RED SOX craziness

[weams]

The owners of the Boston Red Sox were preoccupied with sagging TV ratings and hired marketing consultants who urged the team to place a greater emphasis on "good-looking stars" and "sex symbols," according to an excerpt from a book co-authored by former Red Sox manager Terry Francona.

"(W)omen are definitely more drawn to the 'soap opera' and 'reality-TV' aspects of the game ... They are interested in good-looking stars and sex symbols," parenthetically citing All-Star second baseman Dustin Pedroia as an example of the latter.

"They (the consultants) told us we didn't have any marketable players, that we needed some sizzle," Epstein is quoted as saying. "We need some sexy guys. Talk about the tail wagging the dog. This is like an absurdist comedy. We'd become too big. It was the farthest thing removed from what we set out to be."

http://espn.go.com/boston/mlb/story/_/id/8846898/terry-francona-book-describes-boston-red-sox-owners-image-conscious

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/redsox/2013/01/15/terry-francona-book-red-sox-owners-concerned-with-image/1837293/

[weams]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/mlb/news/20130115/terry-francona-red-sox-excerpt-sports-illustrated.ap/

More!

They come in with all these ideas about baseball, but I don't think they love baseball," he said. "I think they like baseball. It's revenue, and I know that's their right and their interest because they're owners ... and they're good owners. But they don't love the game. It's still more of a toy or a hobby for them. It's not their blood. They're going to come in and out of baseball. It's different for me. Baseball is my life."

[Don Quixote]

I read this yesterday and meant to post it but got distracted. Thanks for the backup.

[Moose Milligan]

Holy crap weams, it took me a good few minutes to tear my eyes away from your avatar. Who is that?

I like Francona, I think it's cool that he's confirming what baseball fans already know about the Red Sox.

[lint06]

Pedroia is a sex symbol? Where? In Middle-Earth?

[skanar]

If the Red Sox were really looking to add more "soap opera drama" to their team, the 2012 season must have been seen as a huge success.

[Skeletor]

Pedroia is a sex symbol? Where? In Middle-Earth?

I think Francona is probably having a little fun with him there.

[byrdz]

This is the most absurd thing I've ever heard.

Pedroia is a sex symbol? Where? In Middle-Earth?

I think they're saying the opposite. My take that they went and got Crawford and AGon to offset Pedroia's ill look. No one can dispute that Pedroia half scares the ball off his bat.

[Olson30]

LOL wow, they deserve everything last year brought to them.. Good God