Inside the Red Sox Collapse

[sbauer]

Interesting article about player behavior, free agent signings and other things. Sadly, Francona's personal issues were brought up as well.

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2011/10/12/red_sox_unity_dedication_dissolved_during_epic_late_season_collapse/?page=1

Instead, Boston’s three elite starters went soft, their pitching as anemic as their work ethic. The indifference of Beckett, Lester, and Lackey in a time of crisis can be seen in what team sources say became their habit of drinking beer, eating fast-food fried chicken, and playing video games in the clubhouse during games while their teammates tried to salvage a once-promising season.

[Remember The Alomar]

Christ, Boston really relishes tearing down their own, don't they?

[Pat Kelly]

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2011/10/12/red_sox_unity_dedication_dissolved_during_epic_late_season_collapse/

Feel free to put in MLB section but think this should least serve as a reminder that there are FO and ownership problems elsewhere, some more severe than here. No way Theo comes back after reading this article in The Boston Globe.

It will not be easy for the Red Sox to fix things...reminds me of the O's 97 offseason when DJ and Gillick left. Sure it may be wishful thinking but with the Yankee age issues (Arod, Jeter) and Sox shakeup there is a window for a smart well run team with resources to sneak up on the rest of the AL East. Although right now Toronto looks to be that candidate along with Tampa Bay (albeit well run without the resources), if PGA wanted to really get his act together and hire a smart innovative executive and provide more funds to the team - this is the year!

[waroriole]

Wow, that's pretty bad. Hopefully, these are the kind of problems that stay with them in to next year. It seems pretty pathetic that a guy with a 5/82 contract and a 6+ ERA is sitting around eating fried chicken and drinking beer while his team tries to pick up his awful performance.

[SoBo]

I don't think this collapse by the Sox will induce PA to do anything differently. But it does make me smile to see the beloved Sox in such disarray. It'll be interesting to see how things play out in Boston.

[Dipper9]

Wow. I had no idea things were THAT bad. And most of those players will be back for them. I guess its like Francona said...if you're winning nobody cares. This story may make free agents think twice about wanting to enter that mess?

What this does show is how arrogant these Sox players are, and I am once again proud as hell that we knocked them out and celebrated in their face!

[BrunoCherrytown]

I don't think this collapse by the Sox will induce PA to do anything differently. But it does make me smile to see the beloved Sox in such disarray. It'll be interesting to see how things play out in Boston.

Well after reading how Henry took the players out on his yacht to bond, it may cause Angelos to rethink his big unity gift he splurged on to bring the team closer together...

[Dipper9]

Well after reading how Henry took the players out on his yacht to bond, it may cause Angelos to rethink his big unity gift he splurged on to bring the team closer together...

What I think is hilarious is you have a group of 25 men making $161 MILLION dollars and he thinks buying them a walkman is gonna help bring the team together!

[SoBo]

What I think is hilarious is you have a group of 25 men making $161 MILLION dollars and he thinks buying them a walkman is gonna help bring the team together!

So true. But once the inmates are running the asylum I don't know what you can do to turn that around. But buying them Bose noise reducing head phones probably isn't the answer. They are pretty sweet though. But it is nice to know that most of the guys that caused the problems are signed to long expensive contracts.

[Eddie_Ripken]

Good read. But I have a hard time feeling sorry for them. Screw them. Try 14 miserable, losing seasons in a row as a fan. I realize there are owner and GM problems elsewhere but the problem with the Red Sux is the overpaid attitude ridden babies they have as players.

[Dipper9]

Good read. But I have a hard time feeling sorry for them. Screw them. Try 14 miserable, losing seasons in a row as a fan. I realize there are owner and GM problems elsewhere but the problem with the Red Sux is the overpaid attitude ridden babies they have as players.

I don't think the intent of posting this was for us to feel sorry for them. I think the intent was 1) we're not the only screwed up franchise out there, and b) WE BEAT THEM MO FO'S AND KNOCKED EM OUT! Bwwwwwwwwwwwwaahahahahahaahahahahahaahahahahhaha.

[Sanfran327]

All I know is that I'd be glad to take some of those players off of their hands. Pedroia and Ellsbury are there to stay, but I have to think that many other players are expendable to them. Crawford and Youkilis are both damn good players, although I'm not sure how much I'd want Youk on our club, despite our need for a top 3bman. This is only an article, but if it has any truth to it (wich the Sox ownership can deny), it might lower the asking cost of some of their players. They probably won't, but it looks like they need to re-tool that clubhouse and fill it with the character guys they had in 2004 if they want to get back to winning championships.

[centralpaosfan]

I may be in the minority here, but I found myself thinking "Wow...a team that had this level of dysfunction still had 21 more wins that the O's." I found myself thinking how outclassed the O's are in the talent department.

[TiredofLosing20]

All I know is that I'd be glad to take some of those players off of their hands. Pedroia and Ellsbury are there to stay, but I have to think that many other players are expendable to them. Crawford and Youkilis are both damn good players, although I'm not sure how much I'd want Youk on our club, despite our need for a top 3bman. This is only an article, but if it has any truth to it (wich the Sox ownership can deny), it might lower the asking cost of some of their players. They probably won't, but it looks like they need to re-tool that clubhouse and fill it with the character guys they had in 2004 if they want to get back to winning championships.

I would take Crawford all day and twice on Tuesday... Youk they can keep..

[centralpaosfan]

I would take Crawford all day and twice on Tuesday... Youk they can keep..

He gets salaries of $14 million next season, $19.5 million in 2012, $20 million in 2013, $20.25 million in 2014, $20.5 million in 2015, $20.75 million in 2016 and $21 million in 2017.

No offense, but the fact there are people on here scoffing at the prospect of signing Fielder but would gladly take Crawford with this contract in the definition of insanity in my opinion.