No one was happier than I when Theo Epstein returned to the Red Sox. Like any general manager, he is going to make great deals and some that are pathetic.

Being this year’s favorite to win the American League crown, the signing of Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford were gems on Epstein’s part, even though Crawford hasn’t reached his potential this year. And I believe that Andrew Miller is going to be a star.

On the down side, why did it take so long, with many trips to the disabled list, to get rid of Mike Cameron? Darnell MacDonald, who is hitting a “robust” .103 (and hitting fifth in the lineup sometimes) is another joke. He would be rejected by many high school teams.

You mean to tell me that there isn’t a right-handed hitting outfielder in the organization who can hit better than .200?

And even though “home run” Tim Wakefield is a nice guy, and a plus to the Boston community, the team can’t win with him.

Last, but not least, I hate to see a mediocre pitcher such as John Lackey take the mound. For Epstein to have wasted millions of dollars on that guy makes me sick. Players from the Los Angeles Angels hated Lackey because of his reaction if someone couldn’t get to a line drive, couldn’t complete a double play or made an error. The July 4 outing was the last straw. Lackey needs his “independence” day in Portland. No, not Maine … Oregon.

George A. Ferguson, Sabattus