The Red Sox President and CEO made a visit to WEEI’s studio today and spoke with John Dennis and Gerry Callahan in an interview where Lucchino wanted to talk about the future but ended up with he and Callahan in a tense battle of words over the media’s role in all of the recent drama unfolding around the team.
Lucchino took exception to an opinion piece Callahan wrote last week bashing Principal Owner John Henry (calling him, among other things, a “bumbling billionaire”) and when he brought it up that opened the door for Callahan to call the Red Sox ownership on the carpet for what he considered conflicting stories about the Carl Crawford signing (Henry had stated in an interview accompanied by Lucchino that the ownership supported it and then said he was against it in the interview with The Sports Hub).  Lucchino chalked Callahan’s petulance up to his being upset that John Henry made an unscheduled appearance on WEEI’s competition instead of the Red Sox flagship station and the two sparred for a few moments.
In spite of the extended bickering, Lucchino made it clear his main objective for appearing on the show, aside from defending his friend John Henry against Callahan, was to focus on the future of the team.
The search for a replacement for Terry Francona is in full swing, according to Lucchino, saying the list currently has eight or nine names on it but is “evolving” and could, eventually, include more. Â He also called the idea that the team needs some radical changes a “flawed premise” but admitted the team could use some improving.
Aside from who will be manager, the biggest question of the off-season seems to be will the team re-sign free agents David Ortiz and Jonathan Papelbon, to new contracts, and while Lucchino didn’t give a straight answer, he did indicate that the team would like both players back but that it “takes two to tango” as far as negotiations are concerned.
Lucchino seems confident that the players who were part of the September collapse will be returning next year fully aware of their roles and what is expected of them going forward and he’s optimistic that they will return in 2012 “highly motivated” and “cohesive.
Before ending the discussion, Lucchino apologized for going after Callahan “hard” and explained it by saying he was defending his “partner and friend” and wanted to make sure he said something while he was there.