Yesterday Peter Abraham, in his measured way, said the Sox could get better or they could go South. Predictably enough, Dan has already bought real estate down South, where he revels. Didn't even mention Ortiz, having a banner year, but that's a little too north of the Mason-Dixon line for his liking. I think Dan also dissed the first-place Pittsburgh Pirates in this piece, saying we're operating like they are (if only!). Anyway, after half a year of not performing, Lester and Beckett are the true concerns here. And I cannot begin to fathom why Carl Crawford's body (a different part every time) continues to break down, but it does, and many now wonder if we will ever see him play a full season in Boston. Bobby V. deserves his own coaching staff -- only then can we truly judge his skills. He should also let the young talent develop in the majors. And, as the season plays out, Ben C. should clean house -- thoroughly this time -- with the long term and youth in mind. Some Boston fans ARE capable of patience, after all. Really.
Funny, I agree with both Shaughnessy and Abraham. The team is in poor shape but has enough talent to yet rally. Though it probably will not, including because of a bad hangover from last year perpetuated by the 2007 veterans including the admirable Pedroia (who got the ball rolling by dissing Valentine early for dissing Youkilis) and the unrepentant Beckett and Lester (both of whom could be admirable if they could ever win another big game). The team should be better next year with at least $30 million coming off the books allowing some free agency activity (Youkilis -- $11 million; Dice K -- $10 million; Jenks -- $6 million; $3 million -- old salaries), and the likely continued emergence of the Next Generation (Dubrount, Middlebrooks, Salty, Iglesias, Germano/Mortenson, Kalish). It would further help to create even more spending room by not re-signing Ortiz -- best DH ever and I will always be grateful to him for 2004, but he is embittered, aging, delusional, limited, and not a huge upgrade over Lavarnaway -- and trying to trade Beckett this year (probably would have to eat $5 million a year, but would still save $10 million a year and receive a prospect or two), and going with Iglesias over Whomever at SS. The inevitable need to trade Ellsbury (and Lester?) should work to the Sox's benefit provided they get real quality in return. So, I agree, shut down Crawford; bring up Iglesias and Lavarnaway; make a deal for Beckett; give Valentine another year with his own staff and no Ortiz/Beckett; and prepare for 2013.
Whining at the top. Whining in the clubhouse. Whining in the paper. I quit. I'm going to watch Antiques Roadshow and Wheeler Dealers, and play computer chess until football. And then, it's still up in the air.
BTW Dan when are you going to come clean and tell us that Lucchino cut you out of the info loop long ago, you no longer have access to Lucchino or access through Dr. Charles and that's the real reason for your change of tune vis-a-vis Sox ownership.
Hell hath no fury like a columnist scorned.
This ownership will do absolutely NOTHING until the clueless swells and pink-hatters stop buying tickets and showing up for their "Fenway Park Experience".
The real fans, such as I, will continue to watch from outside Fenway and avoid the $10 sushi, $9 chardonnay and the $50 to park our cars.
Sweet Caroooliiiiiiiine, good times nevahh felt so goooood, SO GOOD - SO GOOD - SO GOOD!!!!!!
Great article, Dan. One thing you forgot to mention was the needless destruction of the career of Daniel Bard. He is a shadow of his former self and this too, was an unforced error. Those responsible for encouraging Bard to move to the starting rotation, should be fired.
Dan, I've emailed you before about the state of this team and you seem to believe that Larry Lucchino isn't part of the problem. You deem him to be "the only adult in the room". I like Larry and what he's done but he's clearly exceeded his shelf life. As John Henry stated when he "burst into 98.5 studios", "Larry Lucchino runs the Red Sox". If Larry runs the Red Sox and they have become a parody of themselves, how is Larry not to blame? All the business stuff you scoff at starts with Larry, as CEO of the Sox. He's the guy John Henry and Tom Werner entrust him to make money, which he's doing. The problem is that too many baseball decisions have been made for non-baseball, i.e. "business" reasons. They've milked everything they could have out of 2004 and 2007. Time for a new CEO who will change the culture of this very dysfunctional organization. It happens in all organizations that strive for success. You seem to be missing that point for some reason.
hold the players responsible, if you like. they are pros after all. but the blame for the disintegration of the red sox organization goes to Lucchino, and Henry for allowing him control of baseball operations. Larry drove Theo out of town, refused to extend Tito's contract when the team was riding high, forced Ben Cherington to hire Bobby V..... with no leadership, the team plays uninspired baseball. what do you expect? I don't think I could ever get over what they did to Tito, the best manager in all my 50 plus years of following the sox. feels like we could be back to the sox of before 1967. I hope not.
Good point. That's the trouble with ALL of sports franchises,not just the Sox...Fill the stadium,field a mediocre team that makes the playoffs once in a while and they will come. Being Sox fans like us,we have to admit to being under no illusion that Fenway will never sell out in our lifetime.
Typical Shaughnessy negativity... Any casual observer could have written this column. Where's the insight Dan? We know all the problems, they've been catalogued ad infinitum, and there's obviously plenty of blame to go around. Now how about throwing out some actual ideas as to how to right the ship. You've been writing about this team for over 30 years, so tell us what they should do.
I strongly suspect that we have some players who are playing to get traded. Among them are Becket and Lester. I feel that they decided that if they continued their mediocre play which began in my mind at the beginning of last season. This was an shipwreck then. Remember 0=10? You saw the continuation of that plan in Sept. They want to go now. I do believe it is "toxic" in the clubhouse. I am not looking forward to the Perpetual Injury, Carl Crawford. I will not sit back and refrain from booing him as he strikes out or muffs catches in the outfield as Daniel Nava sits on the bench. I will bet if other fans do the same, he will suddenly go on the Dl and have the surgery he says is needed. The ownership did this town a disservice by hiring a manager who has been out of the game for too long and it has showed. He is a clown and we all know it. What an insult to the fans. We are all waiting for John Farrell, who if he has half a brain will stay away when his contract runs out in Toronto. Maybe the fans should do the same. Would anyone be surprised if the sox are up for sale, someday soon??????
Comments
Does this headline refer to the Red Sox or The Boston Globe?
Yo, Dan. As a long time Red Sox fan — sure is hard to be one now. I couldn't agree more with you. Terrific article. And: Thanks!
Yesterday Peter Abraham, in his measured way, said the Sox could get better or they could go South. Predictably enough, Dan has already bought real estate down South, where he revels. Didn't even mention Ortiz, having a banner year, but that's a little too north of the Mason-Dixon line for his liking. I think Dan also dissed the first-place Pittsburgh Pirates in this piece, saying we're operating like they are (if only!). Anyway, after half a year of not performing, Lester and Beckett are the true concerns here. And I cannot begin to fathom why Carl Crawford's body (a different part every time) continues to break down, but it does, and many now wonder if we will ever see him play a full season in Boston. Bobby V. deserves his own coaching staff -- only then can we truly judge his skills. He should also let the young talent develop in the majors. And, as the season plays out, Ben C. should clean house -- thoroughly this time -- with the long term and youth in mind. Some Boston fans ARE capable of patience, after all. Really.
You nailed it, Shaughnessy. Nailed it
Man, I could actually hear Dan cackling as he pounded out this piece.
Funny, I agree with both Shaughnessy and Abraham. The team is in poor shape but has enough talent to yet rally. Though it probably will not, including because of a bad hangover from last year perpetuated by the 2007 veterans including the admirable Pedroia (who got the ball rolling by dissing Valentine early for dissing Youkilis) and the unrepentant Beckett and Lester (both of whom could be admirable if they could ever win another big game). The team should be better next year with at least $30 million coming off the books allowing some free agency activity (Youkilis -- $11 million; Dice K -- $10 million; Jenks -- $6 million; $3 million -- old salaries), and the likely continued emergence of the Next Generation (Dubrount, Middlebrooks, Salty, Iglesias, Germano/Mortenson, Kalish). It would further help to create even more spending room by not re-signing Ortiz -- best DH ever and I will always be grateful to him for 2004, but he is embittered, aging, delusional, limited, and not a huge upgrade over Lavarnaway -- and trying to trade Beckett this year (probably would have to eat $5 million a year, but would still save $10 million a year and receive a prospect or two), and going with Iglesias over Whomever at SS. The inevitable need to trade Ellsbury (and Lester?) should work to the Sox's benefit provided they get real quality in return. So, I agree, shut down Crawford; bring up Iglesias and Lavarnaway; make a deal for Beckett; give Valentine another year with his own staff and no Ortiz/Beckett; and prepare for 2013.
...and Dan Shaughnessy couldn't be happier.
Hey Outside....I couldn't have said it better myself. You are right on every move you mentioned.
Where do I report stupidity?
Whining at the top. Whining in the clubhouse. Whining in the paper. I quit. I'm going to watch Antiques Roadshow and Wheeler Dealers, and play computer chess until football. And then, it's still up in the air.
This comment has been removed.
BTW Dan when are you going to come clean and tell us that Lucchino cut you out of the info loop long ago, you no longer have access to Lucchino or access through Dr. Charles and that's the real reason for your change of tune vis-a-vis Sox ownership. Hell hath no fury like a columnist scorned.
This ownership will do absolutely NOTHING until the clueless swells and pink-hatters stop buying tickets and showing up for their "Fenway Park Experience". The real fans, such as I, will continue to watch from outside Fenway and avoid the $10 sushi, $9 chardonnay and the $50 to park our cars. Sweet Caroooliiiiiiiine, good times nevahh felt so goooood, SO GOOD - SO GOOD - SO GOOD!!!!!!
Great article, Dan. One thing you forgot to mention was the needless destruction of the career of Daniel Bard. He is a shadow of his former self and this too, was an unforced error. Those responsible for encouraging Bard to move to the starting rotation, should be fired.
Who in Sox management leaked the dirt about Tito's marriage and prescription drug use to the Globe?
Dan, I've emailed you before about the state of this team and you seem to believe that Larry Lucchino isn't part of the problem. You deem him to be "the only adult in the room". I like Larry and what he's done but he's clearly exceeded his shelf life. As John Henry stated when he "burst into 98.5 studios", "Larry Lucchino runs the Red Sox". If Larry runs the Red Sox and they have become a parody of themselves, how is Larry not to blame? All the business stuff you scoff at starts with Larry, as CEO of the Sox. He's the guy John Henry and Tom Werner entrust him to make money, which he's doing. The problem is that too many baseball decisions have been made for non-baseball, i.e. "business" reasons. They've milked everything they could have out of 2004 and 2007. Time for a new CEO who will change the culture of this very dysfunctional organization. It happens in all organizations that strive for success. You seem to be missing that point for some reason.
Geez...But how do you really feel about it?
hold the players responsible, if you like. they are pros after all. but the blame for the disintegration of the red sox organization goes to Lucchino, and Henry for allowing him control of baseball operations. Larry drove Theo out of town, refused to extend Tito's contract when the team was riding high, forced Ben Cherington to hire Bobby V..... with no leadership, the team plays uninspired baseball. what do you expect? I don't think I could ever get over what they did to Tito, the best manager in all my 50 plus years of following the sox. feels like we could be back to the sox of before 1967. I hope not.
You forgot , we got Punto!
Time to dust off the "Wait 'til Next Year" CD. All this talent,all this money and nothing more than a .500 team.
Please no!! The empty stadium,the terrible teams,I remember those Godforsaken days. Other than that,you are right on the money.
Good point. That's the trouble with ALL of sports franchises,not just the Sox...Fill the stadium,field a mediocre team that makes the playoffs once in a while and they will come. Being Sox fans like us,we have to admit to being under no illusion that Fenway will never sell out in our lifetime.
Typical Shaughnessy negativity... Any casual observer could have written this column. Where's the insight Dan? We know all the problems, they've been catalogued ad infinitum, and there's obviously plenty of blame to go around. Now how about throwing out some actual ideas as to how to right the ship. You've been writing about this team for over 30 years, so tell us what they should do.
I strongly suspect that we have some players who are playing to get traded. Among them are Becket and Lester. I feel that they decided that if they continued their mediocre play which began in my mind at the beginning of last season. This was an shipwreck then. Remember 0=10? You saw the continuation of that plan in Sept. They want to go now. I do believe it is "toxic" in the clubhouse. I am not looking forward to the Perpetual Injury, Carl Crawford. I will not sit back and refrain from booing him as he strikes out or muffs catches in the outfield as Daniel Nava sits on the bench. I will bet if other fans do the same, he will suddenly go on the Dl and have the surgery he says is needed. The ownership did this town a disservice by hiring a manager who has been out of the game for too long and it has showed. He is a clown and we all know it. What an insult to the fans. We are all waiting for John Farrell, who if he has half a brain will stay away when his contract runs out in Toronto. Maybe the fans should do the same. Would anyone be surprised if the sox are up for sale, someday soon??????