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The Red Sox aren’t going to replace general manager Ben Cherington. He’s two years removed from a World Series team, one he built by reshaping the roster and budget post-Theo Epstein. While Boston is in last place in the AL East, they’ve also graduated a number of top prospects (Xander Bogaerts, Mookie Betts, Eduardo Rodriguez, Blake Swihart) and are still considered to have one of the top farm systems in the game. It seems like the Sox are determined to find Cherington some help in his front office, however, and have begun by hiring former Angels’ GM Jerry Dipoto on an interim basis.
Dipoto formerly worked for John Henry’s Red Sox, in the same front office as Cherington. He was a scout in 2003 and 2004, back when Cherington had already risen from scout to the ranks of coordinator and director and the like in that department. He’s still on the lookout for a GM gig, possibly with the Mariners or Brewers, but in the meantime, he’s going to work with his old team to help them prepare for the offseason. Like former Royals’ GM Allard Baird before him, maybe Dipoto ends up sticking around and is put in charge of a department. That seems unlikely given how much the game seems to believe in Dipoto -- there will be bigger and better jobs available to him elsewhere.
The Red Sox aren’t stopping with an interim hire. They’re trying to lure Pat Gillick from the Phillies to be an advisor, since Gillick is stepping down from the team presidency that he only took over due to David Montgomery’s medical leave. Gillick is the man who built the World Series winning Phillies team that Ruben Amaro later squandered. He would be a perfect complement to a front office that has bled a lot of talent over the last decade -- this is the team that used to have Theo, Jed Hoyer, Jason McLeod, Josh Byrnes, Dipoto and more. Neither Dipoto nor Gillick would keep the Red Sox from hiring Dave Dombrowski as their president of baseball operations, either, so a lot of change could be coming to Boston.
- Cherington is used to having a boss, so hiring someone to work directly above him wouldn't bother him. It'd be more normal than what he's doing now, with Larry Lucchino on the way out and Sam Kennedy intent on not being Larry.
- These are the 16 possible destinations for Chase Utley, ranked. And yes, Phillies fans, your Phillies are one of 16.
- A Pirates fan made the decision to get a 2015 World Champs tattoo even though it's August. Someone should pass legislation to keep this from even being an option in-season.
- Anthony Rizzo used the tarp and his reflexes to his advantage in making a tremendous catch in the stands.
- Hisashi Iwakuma threw a no-hitter on Wednesday afternoon, the first in the American League in three years.
- Felix Hernandez showed his support for his teammate by wearing a "Kuma Bear" hat during the no-no.
- Barry Bonds is retired and just living life, as he was on stage during an Earth, Wind & Fire concert.
- Doug Melvin is no longer the Brewers' general manager, and neither should be ashamed of what they've done.
- The Blue Jays have won 10 games in a row and are 13-1 since acquiring Troy Tulowitzki, and now they're in first place in the AL East.
- For the sixth season in a row, Clayton Kershaw has at least 200 strikeouts. Remember on May 21, when he lost to the Giants and had a 4.32 ERA for the year? Now it's 2.39, so it's safe to say Kershaw as we know him, is back.
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