Ben Cherington – Identity Part 2

A few months ago in this space, I wrote about Sox GM Ben Cherington. One of the negative things I mentioned about him was that, unlike his predecessors, he had failed to establish an identity. For example, that of Theo Epstein was of a rather cocky guy from Brookline who acted decisively and seemed to care little about what writers and fans thought. Though Epstein made some bad moves in his final years in Boston, his identity was stamped on the team.

 

Has Cherington changed? Somewhat. Last season, Ben and the Sox lurched from crisis to crisis and resolved nothing. The result, of course, was a 69-93 finish. The firing of Bobby Valentine and hiring of John Farrell were not solely his decisions, but he must have played a part. The move so far seems a positive one.

 

As far as personnel are concerned, during this offseason Cherington has begun to put his imprint on the Sox. Avoiding the quick solution of superstar signings, he has brought in middle-level players like Shane Victorino, Josh Hanrahan, and Stephen Drew. He has also made it clear that young players like Rubby De La Rosa and Xander Bogearts will get every chance in the organization. I feel these are positive moves, though the results won't be known until the season begins. The team should improve, but no one is talking division titles or even wild cards.

 

I disagree with Dan Shaughnessy that Cherington has escaped blame for the 2012 disaster. No one- from players to coaches to management -were spared harsh criticism; it was the worst season since the days of Billy Herman. One of Ben's problems is that he continues to give rather bland statements. But the best identity Cherington can establish now is improvement on and off the field. If he succeeds there, a good part of his mark on the Sox will have been established.