Red Sox Owner John Henry yesterday characterized the notion of a power struggle between team President & CEO Larry Lucchino and limited partner Mike Gordon as "ridiculous," according to Alex Speier of the BOSTON GLOBE. Henry: "Nothing could be further from the truth." He added that there "is 'no doubt' that Lucchino runs the Red Sox." Speier notes Gordon has the second largest ownership stake in the club and last year gained the title of Fenway Sports Group President. Henry, who was speaking at his annual session with the media at the start of Spring Training, "described an organization that, despite its worst-to-first-to-worst pendulum, is in strong shape for the short- and long-term." Henry: "From my perspective, it’s never been better." He also "dismissed the idea that a Boston Olympics could serve as a platform for a new ballpark, saying that the team’s owners had 'no appetite to move'" (BOSTON GLOBE, 2/25). ESPN BOSTON's Gordon Edes wrote Henry's words on the state of the club amounted to an "audacious statement by the owner of a baseball team that has won three World Series since he and his partners took over the club" in '02. Henry: "There seems to be a focus that has to make you feel good at this point" (ESPNBOSTON.com, 2/24). Lucchino said that Henry "was 'right on' with his comments" about who is "in charge of the ballclub." He said, "I thought he was direct and clear and accurate as to how the governance of this team has operated going into our 14th year. But I can understand how there’s some interest in palace intrigue or whatever" (BOSTON HERALD, 2/25).
ROSE-COLORED GLASSES? In Boston, Steve Buckley writes Henry "sees big picture, and this particular big picture shows us that Lucchino has an enormous talent for hiring the right person for the right job." Among Lucchino's hires were former GM Theo Epstein and former Senior VP/Planning & Development Janet Marie Smith, who helped with the redesign of Fenway. Lucchino also brought on current Senior VP/Marketing & Brand Development Adam Grossman and Senior VP/Ticketing Ron Bumgarner (BOSTON HERALD, 2/25). Also in Boston, Dan Shaughnessy writes the Red Sox "are spending freely, and that is a good thing if you are a fan of the team." They "are demonstrating a Steinbrenneresque urgency" (BOSTON GLOBE, 2/25).
MINOR DETAILS: Lucchino said of his new role as part of the Triple-A Int’l League Pawtucket Red Sox ownership group, "There’s a nucleus of a very good executive team already functioning there to the extent we move forward with a new ballpark with some ideas, and the Red Sox as a partner will be involved ... but my role will largely be advisory." He said of whether the team will be known as the Rhode Island Red Sox, "That has a certain alliteration and appeal, but it’s far too soon to worry about that. ... It’s meant to be something for all of Rhode Island and not just the capital city" (BOSTON HERALD, 2/25).
