The Red Sox yesterday hired former Angels GM Jerry Dipoto, who will "take a look at the team’s major league and minor league talent and evaluate each player to see if his view is the same as that of the team," according to Nick Cafardo of the BOSTON GLOBE. This "was the first step in ramping up the Red Sox baseball operations department, though Dipoto’s tenure may not be long as he’s likely to be considered for GM jobs as they arise" (BOSTON GLOBE, 8/13). YAHOO SPORTS' Chris Cwik wrote it is "unclear whether this position will lead to a full-time job" with the Red Sox, who might have placed the interim tag on Dipoto "in order to allow him to seek other jobs once the regular season ends" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 8/12). ESPN BOSTON's Gordon Edes wrote Dipoto's hiring "would seem to reinforce the stated intention of the Red Sox to bring back Cherington for another season, even though the club is headed to its third last-place finish in the past four years" (ESPNBOSTON.com, 8/12). MLB Network's Peter Gammons said Exec VP & COO Sam Kennedy is a "great believer" in GM Ben Cherington. Gammons: "I think what you may see is now that the ownership structure has changed a little bit, (Fenway Sports Group President Michael) Gordon, who is really the No. 2 owner, has been over running Liverpool (and) I can see him coming back. I can see them at least making overtures to bringing in (outgoing Phillies President) Pat Gillick to be a voice to be heard and a shoulder to lean on for Cherington and (Assistant GM Mike) Hazen. ... I think there’ll be a lot of change within the organization, but I don’t think it will start at the top" ("High Heat," MLB Network, 8/12).
