Has Tito Become Too Complacent?

[SoxSport]

I've been watching Tito since the Red Sox strong World Series performance in 07 against the Rockies, and it looks to me that the management has become too complacent. Sure, the front office has continued to make good player moves, but have they paid enough attention to the bench management--except to rubber stamp it? Three slow starts in three years. Last year, an unprecedented number of injuries, this year an expensive team of stars clearly unprepared to start the season. Seems as though they paid more attention in spring training to looking at minor leaguers than to getting their pitching and batting order--in order. That's complacency.

 

The other night, I saw Varitek come to bat in his first start in 8 games. Still wearing the Captain C. ??? Pedroia is clearly the team leader now, and 39yo Tek is still the Captain??That's complacency. Then Ortiz comes up against CC. Clearly overmatched at this point in his career. And he came up again with MOB against CC. Overmatched again. Why no platoon? That's complacency. And then there's Wakefield. Nowadays, with players making millions, they play until they drop. Or until the management says no. The Red Sox management is unwilling to do that--to open up a roster spot for another legitimate reliever--especially another Lefthander. That's complacency.

 

In other years, I've seen Timlin allowed to hang on--costing the team key playoff wins. And then there's that reliever they got from Texas for Murphy, who blew four saves in a row down the stretch. Why was he allowed to blow that many saves? That's complacency.

 

I say nice guy Tito has become complacent. Won two championships. Been around too long. Time to kick him upstairs somewhere and get somebody more disciplined who can stress fundamentals and teach these leadoff batters how to get a walk. The only patient guys these days are AdGon and Youks--batting 3rd and 4th.

 

What's the score tonite? 7-0 against the worst hitting team in baseball, TB? At home? That is just an embarrassment. Dice-K? That's complacency, too.

[BigPapiEnFuego]

I agree with this. He is way too complacent. I understand he led us to a world championship, but during that stretch a lot of people easily could of. With a manager who's not as soft as this guy this team would of been even better during thhis stretch. There would probably be 3 titles. Better seasons.

[soxfan74]

Agree totally. Epstein should also shoulder some of the blame. He allows this to go on. The way we come out at the beginning of each season the last few years has been completely embarrasing. This season is the worst yet. There are many games left to play this season. So we can't give up yet obviousely. This pitching staff should be a major concern right now. They are Horrible.

[Wasatch]

I also agree with the OP. It seems we lost the hunger.

[Dojji]

What exactly is Tito supposed to do here? It's up to the guys on the field, and particularly on the mound, to sort this out, and if they can't, the ball is in Theo's court.

 

Tito's done this in slumps before, and we've all seen threads like this when it happens. Boston's hair trigger panic button is nearly legendary at this point. I happen to agree with him, the team is playing way below its talent level and will sort itself out.

 

The only thing I'm really worried about at all is whether Salty's skills as a reciever might be a contributing factor. If pitchers are throwing better to Tek, then they need to grit their teeth and push Tek back into the lineup until things settle down a bit. Otherwise, other than maybe shuffling the lineup and playing the bench guys more, I don't see what Tito's supposed to do to make this better.

[Scottish Red Sox Fan]

Terry Francona is one of the best managers in the game and will always be a legend in my eyes for finally ending the curse and leading us to glory in 2004 and 2007.

 

He's done a fantastic job with the Red Sox and I hope he sticks around for a long time to come.

[Pass the Buch]

I think this is an overreaction to the start of this season. If we were 9-2 then you would be praising Tito for his calming influence over the team. Give him some time.

[MNSoxChief102]

I'm as big a fan of Francona as anyone and I have no desire to see him go, but if the current malaise that's hanging over the Sox right now continues on through the better part of May, I fully expect significant pressure on a number of fronts to have Francona fall on the sword.

 

Funny... just heard the guys on WEEI say that if a 2-9 stretch was enough to get a manager fired, the Pirates would replace their skipper 16 times a season.

 

Provided we turn this s*** around before the All-Star break and string together a bunch of series wins, Francona won't be going anywhere.

[Palodios]

So I was sitting in the bleachers today, watching Bard pitch, and he was throwing like 95 (instead of the normal 99-100), and I said to myself... You know, I feel like if a lot of these players got some exhibition time, like as if they went to the minors or something before the season started, they would be able to get ready for the season.

 

Then I stopped myself. That's what spring training should have done.

[SoxSport]

So I was sitting in the bleachers today, watching Bard pitch, and he was throwing like 95 (instead of the normal 99-100), and I said to myself... You know, I feel like if a lot of these players got some exhibition time, like as if they went to the minors or something before the season started, they would be able to get ready for the season.

 

Then I stopped myself. That's what spring training should have done.

 

That impression is gaining momentum. We had a hint of that last year with an unusual bunch of injuries. The Sox are a bit too layed back and casual--reflecting their good-natured manager. Not Pedroia, mind you. Never Pedroia.