Boston Red Sox Brass Holds First-Ever Town Hall Meeting with Red Sox Nation

As southern New England hunkered down for yet another mid-week snowstorm, Red Sox management introduced a little bit of warmth into the lives of Red Sox Nation.

The team's brass held its first-ever “Town Hall Meeting” last night at the WGBH-TV studios in Brighton, MA, in the presence of more than 100 fans. The event gave fans in-studio and on the Internet an opportunity to ask questions of team chairman Tom Werner, President/CEO Larry Lucchino, GM Theo Epstein and manager Terry Francona.

The Nation is drowning in anticipation with "reporting day" less than two weeks away, and based on the remarks that were made last night, it was evident the excitement isn't limited to the fans. With a bevy of new players under his stewardship, including 1B Adrian Gonzalez, LF Carl Crawford, RHP Bobby Jenks and RHP Dan Wheeler, manager Terry Francona was busting at the seams to get underway, "We put together a team where we have lofty goals. It’s an exciting time for us."

Epstein started the proceedings by presenting his "State of the Team", indicating that all of the injured players are either on time or ahead of schedule. Of Gonzalez, newly assigned the nickname “Gonzilla” as the result of a poll conducted by NESN, Epstein said the timetable could be accelerated.

At this point, Epstein said Gonzalez should start swinging a bat by the end of February, and then he'll begin playing spring training games as soon as the second week in March. Epstein observed, "He’s right on schedule, if not ahead of schedule."

Francona was asked about the pressures that accompany managing a team with so much talent. He answered that he would rather have to deal with the high expectations that come with being part of a great team as opposed to the lower expectations that come as part of a mediocre one.

Tito wasn’t as forthright in responding to a fan’s inquiry about the timetable for Dan Bard’s ascension to his anticipated role as the team’s "closer of the future." In avoiding the controversy that surrounds the Bard vs. Papelbon debate, he said, "Sometimes it goes a little unnoticed just how important (Bard) is. Sometimes games are won or lost before you get to the ninth inning.”

He appeared genuinely giddy at the prospect of running the trio of Jenks, Bard and Papelbon out of his bullpen in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings.

Epstein chimed in that Pappy has something to prove this season, and commented, “We’re lucky to have three guys, at least three guys, that are capable of closing.”

It goes without saying that if those three guys pitch to their potential, the team could find itself in a position where the outcome of many games are (essentially) determined by the end of the sixth inning. It is a luxury few managers ever get to experience.

While the departures of Casey Kelly, Anthony Rizzo and Rey Fuentes (the club’s No. 1, No. 3 and No. 6 prospects, respectively) have left the minor league system less potent than before, Epstein casually opined that the ability to make trades is one of the two reasons an organization drafts and develops prospects.

The farm system is still numbered among the top half of the minor league systems in baseball (it’s rated No. 11 by ESPN’s Keith Law) and is now headed by the dynamic duo of OF Ryan Kalish and SS Jose Iglesias. Epstein reiterated his commitment to get Kalish another full year of seasoning at Triple-A, presumably before he’ll take over for J.D. Drew in right field in 2012, and re-affirmed his belief in Kalish’s potential, saying that, "He’s gonna be a good one."

Werner and Lucchino took the opportunity to make respective pitches to the fans to support the club and the Red Sox Foundation. Both men reminded fans they can buy tickets—right now—for any game for which tickets are now available, debunking complaints that tickets are hard to come by. (All games are currently available except Opening Day, all of the Yankees games and the Cubs series.)

The Town Hall Meeting ended with the brass praising Red Sox Nation. Francona probably said it best, “(When I first came here) I was a little naive. I had no idea. Now that I live here, I understand how important it is to these lunatics (the fans). If you care about baseball, there’s no other place to be (than Boston).”

Well, unless you happen to be heading to Fort Myers in mid-February…

Pitchers and catchers report in two weeks. Fort Myers will be sunny and warm. There will be no snow.

Anyone wanna take a drive?