion was that somehow Theo [Epstein] had screwed up and made this bad call. First of all, I'm not sure it's going to prove to be a bad call over time. And secondly, several people participated in that decision, in that judgment. No one said there was unanimity, but we said that there was a collective participation in that decision."

As for whether Henry's comments could have a negative effect on Crawford, Lucchino said: "I think that you're making a bigger issue of that than that actually is. I don't think it's going to impair Carl Crawford's performance going forward. No, I don't."

Lucchino also briefly touched on the reports of drinking in the Red Sox clubhouse but soon decided that was a mistake.

"I don't want to play the blame game," he said. "I don't want to go back. You guys might want to live in September 2011 forever, but we don't. We want to move forward. I probably made a mistake simply by indulging you guys in the conversation about that. It's time to move forward. It's not time to dwell on who drank a beer or had a piece of fried chicken. If you believe that that was the cause of the collapse in September, I think you're mistaken."

Added Lucchino: "I think the depth of the starting pitching and the burned-out bullpen I think were two of the major factors, much more substantive. Those are much more significant -- perhaps a little less useful to talk radio, but much more central factors."

Toward the end of the conversation, a calmer Lucchino said: "I apologize if I went at you a little hard. I was quite offended by that article on John Henry. He's my partner and my friend, and I wanted to say something about it."

Following are more highlights from the conversation.

On Josh Beckett failing to publicly address the pitchers' drinking in the clubhouse: "I think he is on the same page, just less willing to deal with the media right now. He craves his privacy a little more. But he was a highly motivated guy when I spoke to him. I think he feels like we as a team have something to prove, they as a pitching staff have something to prove. I think you will a highly motivated Josh Beckett. I know you will next year."

On if Beckett apologized: "I didn't ask for an apology. But we spoke about what the circumstances were. I should let Josh speak for himself when he decides to do that. Let's just say he appreciated that there were some things going on in the clubhouse, but he felt that they were dramatically blown out of proportion by the media."

On the list of managerial candidates: "It's an evolving list. There are probably about eight or nine names on it right now. It could change tomorrow, with a few more people being added. There's plenty of due diligence that's been going on for the last several days. Ben has gotten recommendations, people have thrown their hats in the ring. I've heard from baseball people that I know with their recommendations. The interview process is likely to start [soon]. Ben's scheduling. I think his plan is to begin interviewing some people next week. But I wouldn't read too much into who comes in first, because, as I said, we're at eight or 10 names. We just want to get the interview process beginning."

On if there are any leading candidates: "I don't think so, because the effort has been to collect names and be sure that various people get a shot at it and we get a shot at them. There haven't been a lot of internal discussions as to ranking these people yet."

On making changes to the roster because of the September collapse: "I think there's a flawed premise that somehow this team needs to be changed -- you didn't say radical change, but the suggestion was that there needs to be basic change. And I challenge that premise. There have to be improvements. Every year there have to be improvements. When you have a colossal collapse as we did, there have to be some changes made, you would expect. But there is the nucleus of a very good team in that clubhouse. There's the nucleus of a very potent offense. There is a veteran presence. There are some young players in that organization who certainly have matured and got important experience last year. So, I challenge the notion that we need to throw the baby out with the bath water. I think there's so much talent in that team, as evidenced by the fact that on September 1 we were 30 games over .500."

On pending free agents David Ortiz and Jonathan Papelbon: "I think we want to bring them both back. Ideally, it would be nice to have both players back. But as I say every year around this time, it takes two to tango. People have different ideas of what the market is dictating. They have a different idea of what their leverage may be. So, sometimes it takes time, and sometimes it doesn't work. But you're right, those guys had very productive seasons and I feel very good about those guys being members of the Red Sox team in 2012 if it can be worked out reasonably and sensibly. They are in many ways and have been faces of the franchise and I would like very much to have them stay around. We would like very much for them to stay around."

On the Red Sox' hesitance regarding free agency: "I think it's an indication that we are skeptical about free agency given the recent experience we and so many other clubs have had. But we will never turn off that possibility. You've got to examine that every year. It's just a major avenue that's available to clubs to improve their team. But just as you do with the amateur draft, or you do with important trades, or you do with international signings, you don't want to turn off any possibility. But do we approach this year's free agent class with some skepticism? Speaking for myself, I would say yes."

On the returning players' attitude: "These guys are not immune to the adverse effect the collapse had on them, on their pride and on their public image. So, I think you're going to see a highly motivated, cohesive team next season. 2012, I have some real optimism for."

On his relationship with Epstein: "I think [Epstein's] quote was 'complicated, productive and rewarding.' And I would say to that: Bingo, right on. He's absolutely correct. ... I would say it was all of those things. Remember, we hired him at the Orioles when I was the CEO and he was a college intern. We worked there together for three years, and then we worked seven years in San Diego together -- that's 10 -- and then 10 years here. That's a lot of time, a lot of growth, a lot of different roles as Theo developed as a baseball executive. So, certainly, complications are inherent in that kind of growth process, I would say. But were we productive? Absolutely. Look at the track record. Look at what we did together here. And was it rewarding? You bet it was."

On if he will take on a greater role now that Epstein is gone: "Not really. I will be more active because we have a younger, newer general manager. But our role -- and when I say 'our' I mean John, Tom [Werner] and myself -- will always have a seat at the baseball table to hear recommendations and suggestions on major issues, major acquisitions, major policy questions. So, if anything, it will be different because I'm dealing with a different personality, and there isn't a 20-year working relationship the way there was with Theo."

On Henry and Werner skipping Cherington's press conference: "Some people have made an issue of that. There's no issue there. Certain matters are delegable and are delegated to me. Had they been in town, I'm sure they would have been involved -- they may have been involved. But there's an issue of delegation and respective roles that we all have. I don't think much should be read into that."

On if the commissioner will need to intervene in the discussions for compensation with the Cubs for Epstein: "I don't know. I think that's a possibility. But we now have general managers in place on each team who have some job security, some comfort going forward, and are more able to make this decision than the individuals who were participating before."

On ticket prices for 2012: "We'll actually have an announcement on that coming up within the next week or two. There's been no final decision. We had our first meeting really on it yesterday. So, we'll have an announcement on that in short order."

For a transcript of the conversation, check the Full Count blog. To hear the interview, go to the Dennis & Callahan audio on demand page.