This needs to be said.

[FenwayDirtDog]

3 posts in and I'm done. I'm not going to sit here and read bitter gripes from people claiming to be Red Sox fans. I know people are going to try to prove me wrong, tell me that the team and fans are terrible, big changes need to happen, the organization is going down the tube. Everyone just needs to sit back and relax. I've been there more years you can imagine, since half of you were still s***ing your diapers. Let the front office do its work. That's why they get paid the big bucks, and why they don't come on Talksox.com for opinions. We need fans to be fans, because when it comes down to it, nobody remembers who won this when, how then won it blah blah blah. Sure they're incredible memories and fun times, and who doesn't love to watch the Sox be the last of 30 teams still standing in late October/early November. But it's more than that, I promise you. I think a few of you still have to figure that part out.

 

If you're a fan, I'll see you at Fenway Park in April.

[jacksonianmarch]

3 posts in and I'm done. I'm not going to sit here and read bitter gripes from people claiming to be Red Sox fans. I know people are going to try to prove me wrong, tell me that the team and fans are terrible, big changes need to happen, the organization is going down the tube. Everyone just needs to sit back and relax. I've been there more years you can imagine, since half of you were still s***ing your diapers. Let the front office do its work. That's why they get paid the big bucks, and why they don't come on Talksox.com for opinions. We need fans to be fans, because when it comes down to it, nobody remembers who won this when, how then won it blah blah blah. Sure they're incredible memories and fun times, and who doesn't love to watch the Sox be the last of 30 teams still standing in late October/early November. But it's more than that, I promise you. I think a few of you still have to figure that part out.

If you're a fan, I'll see you at Fenway Park in April.

 

Don't forget to sing Sweet Caroline and wear your pink hat

[FenwayDirtDog]

Don't forget to sing Sweet Caroline and wear your pink hat

 

I'll be wearing my dirty old Sox hat I've had since 1999. And I will sing Sweet Caroline, along with 39,000 other people, having fun, while you post on internet forums about how you should be the owner of one of the most successful teams of the decade.

 

You have a lot to learn about baseball, friend.

[a700hitter]

I'll be wearing my dirty old Sox hat I've had since 1999. And I will sing Sweet Caroline, along with 39,000 other people, having fun, while you post on internet forums about how you should be the owner of one of the most successful teams of the decade.

 

You have a lot to learn about baseball, friend.

When has Fenway had 39,000 fans at a game?

[SCM33]

I'll be wearing my dirty old Sox hat I've had since 1999. And I will sing Sweet Caroline, along with 39,000 other people, having fun, while you post on internet forums about how you should be the owner of one of the most successful teams of the decade.

 

You have a lot to learn about baseball, friend.

 

First off, you were arguing with a Yankees fan.

 

Second off, you need to take down the blinders there tough guy.

 

Dirty hat since 1999?.....oh boy, thats the sign of a true sox fan right there. Are you sure its not one of those new "aged" hats that Lids sells?

 

Sweet Caroline is the ultimate "I dont know s***" about the RedSox and their history chant....by the way...you have fun watching the Sox get their asses kicked going 5-26 in their last 31 games? You want to stand up and sing Sweet Caroline during the worst baseball collapse in the history of the game?

 

I am no stat geek, and I argue with quite a few members on this board about being pinkhats and objective and realistic, but you are not going to come in here and generalize everyone my friend.

 

Nobody here has said they should "own" the RedSox. BTW, over the last 3 years....the Boston RedSox have the second most money spent in terms of player salaries and have NOT WON A SINGLE PLAYOFF GAME.

 

And one more thing' date=' to whoever this guy is, instead of hiding behind a computer screen typing away your adorable thoughts on a safe little forum, I think you should come down to the Lansdowne Pub next season and announce that to a room full of hundreds of Sox fans. I'm sure myself and the rest of the room would love to give our opinion back to you.[/quote']

 

BTW, yeah Ill meet you at your little Boston Bar with your friends, Ill be the guy in uniform locking your asses up for public intoxication, disturbing the peace, noise ordinance violation, assault and resisting arrest.

[a700hitter]

I'll be wearing my dirty old Sox hat I've had since 1999.

I still have a Yaz hat that I got from Wonder Bread wrappers in 1967. Sweet Caroline is sissy s***, and I don't mean that as any sort of anti-gay slur.

[FenwayDirtDog]

First off, you were arguing with a Yankees fan.

 

Second off, you need to take down the blinders there tough guy.

 

Dirty hat since 1999?.....oh boy, thats the sign of a true sox fan right there. Are you sure its not one of those new "aged" hats that Lids sells?

 

Sweet Caroline is the ultimate "I dont know s***" about the RedSox and their history chant....by the way...you have fun watching the Sox get their asses kicked going 5-26 in their last 31 games? You want to stand up and sing Sweet Caroline during the worst baseball collapse in the history of the game?

 

I am no stat geek, and I argue with quite a few members on this board about being pinkhats and objective and realistic, but you are not going to come in here and generalize everyone my friend.

 

Nobody here has said they should "own" the RedSox. BTW, over the last 3 years....the Boston RedSox have the second most money spent in terms of player salaries and have NOT WON A SINGLE GAME.

 

BTW, yeah Ill meet you at your little Boston Bar with your friends, Ill be the guy in uniform locking your asses up for public intoxication, disturbing the peace, noise ordinance violation, assault and resisting arrest.

 

Right on, a fascist cop. I'm gonna charge you with being a f***ing idiot then. And walk in there off-duty, and say your little opinion about the Sox and we'll see who will be leaving the bar sooner.

 

Half of your argument was awful. Quirky little assumptions, like a "new aged" hat. Not even going to address those because that's being desperate for a comeback.

 

I'm no pinkhat, boy. I dislike them just as much as any other fan out there, but hey, at least they're out there cheering for the Sox, having fun, soaking it all in, and not frumping in their seats trying to play boss man in the offseason.

 

And guess what, yeah I want to stand up and sing Sweet Caroline. If any of you guys had it your way, you'd take all the fun out of the game completely anytime a team is on a losing streak. s***, while we're at it, let's take out the in-between inning activities, the walk-up music, the seventh-inning stretch. Let's even ban cheering. That sounds reasonable right? I'm sure people being happy and singing a song means that they don't care their team is losing, that must be what it means.

 

What you need to understand is how the game works. Yes, it's horrible and upsetting what happened this past month. I was heartbroken. And yes, like every year, changes have to be made. But bashing a team that was on pace to win a near-100 games this season, that's ridiculous. The team fell apart, everybody did. That's baseball. That's how the game is. I've seen the game evolve for many years, and what some people are saying on here is just ridiculous. When you go to a game, HAVE FUN. Just because people are singing, doesn't make them "non-fans". It means they are human. I'm beginning to think some of the people who made some of these comments are the same people who support building a new park because "the seats are too small."

[SCM33]

Right on' date=' a fascist cop. I'm gonna charge you with being a f***ing idiot then. And walk in there off-duty, and say your little opinion about the Sox and we'll see who will be leaving the bar sooner.[/quote']

Haha, I work in Boston. Good luck bud

 

Half of your argument was awful. Quirky little assumptions' date=' like a "new aged" hat. Not even going to address those because that's being desperate for a comeback.[/quote']

Obvious defeat here since you have no comeback other than I was "desperate" for one. Weird.

 

I'm no pinkhat' date=' boy. I dislike them just as much as any other fan out there, but hey, at least they're out there cheering for the Sox, having fun, soaking it all in, and not frumping in their seats trying to play boss man in the offseason.[/quote']

Boy? ohhh I love the mouthy ones. They are usually the most "fun". You "dislike them as much as any other fan" yet you criticize this forum for disliking this team? WHAT??? Losing isnt fun buddy, 5-26 in their last 31 after a 2-10 start.

 

And guess what' date=' yeah I want to stand up and sing Sweet Caroline. If any of you guys had it your way, you'd take all the fun out of the game completely anytime a team is on a losing streak. s***, while we're at it, let's take out the in-between inning activities, the walk-up music, the seventh-inning stretch. Let's even ban cheering. That sounds reasonable right? I'm sure people being happy and singing a song means that they don't care their team is losing, that must be what it means.[/quote']

Pinkhats sing Sweet Caroline when they get up and sing when they are getting their asses kicked. Id rather have the pre-2007 fans return to the park. Now they cannot afford to go. Fenway Park has become the most expensive "cover charge" to a singles bar. Are you single and ready to mingle to Sweet Caroline?

 

What you need to understand is how the game works. Yes' date=' it's horrible and upsetting what happened this past month. I was heartbroken. And yes, like every year, changes have to be made. But bashing a team that was on pace to win a near-100 games this season, that's ridiculous. The team fell apart, everybody did. That's baseball. That's how the game is. I've seen the game evolve for many years, and what some people are saying on here is just ridiculous. When you go to a game, HAVE FUN. Just because people are singing, doesn't make them "non-fans". It means they are human. I'm beginning to think some of the people who made some of these comments are the same people who support building a new park because "the seats are too small."[/quote']

I do understand baseball. Its a game. Heartbroken? Are you married to one of the players dude? Its just baseball. You need to be a little more objective. You were heartbroken over a bunch of dudes losing a childs game? You need to find a chic man. They didnt win "near 100 games"..they won 90. 90 wins is not 100 and not even close. A HUGE disappointment considering the expectations and payroll. THEY DIDNT EVEN MAKE THE PLAYOFFS. THEY LOST 2 OF 3 TO THE WORST TEAM IN THE AL TO END THE SEASON!!!!!

[FenwayDirtDog]

Still not getting it huh? Okay...

 

Seeing as within half an hour, my love for the team has been judged on how old my hat is...I think that one speaks for itself...

 

"They are usually the most "fun". You "dislike them as much as any other fan" yet you criticize this forum for disliking this team?" That doesn't even make sense. Yes, I dislike pinkhats, and I dislike people who think they can run this team better than management. I have nothing against the forum, I think it's great for Red Sox and baseball fans to express themselves.

 

No, losing isn't fun, it sucks. But instead of being classy about it, people have to rant on about how horrible the team is, how management sucks, how the team isn't what it used to be, how the fans are horrible. Is this how you want Boston fans to be known for? I don't know about you, but I'm horribly disappointed, that team is my biggest passion, but I don't go on and on about the negatives, I look forward to next season, looking forward to getting better, and correcting the mistakes they made in 2011.

 

I don't know if you've ever stepped foot in Fenway Park, but everybody sings that song regardless of the score. Sure it's recent history, but it is a part of the team now, and will be for a long time. I don't know what your issue with that song is, it's just something fun and it's an incredible scene watching every person stand up and sing it together. Even the players love it. I'm sure when they're down coming into the bottom of the eight, they wouldn't want everyone to be sitting down booing. It's really not an issue whatsoever. As for the ticket prices, sure you may not be able to afford box seats regularly, but it's not that horrible...I don't know about you but I can watch a game and still be able to pay my bills.

 

I wasn't going to comment on your last rebuttal, but I just have to. I actually a little amazed you posted that. It is unbelievably immature and childish. It was heartbreaking, that's how much I love the Red Sox. They are a huge passion of mine.

 

Read my quote again, dummy, before you get all high and mighty on me. "ON PACE to win near-100 games" before a slumping September. And yes, a huge disappointment. This is why I think people like you aren't true fans. Instead of shrugging your shoulders, giving them a pat on the back, and looking forward to the Spring, you break them down, tear them apart, say their awful, when in reality, it was an incredible and highly talented group of guys that fell apart down the stretch. That's baseball.

[a700hitter]

Still not getting it huh? Okay...

 

Seeing as within half an hour, my love for the team has been judged on how old my hat is...I think that one speaks for itself...

 

"They are usually the most "fun". You "dislike them as much as any other fan" yet you criticize this forum for disliking this team?" That doesn't even make sense. Yes, I dislike pinkhats, and I dislike people who think they can run this team better than management. I have nothing against the forum, I think it's great for Red Sox and baseball fans to express themselves.

 

No, losing isn't fun, it sucks. But instead of being classy about it, people have to rant on about how horrible the team is, how management sucks, how the team isn't what it used to be, how the fans are horrible. Is this how you want Boston fans to be known for? I don't know about you, but I'm horribly disappointed, that team is my biggest passion, but I don't go on and on about the negatives, I look forward to next season, looking forward to getting better, and correcting the mistakes they made in 2011.

 

I don't know if you've ever stepped foot in Fenway Park, but everybody sings that song regardless of the score. Sure it's recent history, but it is a part of the team now, and will be for a long time. I don't know what your issue with that song is, it's just something fun and it's an incredible scene watching every person stand up and sing it together. Even the players love it. I'm sure when they're down coming into the bottom of the eight, they wouldn't want everyone to be sitting down booing. It's really not an issue whatsoever. As for the ticket prices, sure you may not be able to afford box seats regularly, but it's not that horrible...I don't know about you but I can watch a game and still be able to pay my bills.

 

I wasn't going to comment on your last rebuttal, but I just have to. I actually a little amazed you posted that. It is unbelievably immature and childish. It was heartbreaking, that's how much I love the Red Sox. They are a huge passion of mine.

 

Read my quote again, dummy, before you get all high and mighty on me. "ON PACE to win near-100 games" before a slumping September. And yes, a huge disappointment. This is why I think people like you aren't true fans. Instead of shrugging your shoulders, giving them a pat on the back, and looking forward to the Spring, you break them down, tear them apart, say their awful, when in reality, it was an incredible and highly talented group of guys that fell apart down the stretch. That's baseball.

Wake up. The 2011 Red Sox were a train wreck. I've been a fan for 45 years, and I have never witnessed anything this bad. It was an organizational failure from top to bottom. There's a lot for fans to be frustrated and vent about. The fans pay the freight and the entire organization did a lousy job. They deserve the criticism.

[SCM33]

Still not getting it huh? Okay...

No I get it. You dont my friend. The Sox were disappointing this season. Rather than trying to figure out what happened and hold someone accountable and ask questions, you blast others who do so. You really think this is the best they were capable of? Stop making excuses and ask the same questions that all of us are. We pay these guys salaries, we show up to the park as do you. This season was not acceptable. This was a colossal failure and disaster.

 

Seeing as within half an hour' date=' my love for the team has been judged on how old my hat is...I think that one speaks for itself...[/quote']

You brought those remarks upon yourself. Nobody gives a s*** about your 1999 dirty hat. We are all fans. You are fighting against the same people who root for the team. Do not appear to be more of a fan than the rest of us. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and expressions of the team. There is no such thing as ultimate fan, we were all pissed they lost.

 

Yes' date=' I dislike pinkhats, and I dislike people who think they can run this team better than management. I have nothing against the forum, I think it's great for Red Sox and baseball fans to express themselves.[/quote']

If you have nothing against this forum and think its great that the fans express themselves, then why are you picking fights with this forum? Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Thats what forums are all about. In the end, we have the same thing in common, we would like to see them win.

 

 

No' date=' losing isn't fun, it sucks. But instead of being classy about it, people have to rant on about how horrible the team is, how management sucks, how the team isn't what it used to be, how the fans are horrible. Is this how you want Boston fans to be known for? I don't know about you, but I'm horribly disappointed, that team is my biggest passion, but I don't go on and on about the negatives, I look forward to next season, looking forward to getting better, and correcting the mistakes they made in 2011.[/quote']

You want to talk about classy? What about the reports coming out of this years club? What about the way they handled the Terry Francona situation? This team isnt the same as it was in the early 2000's, for you to say so is being a homer and disregarding what happened this season. It was a disaster. We all look forward to the future of this team, but the future of this team will not be successful unless a series of changes are made.

 

I don't know if you've ever stepped foot in Fenway Park' date=' but everybody sings that song regardless of the score. Sure it's recent history, but it is a part of the team now, and will be for a long time. I don't know what your issue with that song is, it's just something fun and it's an incredible scene watching every person stand up and sing it together. Even the players love it. I'm sure when they're down coming into the bottom of the eight, they wouldn't want everyone to be sitting down booing. It's really not an issue whatsoever. As for the ticket prices, sure you may not be able to afford box seats regularly, but it's not that horrible...I don't know about you but I can watch a game and still be able to pay my bills.[/quote']

Ive stepped inside Fenway many times and do not disagree that people sing that song. This is not about that. Id rather the song disappeared and the atmosphere returned to the way it was before Sweet Carololine. That place was a tough place to play for opposing teams because of the fans. To me, the fans that go to that park on a daily basis do not remember what being a Sox fan is all about anymore. Its more of a production rather than a baseball game. Id rather "friendly Fenway" returned to its hostile ways.

 

I wasn't going to comment on your last rebuttal' date=' but I just have to. I actually a little amazed you posted that. It is unbelievably immature and childish. It was heartbreaking, that's how much I love the Red Sox. They are a huge passion of mine.[/quote']

You started the whole "immature and childish" game by questioning the entire forums alliance. We are all redsox and baseball fans here. Do not challenge how anyone else roots for this team. You cant expect everyone to feel the same way you do, there is no such thing as a "superfan" unless you are 12. We all want to see this club win, if we didnt....this forum which you criticize wouldnt have been created and we wouldnt be members of it arguing about this team at 2 in the morning.

 

Read my quote again' date=' dummy, before you get all high and mighty on me. "ON PACE to win near-100 games" before a slumping September. And yes, a huge disappointment. This is why I think people like you aren't true fans. Instead of shrugging your shoulders, giving them a pat on the back, and looking forward to the Spring, you break them down, tear them apart, say their awful, when in reality, it was an incredible and highly talented group of guys that fell apart down the stretch. [b']That's baseball.[/b]

"On pace" means nothing. In the end, this club had the worst collapse of any team in baseball history. Thats BASEBALL as you say. Again, questioning other fans loyalty to this club will get you in trouble here. "Shrugging your shoulders, giving them a pat on the back, and looking forward to the Spring" is what management wants you to do. How about you step outside the box, look at this team and ask questions? What happened this year is a disgrace to the franchise and a slap in the face to the fanbase and people need to be held accountable and questions need to be answered. It was an "incredible and highly talented group of guys" who did not get the job done. In the end, they failed miserably.

 

I do not know your intentions here, but you can either be against us......be against the same people who root for the same team you and piss people off or join this forum and try to understand that not every fan has the same opinion as you do. We are all pissed off/disappointed. Every fan expresses their emotion a different way. Do not criticize others if their opinion isnt the same as yours.

 

I hope you continue to post here my friend, as it appears that you care about this team just as much as the rest of us, but challenging all of us will accomplish nothing.

 

In the end, we are all RedSox fans.

[jacksonianmarch]

Sweet Caroline, bah bah bah, good times never seemed so good, SO GOOD, SO GOOD!

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

Lol SCM, get em'.

 

Sweet Caroline sucks ass. Change the damn song already.

[User Name]

I don't really understand the hate for Sweet Caroline. It's a fun thing if you ask me.

[Emmz]

It's sort of gay, though, and it's symbolic of the pink hats.

[a700hitter]

I don't really understand the hate for Sweet Caroline. It's a fun thing if you ask me.

Men singing Sweet Caroline to each other is not fun. It is sickeningly douchy.

[BigPapiEnFuego]

I always thought the Sweet Caroline thing was stupid. I just would sit there during games thinking "what the hell is going on? start the inning already"

[iortiz]

I'm not sure who had the idea to put Sweet Caroline, but this is absolutely not Mr. Neil Diamond's fault . I like Neil Diamond's work, he has a great voice, hehehehe anyway...

 

IMO, The thing is that you shouldn't be that happy while your team is falling in pieces, that's the point and make sense. Nevertheless, I think some people goes to the stadium in order to spend some fun time with their families and forget real life for a while. I don't see anything wrong on that. Some fans take this team very seriously and as a part of their daily life(maybe like some of us) and some not that much, I don't have a problem with that either. Are they pink hats?, which fan is better? Nobody can't measure and judge that. Each fan expresses his/her sympathy in so many different ways, so...

 

Anyway... put whatever song or performance you want, that's not the issue IMO. Our issues go beyond Sweet Caroline, that's for damn sure my friends.

[jacksonianmarch]

BAH BAH BAH!!

[Gringo]

Men singing Sweet Caroline to each other is not fun. It is sickeningly douchy.

 

Yep, it was amusing for about one season. it should have died a death by now. Sadly, it is a Pink Hat favorite, and as such, will be played forever. :thumbdown

[jacksonianmarch]

SO GOOD, SO GOOD!!

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

My concern isn't even about pink hats singing it when we're losing, even though it is annoying. The song just sucks.

[SCM33]

The biggest problem with the 2011 RedSox, No f***ing Heart.

 

Watch these videos, watch a few players in Boston history who had heart and gave a s*** about winning.

 

Drinking in the clubhouse, yeah......so what. Who gives a s*** when you care about Boston, when you care about your team, when you care about legacy.....when you care about winning.

 

 

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJrZDR0xmug

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnL3lcdjdDs&feature=fvst

 

Money dont buy rings, money dont buy cups, money dont buy banners, money dont buy superbowls....... and REAL redsox fans dont give a s*** about the money the organization makes with: seasons ticket holders, consecutive sellout streak, "bricks", literal "Pink" Sox hats, merchandise, Neil Diamond and his s***** Sweet Caroline song, "dating" at Fenway and everything else the RedSox have become since we have won anything of note.

 

In the end, its what you have in your heart, and what values you have invested in your team. T.E.A.M. Not Ortiz's 100 RBIS. Not Lackeys 13 wins regardless of a 6+ ERA. Not Wakefield's 200 wins. Not worrying about benching Varitek because he is a captain.

 

The right mix, no matter what the salaries are or the ability, no matter what the popularity or publicity.....wins.

 

I dont give a s*** about anything of the other ********. Injuries? Excuses.

 

Blow it up, put it together and win......like so many other Boston franchises have done in the last decade.

[jung]

I hate this stuff at baseball games. I won't bore you folks with the reasons why but I hate it for all the reasons that I love "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" during the 7th inning stretch at the places where it is still sung.

[FredLynn]

For the last 2 years, every time I have been critical of ANY player on the RedSox I am/was attacked. Well you know something? For the last 2 years, this team has been absolutely miserable to watch. Even worse? Going to a game and seeing a guy catch a game winning home run in the monster seats of the opposing team and cheering. Who the f*** sings Sweet Caroline at a RedSox game after Bard/Papelbon just had a potentially catastrophic meltdown?

 

Everyone on this board wants to get into pissing contests about how some obscure Saber statistic is the be all end all of stats, so therefore.....player X does not suck. You know what I call that? Excuses. God knows there is nothing better that the RedSox are at than excuses. This is the same club that blamed inter-league play and the official league DH rules as to why they lost to the Pittsburgh f***ing Pirates. f*** the stats, this team started 2-10 and are now 5-15 in September.

 

In the old days, when real Sox fans cared about this team and was not considered Red Sox "nation" we would be tearing into this team. Not anymore. Too many stat geeks who jumped on the bandwagon in 2004 when Bellhorn was having a sabermetric's wet dream of a season, told everyone that the old school Sox fans were wrong. The f***ing media doesnt even tear in to this team anymore, they dont want to ruin their relationship/partnership. I am so sick of seeing some dude in the press box promoting his company or talking about how generous John Henry, Larry Luchino and Tom Werner are while the Redsox are getting their asses kicked

 

This team sucks. They have no heart. Tito was a great manager when he had all those gritty players around him, but that was only because those guys cared about the game and they were damn good at the game. They didnt give a s*** what Tito said or the fact he was a "players manager" (aka a soft manager who gets walked on by his players)..they cared about the tradition of the franchise and what winning meant to this city. You want to know what Tito was before he had all those "dirt dogs"? He was a soft manager who got walked on in Philadelphia. Those players owned him in PHI which is why he was on the street looking for a job before he came to Boston.

 

This team, this organization....they arent the Boston Red Sox. Its just a bunch of guys wearing the uniform who are filling in and making Werner/Henry/Lucchino money. The Redsox are only a cash cow to those guys. Minus Youk and Pedroia, if any of them were true members of this proud organization, they would never allow this s*** to happen for 2 straight years. They should be ashamed, but they arent...they dont give a f***, and its pretty clear.

 

Instead of being angry with the fellow members of this board for having opinions like mine, how about you get angry at the organization that has played this way for the last 2 years?

 

Bravo!

I come on this board occasionally and have posted this year that I didn't think the Red Sox had a chance to make a significant run because of their lack of pitching. I pointed out that no team has won the ALC in at least 10 years if they finished lower than fourth in overall ERA. That is a fact-and there is a reason for it. I was soundly bashed here for being contrary to the general opinion that this is our year. Guess what: is September our pitching reared its ugly head and we won ONE GAME when we scored fewer than SIX RUNS. We finished NINTH in overall ERA in the AL this year, and we got, in essence, what we deserved. I wish it were different, but this is not fantasy. What I wish were true is rarely true. I think that those who have irrational exuberance for this team next year need to listen a little more acutely to the facts when they are presented.

[iortiz]

Bravo!

I come on this board occasionally and have posted this year that I didn't think the Red Sox had a chance to make a significant run because of their lack of pitching. I pointed out that no team has won the ALC in at least 10 years if they finished lower than fourth in overall ERA. That is a fact-and there is a reason for it. I was soundly bashed here for being contrary to the general opinion that this is our year. Guess what: is September our pitching reared its ugly head and we won ONE GAME when we scored fewer than SIX RUNS. We finished NINTH in overall ERA in the AL this year, and we got, in essence, what we deserved. I wish it were different, but this is not fantasy. What I wish were true is rarely true. I think that those who have irrational exuberance for this team next year need to listen a little more acutely to the facts when they are presented.

 

Agree.

 

A few of us were saying the same about the pitching and a lot of people went to our throats and gave us bad names like pessimists and blasphemers. I had been saying even before the trade deadline that this team had to grab a solid SP, no mattered what cost. Some teams did, we? did not. Our pitching depth wasn't properly built. People still defending Epstein for all this mess. This team was very unbalanced and our offense couldn't bear this team for the rest of the season even being the #1, I said that as well. I even made a thread where I pointed all those signs, and I was called pessimist and crazy again, and the funny thing is that somehow someone told me that I didn't predict this.... Hell, I just wanted to be objective at that point, anyway... we all know the results. As I said as well, I hope that a new GM arrives with fresh ideas, leadership and with better teamworking and management skills.

[FredLynn]

Agree.

 

A few of us were saying the same about the pitching and a lot of people went to our throats and gave us bad names like pessimists and blasphemers. I had been saying even before the trade deadline that this team had to grab a solid SP, no mattered what cost. Some teams did, we? did not. Our pitching depth wasn't properly built. People still defending Epstein for all this. This team was very unbalanced and our offense couldn't bear this team for the rest of the season even being the #1, I said that as well. I even made a thread where I pointed all those signs, and I was called pessimist and crazy again, and the funny thing is that somehow someone told me that I didn't predict this, I just wanted to be objective at that point, anyway... we all know the results. As I said as well, I hope that a new GM arrives with fresh ideas and mostly leadership and with better teamwork and management skills.

 

I think we could have made the playoffs if we had grabbed BOTH Bedard AND Harden-barely. But we would have been bounced pretty quickly anyway. Frankly, I am glad it turned out this way. This FORCES our owners to act. That has started with the firing (yes, he WAS fired) of Francona, and it must continue with the firing of our GM, our strength and conditioning staff, and our medical staff (they should have ordered an MRI on Buchholtz in July, when his symptoms started and not waited until August when the test was done and showed a fracture which, if diagnosed and treated in a timely manner, would have allowed him to return in September and yes, I am a doctor; and they blew it with Ellsbury last year too).

Anyone who thinks that this current ninth place staff will somehow turn it around to be in the top four is in fantasyland. Wholesale changes are needed. Picking up CJ Wilson, the top FA SP this year, will be insufficient and, frankly, I do not trust Epstein to make the proper choices in the selection of ANY FAs because of his track record with them.

If we can get a new competent GM the rebuilding process for our pitching staff and to a lesser extent the position players can begin. Drew will need to be replace; Youkilis cannot withstand the rigors of 3B; and Ortiz is too concerned about ME ME ME and his contract for my liking. We have issues at catcher as well; Salty will need someone to help him out; Varitek is finished.

I think that as the team now stands we could make the playoffs next year, but we cannot win a ring until the pitching staff is fixed.

[jacksonianmarch]

Pumpsie a physician? They did an MRI off the bat with Buchholz and all it saw was inflammation. The stress fracture was found much later. I had said before that when he continued to have pain AFTER his workouts that something structural must be at hand. Since typically muscle pain occurs with activity of the muscle. If there was inflammation around the site, the MRI can be equivocal.

[a700hitter]

I think we could have made the playoffs if we had grabbed BOTH Bedard AND Harden-barely. But we would have been bounced pretty quickly anyway. Frankly, I am glad it turned out this way. This FORCES our owners to act. That has started with the firing (yes, he WAS fired) of Francona, and it must continue with the firing of our GM, our strength and conditioning staff, and our medical staff (they should have ordered an MRI on Buchholtz in July, when his symptoms started and not waited until August when the test was done and showed a fracture which, if diagnosed and treated in a timely manner, would have allowed him to return in September and yes, I am a doctor; and they blew it with Ellsbury last year too).

Anyone who thinks that this current ninth place staff will somehow turn it around to be in the top four is in fantasyland. Wholesale changes are needed. Picking up CJ Wilson, the top FA SP this year, will be insufficient and, frankly, I do not trust Epstein to make the proper choices in the selection of ANY FAs because of his track record with them.

If we can get a new competent GM the rebuilding process for our pitching staff and to a lesser extent the position players can begin. Drew will need to be replace; Youkilis cannot withstand the rigors of 3B; and Ortiz is too concerned about ME ME ME and his contract for my liking. We have issues at catcher as well; Salty will need someone to help him out; Varitek is finished.

I think that as the team now stands we could make the playoffs next year, but we cannot win a ring until the pitching staff is fixed.

Pumpsie, you crazy like me and Iortiz. Lol!!!

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

I think saying the team had no heart is pushing it.