Castrovince: Theo-Tito history brings intrigue

Four men were put to the test in the fall of 2003: Dodgers third-base coach Glenn Hoffman, Rangers first-base coach DeMarlo Hale, Angels bench coach Joe Maddon and former Phillies manager Terry Francona.

Theo Epstein was just 29 years old then, yet surely wise enough to understand what he wanted and what he didn’t want. Red Sox manager Grady Little had just famously left Pedro Martinez in too long in an American League Championship Series gone awry, but, beyond that, Little’s in-game calculus, in Epstein’s estimation, too often leaned more toward his own gut than the data and preparation placed in front of him. And so the young exec wanted a skipper whose thought-on-foot was influenced by actual information and intelligence, as opposed to pure instinct.

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And yes, he wanted somebody who could corral a clubhouse full of big characters.

“We had a veteran club,” Epstein said Monday, on the eve of the World Series at Progressive Field. “So we were looking for a manager who maybe fit that a little more directly.”

Those four coaches were put to a test, a simulation. A tape of a game was played and paused at specific spots in which the candidate, who was given lineup cards, stats, notes on relievers’ workload and other relevant info, was asked what he would do in that situation and why.

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Francona passed the test, and it’s no cliché to say “the rest is history.” The following fall, Francona and Epstein made history together, breaking Boston’s 86-year World Series championship drought.

Now, those two men are pitted against each other, with more history on the line. Epstein’s Cubs haven’t won a World Series in 108 years. Francona’s Indians haven’t won one in 68 years. Their curse-breaking abilities are about to be put to a different type of test, and only one of these friends is going to come out on top.

Game Date Time (air time/game time) Matchup TV Gm 1 Oct. 25 7:30 p.m./8 p.m. CHC @ CLE FOX Gm 2 Oct. 26 7:30 p.m./8 p.m. CHC @ CLE FOX Gm 3 Oct. 28 7:30 p.m./8 p.m. CLE @ CHC FOX Gm 4 Oct. 29 7:30 p.m./8 p.m. CLE @ CHC FOX *Gm 5 Oct. 30 8 p.m. CLE @ CHC FOX *Gm 6 Nov. 1 7:30 p.m./8 p.m. CHC @ CLE FOX *Gm 7 Nov. 2 7:30 p.m./8 p.m. CHC @ CLE FOX * If necessary | All times listed ET • World Series coverageShop for postseason gear: Cubs | Indians

Tito vs. Theo. What a story.

“It’s wonderful,” …

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