Foulke: "I'm Sick Of Boston"

[yankeessuck013]

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/story/347244p-296391c.html

 

That's a link to an article about Foulke saying, "I'm sick of Boston"

 

To paraphrase Seinfeld...What's up with THAT?

[Soxfan1]

Screw him.

[YanksHater213]

I kinda feel bad for the guy. Its obvious hes not pitching his best, and hes taking s*** for it, and he doesnt like it. I dont blame him for saying that.

[RedSoxRooter]

What's funny is that he never even said he was "Sick of Boston." It's just the paper trying to stir some stuff up.

[BrentD22]

The media is hurting our team! There are too many players that have left town or won't play here all because of stupid ass media. To be honest even if he really said it I can't blame him. You'd think the fans and media in this town would be a little bit more appreciative after winning a World Series.

[yankeessuck013]

heres another article from San Fran.

 

Foulke gets grumpy about Boston, fans, reporters

 

Boston -- Onetime Oakland closer Keith Foulke is not having a repeat of his great 2004 for Boston, and he's not enjoying anything much -- the city, the media, the season.

 

Foulke, who chose a four-year, $24-million deal with the Red Sox over the A's four-year, $20-million offer after the 2003 season, told a Boston radio station he was looking forward to the end of the season, and before Friday's game, he said he finds the constant attention in Boston intrusive.

 

"After a while you get tired of hearing everybody's opinion on what you're doing wrong,'' said Foulke, who has a 6.18 ERA. "Last year it was, 'Glad you're here, glad to see you. Good luck this year, let's go. Bring it home for us.' Now this year so much is still thanking you for last year.

 

"People don't understand there's times when we want to be private. There's a lot of times people come up and they get in your business. ... It's one of the reasons that for next year I am relocating. I'm moving out of the city so I can be with myself a little more.''

 

He's no fan of reporters, either, saying, "You guys wonder why sometimes I get real short and become a smart ass. You know what? I am so sick and tired of talking about the same stuff every day, it's not even funny. I am so sick and tired of talking about mechanics and how I feel. I can't express to you how disgusted it makes me feel.''

[noonanberg]

To some degree I feel bad for the guy, but honestly, you're a professional athlete. Reporters are going to hound you, win or lose. And especially in a big market. Are these pros really so naive they don't think that's the atmosphere here? Every year somebody makes the pages complaining about how bad the media here can be sometimes. You know it's coming before you get here. So deal with it or don't come.

[26 to 6]

Wow

[ARod2212]

Didn't Manny basically say the same thing in July?

[26 to 6]

Didn't Manny basically say the same thing in July?

pretty much

[greenplywoodstadium]

Screw him.

 

Who closed out a World Series win for you last year?

[mosox]

This has not been a good year for him, with the injury and a divorce. I guess lashing out the fans makes him feel better.

[MC Hammer]

You'd think the fans and media in this town would be a little bit more appreciative after winning a World Series.

I don't know why you'd think that. The entire sports world is based on "what have you done for me lately"

 

Keith you chose to be a professional athlete. Talking to the media and hearing negative reactions from fans are all part of those millions of dollars you are earning to play a game. Suck it up and stop being a pussy. Why is it that athletes never seem to have any problem with the media until they're in a slump?

[kyahbean]

I think it sucks that the media is pressuring him enough to say that. That is, if he actually said it. You can't believe everything you hear on the news.

 

On the other hand, any professional sports player should be able to handle whatever the media throws their way. When you are on a famous sports team..of course you are going to feel the heat and pressure from the media as well as your fans.

[stevece80]

I think he's just pissed because of the treatment he's been getting this year. The guy is a postseason hero, and he's hurt. Give him a friggin' break. People who boo are idiots, but those who boo anything outside of percieved lack of effort are complete asshats.

 

Can some of these louts get it through their heads that the players know that they're sucking, and that being a jerk about it isn't going to help? Yes, they're professionals, and yes they get paid well, but they're all human beings at the end of the day.

 

The lady at Burger King forgot my straw the other day. Should I have gone in and booed and hooted and hollered at her?

[RedSoxRooter]

The lady at Burger King forgot my straw the other day. Should I have gone in and booed and hooted and hollered at her?

Well, in this case, yes. People from BK SUCK.

[mosox]

Booing at BK, Ha Ha.

 

Why can't people boo? This isn't tennis or golf and it's not high school or college. These are grown men, who make a ton of jack to perform in front of thousands of people every night. Pro baseball allows paying customers the right to cheer or boo. If a player can't handle the booing, then either play better, find a therapist or yogi master or play somewhere else where no one cares, like KC.

[schillingouttheks]

Missing a straw in your order is VERY different from being the best, arguably, offense in the American League and not looking like it. Scoring 2 runs a game lately isn't the production we want. Booing is also a kick in the ass. Get working.

[eZ_d0eS_iT]

I agree that athletes in general need to have a short memory because fans sure as hell do. I'm sure he is venting being frustrated that he has not produced like he feels he should but a.) get over it, you're not in Oakland anymore...should have thought about that prior to signing in Boston, NY, or any major market team for that matter...

b.) take a page from schil, he has had just as bad a year and instead of whining about it, he is being a man and acknowleding it, and admitting he needs to step it up, rather than lashing out at the media or joe fan or feels the need to give his expert opinion.

[stevece80]

When has Schilling been constantly booed?

[eZ_d0eS_iT]

my point is maybe he (foulke) wouldn't be harassed as much if he just owned up to his poor performances, shut his mouth, get healthy (i know...how do you 'get' healthy) and just keep grinding through it. Schil hasn't gotten nearly as much s*** because he has been harder on himself than anyone in the media or the fans. Plus, his competitive nature and willingness to do whatever is in the best interest of the team (start, relief, close) does score him points with said media & the fans. Outside of being surly and dropping hints about management's intention on whether or not he will make the playoff roster, I can't say the same for him (foulke).

[stevece80]

That's pretty lame if the fans need the media to shape how they view a player. A bad performance is a bad performance, saying anything afterwards doesn't change the result. Foulke has relenquished his closer role, is pitching in middle relief, does he need to say he'll start to win points? And to be more accurate, Schilling only said he'll start or close. It would have been nice if he were willing to ease himself in during low leverage situations. Instead we got the shaky performance in the most important role in the bullpen.

 

They've both been bad, people have just put a spin on Schilling's identical situation in which he rushed himself back at the detriment of the team. I'd say the fans need to stop being so petty.

[kyahbean]

That's pretty lame if the fans need the media to shape how they view a player. A bad performance is a bad performance, saying anything afterwards doesn't change the result.

 

I'd say the fans need to stop being so petty.

 

I agree. Everyone has a slump, and the fans should be able to acknoweldge that just the same as the player. It is absolutely true that the player *knows* when they are slumping. How is booing them or throwing insults going to help anything?

 

Example: I was at the game on Sunday when we got completely creamed by Oakland. In the eighth, a huge chunk of the fans were already leaving. The guy behind me was insulting Clement with a fury before he even got through the first inning. We were trying to get the crowd to do the Sox chants, cheering and such..and it was the deadest crowd you would have ever seen. Sure, there were some people cheering..but you can bet your ass that if we were winning, or there was no score, or a tie score, that stadium would have been roaring. It made me sad to see that so many people only cheer when we're winning, and it sucked to see so many people so quick to forget how great the team really is. :dunno:

[eZ_d0eS_iT]

i understand your point steve, but lest we remember fan is short for fanatic, ergo, a fanatic might not be in a position to rationally understand the salient points you bring up.

 

for the record, i was try to play devil's advocate as to why some people would see foulke's seemingly bad attitude and take it personally. i'd probably be as angry and frustrated if i was having the same year as him, but i'd like to think i'd know what i was getting myself into w/the media & fans prior to coming to boston. its not like boston & ny has the best reputation in the country w/regards to how some members of the media can focus on a player and make his life hell.

[yankthis]

I looked up "I'm sick of Boston" in the Thesaurus, and it says that when spoken by a baseball player, this phrase is usually construed to mean "I suck".

[YanksHater213]

Well, in this case, yes. People from BK SUCK.

Damnit, BK sucks in general... Wendys owns all

[riverside sluggers]

with Delcarmen, Hansen, and heck even DiNardo performing greatly this month. I just think Foulke sees its clear these rookies could be part of the bullpen of 06 more than he is looking like to be right now...

[ACL BoSox]

Good, get rid of him and sign B.J. Ryan or Billy Wagner, and have Hansen be our setup man until he matures further.

[BariNoVa]

Surprised that so many of you are sticking up for these ball players who are "sick of Boston" (however it was said or implied....). In Boston, the media and the fans live on a daily basis with the Red Sox. The Red Sox are cared for by the fans and covered by the media like no other team in sports. This guy, Foulke, chose to take the big bucks and come to Boston.... did he pay attention to how things work in Boston? Apparently not. He has been a disaster for the Red Sox this year (and I'm not too thrilled with Matt Clement's efforts, either, as I'd expected a great deal from him) and deserves to be booed and asked the same questions repeatedly. I have zero sympathy for Foulke....

[eZ_d0eS_iT]

which in a sense was exactly my point - and clement needs to tighten it up as the yanks rotation have been sacking it up lately and not blowing it for them.