Chicken Wings + Beer + Video Games = Boston Mess

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 7:41 am

Can you believe what has happened to the Boston Red Sox in the last three weeks? I mean, this is a team that despite its rough finish still had enough talent to win the American League pennant and certainly the World Series. Instead, the team implodes on the final day of the season, the manager quits, the general manager quits and today you have Red Sox Nation in a panic that it could be another 86-year drought. How the hell did all of this happen?

This whole thing is going to lead to a lot more changes in Boston as David Ortiz has already said he's tired of this mess, Josh Beckett will likely be the fall guy in the threesome that ate chicken wings rather than chart pitches for their comrades, and Jacoby Ellsbury is the next free agent who could bolt after 2012. Why is everyone so mad?

I think Gord Edes of ESPNBoston.com has it right in this article. This was more than Francona wanting to leave for personal reasons or Theo leaving. This was a total smear campaign by someone within the organization who wanted to make Tito look bad. It continues a trend with every Boston Red Sox superstar who ends up leaving for various reasons. Check it out:

http://espn.go.com/boston/mlb/story/_/i ... r-campaign

Anyway, this topic is worthy of a fun discussion for fantasy purposes. Where do you see this team finishing in 2012 and beyond? Is the new, young GM-to-be as good and as efficient as Theo in running this franchise from top to bottom? Was Theo over-rated after so many of his free agent signings fell like clunkers from the sky? Is it time for this team to rebuild and stop buying the next best available free agent?

I'd be interested in hearing how all of this might affect your fantasy rankings in 2012. Obviously there are still plenty of stars on this team, but will the latest turmoil hurt their rankings? It seems like a fun topic to digest, especially with so many Red Sox and Yankee fans in our contest.

Let's have at it.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 9:38 am

This is a pretty good synopsis of opinions compiled by SportsBusiness Daily:

The Boston Globe's front-page story yesterday on the Red Sox' late-season collapse is drawing harsh criticism, largely for its sources' portrayal of former manager Terry Francona. ESPN’s Curt Schilling on last night’s “Baseball Tonight” called the report a “character assassination piece.” Schilling, who played for the Red Sox from '04-08, said, “It’s the intent of the front office to give Terry a kick as he’s already outside the door.” Schilling called the move a “personal thing.” Schilling said the Red Sox owners have "ruined the 9-10 years of goodwill they’ve built there. … The people that did this embarrassed the franchise because stuff in that article can only come from one of three places: The team trainer, the team doctor or the executives in the front office.” Schilling added, "This was them prepping the road for the exits. It was a very low-class and horrible thing to do." He said the article “changes dynamically” what happens with the organization next season. Schilling: “I don’t think John Lackey can ever put that uniform on again. There are some guys that will walk on that field Opening Day next year and get booed louder than any New York Yankee that’s ever stepped foot (in Fenway Park). They’ve disgraced this organization, the players.” Schilling said, "If I'm a free agent, why would I got to that organization? Give me a reason, because there are other teams who can pay that kind of money" (“Baseball Tonight,” ESPN, 10/12). Schilling added, "This could be the most abysmal Opening Day ceremony in the history of sports. These guys are going to get booed” (“The Dennis & Callahan Morning Show,” WEEI-FM, 10/13). Current TV's Keith Olbermann addressed the story in the closing segment of yesterday's "Countdown," calling it a "remarkable hatchet job." Olbermann said, "Whoever doesn't get the blame, they're probably the source. ... The Sox owners are the sources. The Boston Globe in fact comprises part of the Sox owners." The "first thing" John Henry, Larry Lucchino and Tom Werner "need to do is find out which of them, or which of their minions, was so ethically bankrupt as to trash the men who made the team's success possible as those men went out the door." Olbermann: "In short, the wrong executives are leaving Boston" (Current TV, 10/12).

ESPN’s Tony Kornheiser said the Globe story “connects to management." Kornheiser: "It’s management saying, ‘We’ve got to find a way to deflect anything from us so we’re going to tell you (about the clubhouse).' ... What management does in this is say, ‘Don’t blame us’” ("PTI," ESPN, 10/12). In Boston, Dan Shaughnessy writes, "There are so many things wrong with the Sox at this hour, it’s difficult to know where to start." Shaughnessy: "The manager is gone, the general manager is gone, the owners are in hiding, and the players are a loathsome lot totally unworthy of the money and adulation they receive. ... The Fenway lawn is scorched earth." Shaugnessy insists, "Apologies are in order, all around. John Henry, Tom Werner, and Larry Lucchino need to come out of hiding and say they are sorry for this embarrassment" (BOSTON GLOBE, 10/13). In N.Y., Bill Madden writes, "It will be interesting to see how Henry, long [Theo] Epstein's biggest benefactor, now assesses the chaos in Boston in his former GM's wake." But Henry "seems more consumed with his new soccer toy in Liverpool than with his disgraced baseball team" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 10/13).

[ October 13, 2011, 03:39 PM: Message edited by: Greg Ambrosius ]

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 9:43 am

Here's a few more snippets compiled by SportsBusiness Daily:

In Boston, Nick Cafardo writes Red Sox Senior VP & Assistant GM Ben Cherington will "likely become the new general manager," but wonders, "Is he equipped to be the person to lead the Sox out of this two-year malaise?" Former MLB GM and current MLB Network analyst Omar Minaya said of Cherington, "He’s been an assistant in the big market and I think that’s very important. He knows how to deal with the media and he’ll be his own man." Former Red Sox interim GM Mike Port said, "Diligent worker, solid ethics, low-key, and stable. Doesn’t get flustered about things and doesn’t aspire to be out front, but more focused on the task at hand." Padres GM Jed Hoyer, who worked with Cherington while with the Sox, said, "He’s gone from department to department, which I think is a huge advantage. He’s incredibly respected by people in office" (BOSTON GLOBE, 10/13).

ESPN BOSTON's Jackie MacMullan wrote, "One of the most enviable franchises in baseball has been reduced to a fast-food punch line; a blueprint for excess, arrogance and entitlement." MacMullan added, "The Red Sox need new direction with new leadership. That includes the general manager, the manager and the players in the clubhouse" (ESPNBOSTON.com, 10/12). In New Jersey, Bob Klapisch writes the Sox "seem headed for a dark age." Klapisch: "Their likely new GM will inherit the job without any real-time experience. There’s no manager in place, nor is there an organizational plan to deal with the in-house crisis. ... The Yankees, by comparison, are a model of efficiency". ESPN’s J.A. Adande said instead of blaming the players, “maybe it’s a cancerous upper management and you have to wonder how this is going to impact their ability to hire a top-notch general manager” and manager (“Jim Rome Is Burning,” ESPN2, 10/12).

C'mon, don't we have any NFBC opinions?

NorCalAtlFan · Post by **NorCalAtlFan** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 10:05 am

Ortiz piping off is classic. I think he'll find few takers for an aging DH with no capability of playing the field at all. Keep on juicing David.

The stuff about the trio of lackey, beckett, and lester was alarming. But from what I hear, lackey and beckett would never be called team guys. Lester on the other hand, that was disappointing to read.

They are a mess, but would anyone be shocked if they contended for a WS in 2012?

The Cubs on the other hand! Godspeed Theo, you have your work cut at!

DOUGHBOYS · Post by **DOUGHBOYS** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 10:13 am

What a mess.

On the field, the Red Sox do not have a leader.

Dustin Pedroia comes the closest. But, he is a lead by example guy and not a rah rah advocate.

Ellsbury who was chided by teammates into submission last year has little to do with those teammates. Youkilis worries more about his at bats than team and if anybody has seen Lackey pitch, they know that a fielding gaffe is met with a 'what the f***?' body gesture.

As for the front office, it sure looks like they orchestrated this hatchet job. Francona is a good baseball man. I imagine that another club will see through the shroud perpetrated by the Boston front office.

I don't think Boston fans will boo their players next year. Well, except maybe Lackey, whom Boston fans would prefer to have in the clubhouse drinking beer especially when it's his day to pitch.

Isn't it tough to rate Theo and Cashman as GM's?

They have resources unavailable to other GM's.

Theo has made some great moves and poor ones. Unlike other GM's, he has the opportunity to cover the bad moves with more $$$$.

The timing is perfect for him to go to Chicago. He can immortalize himself with a World Championship. But, that seems far away now.

How does this affect fantasy baseball and Boston players?

It doesn't.

Ortiz was more than likely not going to be re-signed.

Lester and Beckett are still going to go in the same places in drafts.

I e-mailed a friend yesterday that Lackey is a quiet fart. Zambrano is a loud fart. Both stink, but at least we know where Zambrano's is coming from. Lackey won't even be drafted in some drafts.

The hitters won't change.

Ellsbury, I believe is coming into his contract year. He'll be motivated, but he has already been taken in the top three in one draft.

This is something that explodes in the press and in the end, will not effect baseball fans hardly at all.

Mostly just something to shake our head's over.

[ October 13, 2011, 04:59 PM: Message edited by: DOUGHBOYS ]

headhunters · Post by **headhunters** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 10:47 am

why worry about boston- that is a small town that has won about 10 world championships in the last decade. worry more about other small towns like kc- that have zero world championships. the great hitters from the great great farm system are almost all in the majors. the team still finished below .500. the great great pitchers in the farm system? ah- not so good. or the white sox. they owe rios and dunn about 100 million and they could both be on the bench by may. or the cubs- theo will be looking at the contract od soriano and zambrano and wondering how to get rid of them whem omar minaya is no longer around to absorb all bad contracts. and speaking of the mets! don't shed a tear for boston.

huskyfan88 · Post by **huskyfan88** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 11:05 am

The "first thing" John Henry, Larry Lucchino and Tom Werner "need to do is find out which of them, or which of their minions, was so ethically bankrupt as to trash the men who made the team's success possible as those men went out the door."

ESPN’s Tony Kornheiser said the Globe story “connects to management." Kornheiser: "It’s management saying, ‘We’ve got to find a way to deflect anything from us so we’re going to tell you (about the clubhouse).' ... What management does in this is say, ‘Don’t blame us’” ("PTI," ESPN, 10/12).

SOP in Boston.

Fourslot40 · Post by **Fourslot40** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 11:10 am

There's always room on the PINSTRIPE BANDWAGON ladies and gentlemen.

Fourslot40 · Post by **Fourslot40** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 11:12 am

There's always room on the PINSTRIPE BANDWAGON ladies and gentlemen.

Raskol · Post by **Raskol** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 11:25 am

This is a GOOD thing for the Red Sox. They thrive on drama, intrigue, finger-pointing and the occasional outright lie. The papers will sell more copies and talk radio stations will have better ratings as every angry drunk, and there are plenty of them in Boston, will call in to voice their opinion on the Meltdown, Tito and Theo.

By Spring Training fans will be foaming at the mouth to see what unfolds on the field, and in the clubhouse.

By Opening Day, the park will be packed once again.

Fenway turns 100 next April, by the way. I don't see the owners blowing up the team for the centennial celebration.

The quip by Ortiz is just that---a quip. He has never held his cards very close when it comes to his feelings. That he occasionally breaks from 'baseball speak" is no surprise, and certainly not at this point in Red Sox history. I got to meet Papi at the Beckett Bowl a few years ago. He's just a nice guy playing a game. It should be fun but this season wasn't very fun by the end.

One of my son's first sentences was "Big Papi hit ball really far." Yeah, we like him in our house.