Designated winner

"That's smart on Theo's part," says Wallace, who has put in more than 30 years as a player, coach, and executive. "This new way of technology and information is wonderful, but there's also the old-school guys who have their way of doing things. You combine those ... that's what it takes to be a successful general manager today."

Beyond the debate over objective versus subjective data, what Epstein brings is "a skeptical, bright, rational mind that's been given a general education [enabling him] to sort through arguments and see which make sense and which don't," Lewis says. "He's very interested in open discussion. He doesn't care who's telling him."

Not that Theo won't do a little SABR-rattling if given a chance. "It's essential to stay ahead of the curve," he says of using new techniques, noting that 10 years ago finding undervalued players "was like shooting fish in a barrel."

Now, other teams have wised up, even if few admit to using sabermetrics. The easy deals are over. But if you innovate - "and we spend a lot of time and money on research and development - today's innovation is tomorrow's competitive advantage," he says.

Much more can be learned, he says, estimating that "maybe 2 percent of the game has really been quantified effectively. There's so much out there that hasn't been." Topping his wish list are better ways to assess defensive play and to prevent injuries. But he knows that his run with the Red Sox will depend on his performance. "I've made a lot of mistakes," he readily concedes. He let A-Rod escape to the Yankees, bruising the ego of his own All-Star shortstop, Nomar Garciaparra, in the process. Some of his pick-ups - pitchers Scott Sauerbeck, Jeff Suppan, and Ramiro Mendoza, for example - have been busts. And he acknowledges he's had to be Machiavellian at times, releasing players who have given their all to the team but need to be replaced by a more talented player at a better price.

Meanwhile, the contracts for many of the team's biggest stars - Martinez, Derrick Lowe, Jason Varitek, Garciaparra, and Ortiz - all expire this year. Martinez created a flap on opening day Sunday when he left the park early, possibly signaling his displeasure with management. Theo's decisions about which players to keep and at what price will set the course of the franchise for years to come.

If Theo continues to succeed, the trickle of young Ivy Leaguers into baseball front offices may turn into a torrent. But don't count on easily cloning him, Steinberg warns. "He's one of the most extraordinary minds in the game, and I don't think his qualities are formulaic," he says. "He's most unusual."

Epstein remains media-phobic, though he's always willing to talk about the team. What he'd like to do, Steinberg surmises, is earn his accolades by winning. Theo turned down a request to appear on "The Tonight Show" the week he was named GM, Steinberg says, even though Massachusetts native Jay Leno is a big Red Sox fan.

"You would have been exploiting [Theo's] age without the associated achievement, and that's superficial," Steinberg says. "Now, if he's the youngest to ever win a world championship, I hope he'll do Leno, Letterman, and the rest, because [he'll have] achieved something that no one else has ever achieved."

And should the winning World Series out plop into a Red Sox glove in October, fans may look to see if Theo has climbed up on something and is finally taking his leap of joy.

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