John Henry Takes His Turn

A surprise visit from Principal Owner John Henry resulted in 98.5 The Sports Hub radio getting a 90 minute exclusive.

Listening to Michael Felger and Tony Massarotti discussing the trials and tribulations of the team in his car, Henry decided to visit the studio to set the record straight. When asked why he was there, Henry didn’t mince words:

Well, when you’re misleading the public, you should be challenged on some of the things you’re saying, so I’m here to challenge some of the things you’ve been saying.

Henry insisted that neither he nor Tom Werner nor Larry Lucchino were the sources for the leaks that fueled the article written by Bob Hohler, saying it was “ridiculous” that anyone would share that information with the media.  He also said that there was no friction between Lucchino and General Manager Theo Epstein but he balked at discussing the situation surrounding Epstein’s probable defection to the Chicago Cubs, only stating that he hoped Epstien would stay in Boston (while also saying it’s going to be a “sad day”when he departs) and that Epstein only had a 10-year plan to be the Red Sox GM.  He certainly made it sound like Epstein would be leaving and Lucchino would be staying on for quite a while.

While he didn’t say much that could be construed as controversial, he did admit that he “personally opposed” the Carl Crawford signing because “We had plenty of left-handed hitting” but he also said that he doesn’t “meddle” in baseball-making decisions and ultimately the deal got the support of the entire ownership group.  No doubt this will be the one point in the 90-minute interview that the media holds on to in order to keep the angst fresh in Red Sox Nation but it came across as Henry showing that he was being open and honest in the interview.

He acknowledged that the Red Sox need to get to the bottom of what happened with the team by season’s end while also defending the players, telling Felger and Massarotti that none of the negativity would be coming out now had the team made it to the postseason.  He repeatedly put forth that the media has made much more out of what went on than is acutally there.

(Interesting to note that during an appearance on The Sports Hub’s rival station, WEEI, last night, Red Sox sideline reporter Heidi Watney said almost the exact thing. Without saying there were no issues in the clubhouse, both Henry and Watney chastised the media for creating such a negative spin when it wasn’t as bad as is being portrayed, offering that most of what is being reported has been completely taken out of context.)

The interview probably won’t do much in the way of changing the minds of those convinced that, at the very least, Larry Lucchino decided to smear Terry Francona on his way out, but for many it will be a welcome response from an ownership that stayed quiet for longer than the fans would have liked.

John Henry went on the air today because he wants the fans to know that not everything being reported, on both the radio and in print, can necessarily be believed and that as principle owner he still cares deeply about what has happened to the team and what will happen with them.

Whether fans believe him is something that probably won’t be determined until Opening Day 2012.