Theo Epstein Good Quotations

We have him as one of the top guys in all of baseball. He's very sure-handed, consistent, with good range and he's fun to watch play shortstop.

I think in the long run it will turn out to be a very good development year for him. He's far ahead of most members of the 2004 draft class.

I think there are a lot of factors, ... One is the first round, it's only five games, you do have that off-day, and then you look at sort of how the rest of your staff is constituted. We think we're covered in a variety of situations. Obviously, if we play four 15-inning games, we're going to be scrapping. I think, realistically, we're in pretty good shape with what we have with our 10 guys. I think we're more likely to go with 11 in subsequent rounds.

The way our bullpen has been, this will be a good opportunity for us. If he gets on a roll, and throws strikes, he has a chance to really help us. We don't have a lot of strikeout-type stuff up and down our 'pen. This is a chance to add a guy with a great arm.

I took very seriously the responsibilities of turning the Red Sox into a championship organization and playing a role in that process, ... We did accomplish that. There's a lot more work to be done here. It's sad for me to leave more work to be done. I feel like we're in a very good position for the future with the farm system that these guys have built. I'll watch with admiration, respect and good wishes from afar as they go forward.

It's making more of it than it was. It's been sort of a non-issue all along. I'm glad he feels good about staying.

It's an opportunity for them to get a little bit of big-league experience, see how the guys go about batting practice, ... The way they get their work in. It all fits together. Big league. Instructional league. We're all part of the same organization. These guys are not that far away. Last night is a good example.