Franchise Notes

In Boston, Ron Borges writes Red Sox President & CEO Larry Lucchino has “made his boss tons of money by selling everything that isn’t tied down and some things that soon will be (bricks at $75 a pop)." But what he “doesn’t know how to do is build a winning baseball team.” Lucchino has "created a 'team' in which the general manager didn’t want the manager.” He has “undermined” manager Bobby Valentine and GM Ben Cherington, thus “solidifying his own authority after losing much of it to Cherington’s predecessor, Theo Epstein.” Borges: “If Larry Lucchino truly ‘runs the Red Sox,’ as John Henry insists, he’s running them into the ground. Then again, he’s made his bosses a lot of money while doing it so maybe the ugly truth is those are the only numbers that really count on Yawkey Way anymore” (BOSTON HERALD, 8/2).

BARGAIN HUNTING: Twins Owner Jim Pohlad said that the team will be “free-agent shopping again this winter … but probably not for the highest-priced talent.” In St. Paul, Charley Walters notes the Twins’ payroll this season “is about $100 million.” Pohlad said, “We’re happy at the level (of payroll) we’re at right now.” He reiterated that he hopes GM Terry Ryan “will remain” in the position. Ryan is “technically the interim GM and has said it’s too early to decide where he will stay in the role.” Pohlad said he would be “surprised” if Ryan doesn’t remain (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 8/2).

NEITHER GOOD NOR LUCKY: In Cleveland, Bill Livingston writes the “problem with the Lerner family’s feckless stewardship of the Browns was never lack of good intentions.” Browns Owner Randy Lerner’s hires “turned out to be dismal for the most part,” and the “biggest constant among those Randy hired was a lack of judgment, bordering at times on a lack of professionalism.” Livingston: “Randy Lerner had promised his father he would not sell the Browns until they were successful. That hasn't happened. But Randy is selling them to an owner, Jimmy Haslam III, who has promised to keep the team in Cleveland. … Randy Lerner wasn't a good owner by any means, but he wasn't a lucky one, either” (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 8/2).

SO CLOSE, YET SO FAR: In Indianapolis, Mike Chappell notes the Colts are “turning to single-game sales as they try to fill Lucas Oil Stadium for the 2012 season.” Colts COO Pete Ward said that the team is “about 1,600 season tickets shy of selling out” the stadium. Ward: “We feel very confident all of our games will be sold out” (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 8/2).