The Cubs invade Fenway Park this weekend for a series that many believe will be a World Series preview.
Cubs players Jon Lester, John Lackey and Koji Uehara lead the large contingent of former Red Sox employees, which obviously also includes president Theo Epstein, the man who helped end the two famous droughts in sports.
Epstein’s return will be the most hyped aspect of the series, which will be televised nationally on Fox Saturday afternoon and on ESPN Sunday night.
Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia, a vital cog on Epstein’s ‘07 championship team in Boston, said it’s a homecoming that shouldn’t be missed.
“Obviously, I’m sure he’s very proud,” Pedroia said. “He’s done things in baseball that nobody has ever done with two franchises after long droughts between winning. He should be proud of that, and proud of what he’s done in both places. He’s coming, right? Hopefully I’ll get a chance to see him and say hi.”
Epstein missed the Cubs’ last trip to Fenway in 2014 because his wife was about to give birth to their second son.
“It’d be fun to watch those two teams play, and any chance to go home is always a lot of fun,” Epstein said at the time. “But I’ll be there in spirit.”
General manager Jed Hoyer, who also worked under Epstein in Boston, went instead, and the Cubs swept the Red Sox, with Jake Arrieta flirting with a no-hitter in the opener.
This time Epstein not only will be on hand, but will host a party on Saturday night for his charity, Hot Stove/Cool Music. Both teams are invited, and longtime friend and “Bryzzo” (the MLB ads featuring Cubs stars Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo) employee Eddie Vedder will perform.
Pedroia predicted Epstein would keep things low key at Fenway, pointing out he preferred to be “behind the scenes” during his days as GM.
Epstein said on Thursday he planned to spend time with family and friends in Boston, but was looking forward to seeing the players, staff, Fenway employees and manager John Farrell.
“It’s not just any road city for me,” he said. “It’s home, and the place I spent 10 years. I’m not going to, like, walk around the concourse with my World Series ring or anything like that.”
Whether Epstein will break out the gorilla suit he wore one memorable day as Red Sox general manager remains to be seen. He didn’t leave on good terms with Red Sox ownership, who asked the Cubs for compensation for signing him, even though they wanted him out.
The Cubs wound up sending prospects Chris Carpenter and Aaron Kurcz to the Red Sox for Epstein and a player to be named later, who turned out to be 19-year-old Jair Bogaerts, the younger brother of Xander Bogaerts, now a Red Sox star.
It may not go down as Brock-for-Broglio, but rest assured Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts is not complaining.
Epstein had a famous falling out with his mentor, Red Sox president Larry Lucchino, and was ready to move on. Ricketts made him an offer he couldn’t refuse, and the rest is history.
Epstein said he received congratulations after the Cubs’ World Series win from Red Sox co-owner Tom Werner, and speaks almost every week with CEO Sam Kennedy, one of his best friends from Little League and during his Red Sox era.
“My feelings are that I still feel really connected to the Red Sox because of Sam, because of (what happened) before,” Epstein said. “I’m still really close to the front office, people in baseball ops that I spent 10 years with, and it’s also the team I grew up rooting for.
“I also feel connected to some of the players, like Pedroia … Bogaerts, (Mookie) Betts. I follow them a little bit more closely than I do the average player.”
Epstein has been gone for 5½ years, but his fingerprints are still on display in the Red Sox clubhouse.
“They’re kind of everywhere, aren’t they?” Pedroia said.
Seven players on the current Red Sox roster were either drafted or signed during Epstein’s reign, including Pedroia, Bogaerts, Betts, outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr., catcher Christian Vazquez and pitchers Matt Barnes and Robby Scott. Others are in the minors, including catcher Blake Swihart and pitchers Henry Owens and Noe Ramirez.
Epstein remains popular in Boston for what he accomplished during those 10 years, most notably ending their 86-year drought.
“Theo was larger than life when he was here after ending the curse,” Red Sox fan Emma McCarthy said on Wednesday night at Fenway. “Now he’s probably bigger than ever since the Cubs thing.”
That’s why Red Sox players believe Epstein will get a warm reception in his return to Fenway, even if it’s difficult to find any mention of Epstein in the many historical displays around the concourse.
“He’s done a lot of great things for the city, and the city respects him,” Bradley said.
Added Pedroia: “I can’t speak for the fans, but I know what he did here, and I’m sure everyone appreciates him. He was an organizational-changing person that changed a lot of things in a great way.
“He’s a pretty big part of my career, obviously. He drafted me and gave me an opportunity to play here. Just some of the ways he thinks about a season and understands it’s a process, 162 games, and it can change your thought process as a player also, how you attack bumps in the road. He’s done a lot of things that have helped me in my career.”
The native Bostonian considers himself a full-fledged Chicagoan now, but Epstein said he’s looking forward to rekindling old memories of youthful days with good friends, good music and perhaps some refreshments.
Epstein’s young son, Jack, is now playing Little League baseball in Chicago, and ironically was assigned to play this year for the Red Sox.
“His favorite team is the Cubs and his second favorite is the Red Sox,” Epstein said. “We had our first game last weekend, and the Red Sox were playing the Cubs. So I was sitting there at Hamlin Park rooting for the Red Sox against the Cubs, and this weekend I’ll be at Fenway rooting for the Cubs against the Red Sox.”
Funny how life works.