OAKLAND, Calif. -- Eleven months ago, Theo Epstein and Billy Beane were in a Phoenix hotel room, putting the finishing touches on a deal which would bring Beane to Boston as the next Red Sox general manager.
As his last act as the general manager of the Oakland A's, Beane was negotiating compensation for his own escape. Contractually obligated to the A's for several more seasons, Beane was bartering with Epstein over which prospect would go from Boston to Oakland to satisfy the demands of Oakland owner Steve Schott for letting Beane out of his deal.
It was, in every respect, a rather surreal experience: Beane taking the best player he could from his new team to give to what would soon be his former club; Epstein, 28, representing the Red Sox despite the presence of Mike Port, then the Sox' interim GM, all the while knowing that the hiring of Beane would, for the forseeable future, block Epstein's own path to the job that he had coveted.
But a funny thing happened on the way to closing the deal. Beane got cold feet about leaving his teenage daughter and other family members on the West Coast, and unwittingly created a vaccuum into which Epstein stepped to become the youngest general manager in the history of baseball.
Tomorrow, in another twist, their respective teams will meet in Game 1 of the American League Division Series at Nework Associates Coliseum.
Baseball -- it's a small world, afterall.
"It's great," chuckled Beane. "In some respects, it's sort of a validation of our philosophies. I don't think it's any secret that Theo and I are cut from the same cloth when it it comes to putting together a team. I've been telling him all year I wanted to play him in the playoffs. Obviously, I want to win. But in this situation, the way I feel about Theo, there are no losers."
"It's unexpected . . . a pleasant surprise," said Epstein. "It's something we're both looking forward to, but it's certainly the last thing we expected last November -- that we would be representing opposite dugouts, let alone going head-to-head in the first round of the playoffs. I guess it turned out nicely for both of us.
"(This series) will be a nice end for one of us, and a continuation for one of us."
Even as Epstein came to learn much of the business of baseball under San Diego Padres general manager Kevin Towers, he cast an admiring eye toward northern California, where Beane was helping to revolutionize the way people looked at the game and the business that surrounds it.
"When I was developing in the front office of the Padres and wrestling with what theories might work," said Epstein, "and what philosophies might work, often I would look to what was going on in Oakland."
Beane was debunking certain baseball myths and embracing new approaches. He put less of an emphasis on traditional scouting and more on statistical evaluation. That sort of scholarly methodology was radical for many, but Epstein, who had cut his baseball teeth in a more traditional organization, recognized its value.
"If you take it to a more abstract level," said Epstein, "that's where I agree with it the most -- Billy wanted to try to quantify things and minimize risks."
Beane's willingness to embrace a new way was the result of economic necessity. Hampered by a far more modest payroll than most other organizations, Beane knew he had little margin for error. He literally couldn't afford to make mistakes on personnel.
"We've had four years of being in the playoffs," said Beane, "and I always find it amazing that people will say, 'They don't do this' or 'They don't do that.' It never dawns on them, I guess, that we do things a certain way for a reason. We play the game we play because we have some things we have to adhere to. There are some things we can't afford."
Epstein knows no such constraints. While his budget isn't unlimited, it's twice that of Beane's.
"The application is different," Epstein said. "Boston is a different market because of the resources we have, because of the expectations we have and because of the core of players we inherited. But the philosophies are pretty similar."
Esptein also saw the value of instilling an organization-wide philosophy. He saw that Oakland's Rookie League team was being taught the same offensive principles as the major league club -- work the count, get on base, forget about "small ball."
"It was admirable for its discipline and consistency," said Epstein.
To be sure, there are some differences. While Beane is notorious for keeping his own counsel -- assistant GM Paul DePodesta is essentially the only other member of Beane's inner-circle -- Epstein encourages debate. From generational colleague Josh Byrnes to baseball lifer Bill Lajoie, a veteran of some 50 years in the game, Epstein welcomes input, and even dissent.
Toronto Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi, who worked under Beane and considers the Oakland executive his best friend in the game, turned down an opportunity to interview for the position that went to Epstein.
"In a lot of ways, they'er similar," Ricciardi said of the two. "And in a lot of ways, they're different. Billy obviously has a lot more experience in the job and being in the playoffs. I think they're different personalities -- Billy's more more relaxed. Or should I say, I think his experience and success allows him to be more relaxed in his job.
"Theo might be a little more guarded because he's new to the job and learning. But in the right context, he can be very funny. But the bottom line is that they're both very, very bright. I think the basic principles -- what they value -- is very much the same. Theo had the ability to go out and sign a lot of guys last winter whereas Billy could maybe only sign one. But the thing is, Billy can operate in Theo's world and Theo in Billy's."
Epstein and Beane talk frequently. There were stretches during the season where they spoke daily -- using one another for a sounding board, venting frustration, lamenting an injury.
But not once did Beane experience regret over the choice he made to stay put.
"Once I made the decision, that was it," he said. "There was no, 'Wow, that could have been me.' I will say that one of the things I miss would be the opportunity to work with Theo day-to-day. Being around a bright, creative guy every day is stimulating.
"Another thing that made it easy was, by proxy, getting to live (the Red Sox experience) because of my relationship with Theo. Having him be the guy (who got the job I turned down) made it a lot easier. They got the right guy for the job -- a guy with a passion for the city and a passion for the team. In the end, it worked out best for everybody."
