Boston Red Sox deep in dissension.

[SCM33]

ESPN Insider article, Buster Olney:

 

CHICAGO -- Anybody who has had a 30th birthday has witnessed troubled marriages. The frustration and exasperation of those involved is deeply felt, and because of the requirements of the union, there is little respite. They have to deal with each other every day.

 

And because everything that is said and done is viewed through the prism of that frustration and exasperation, the whole situation is refueled constantly. Stuff that really shouldn't be a big deal becomes a big deal, because of what happened before.

 

Which brings us to the 2012 Boston Red Sox.

 

The unhappiness that exists among the Boston players and staff is multilayered and deep. Calls and texts and complaints about daily events and exchanges are being sprayed all over the baseball landscape as some involved share their frustration with friends and family and agents. Some already are talking about looking for work elsewhere down the road.

 

There is frustration about how individual situations have been handled, about communication. For those aware of the problems, there is bad body language on display during games, as the anger manifests.

 

"Did you see that?" an official texted during the weekend here after some particularly egregious posturing.

 

Nobody has really gone on the record -- yet -- but it's clear that if the Red Sox are to win this year, it'll have to be in spite of the bad feelings. This team won't turn into Happy Town any time soon. There are too many irreconcilable differences in place.

 

 

But undoubtedly, the Red Sox can win; if you're looking for a parallel, think about the 1977-78 Yankees. Reggie hated Billy and Thurman hated Reggie and George sided with Reggie until he sided with Billy, until George fired Billy after what Billy said about George and Reggie.

 

Boston is four games out of the wild card. As manager Bobby Valentine noted before Sunday's game, a board in the Fenway clubhouse lists all the injured players, and in each case, there have been no setbacks. Cody Ross could be activated Tuesday, Carl Crawford might be back in early July, and Jacoby Ellsbury isn't far behind. Andrew Bailey's rehabilitation is going well, and he'll pitch this season, and Daniel Bard might go back to being one of the most dominant setup men in the game. The Red Sox are looking for a starting pitcher, and if they land someone like Ryan Dempster by the trade deadline, that could stabilize the situation.

 

But if the Red Sox don't make the playoffs, there will be a time when all the exasperation and frustration spills out spectacularly. Most divorces get ugly.

 

Jeez, I wonder who they are referring to....

 

HMMMMMMMMMMM.................

[YAZMAN]

The F.O. needs a logo:

 

http://creditmanagementassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/thrown-under-the-bus.jpg

[BornToRun]

Am I supposed to believe this or are you just trying to be funny?

[SCM33]

Am I supposed to believe this or are you just trying to be funny?

 

Believe what?

 

The article was published today at 0847 AM ET.

 

Check for yourself.

[SCM33]

Buster Olney, more from today:

 

http://espn.go.com/espnradio/boston/play?id=8066567

 

Buster Olney talked with ESPN Boston’s Adam Jones today about what he sees as a splintered and toxic Boston Red Sox clubhouse, and where he thinks the team is headed. If you're a Red Sox diehard and eternal optimist, you may not want to read on.

 

Olney says that from his own observances of Red Sox players on and off the field, and from stories he's been told, big trouble is brewing.

 

He said he's heard of unhappiness "not in just one corner, but multiple corners, different parts of the organization -- on issues of communication, on issues of how things are handled, and it was really striking."

 

He noted that the Red Sox clearly have top-shelf talent and could still win many ballgames, but added, "I don't think team chemistry is going to be one of the strengths as they go down the stretch."

 

He acknowledged that no one from the Red Sox has gone on the record about any particular unhappiness, but he said "there's enough of it around, and I wrote in the column today, people are reaching out to friends and family and texting agents about different stuff going on, and it really gives you an idea of just how broad the unhappiness is right now."

 

The fact that it's not just one unhappy player, but rather several people involved in all levels of the organization who are expressing exasperation and frustration, makes this different and potentially explosive, says Olney.

 

"It's pretty thick, and it's something that they're going to have to navigate through on a daily basis," he says.

 

Olney also discusses the Kevin Youkilis situation ("Other GMs are basically saying they don't see he has trade value"), Theo Epstein's comments about his mistakes as Red Sox GM, and Josh Beckett's latest DL stint.

[jung]

Well for one thing, the body language from some of the pitchers is downright Lackey-esk and not just from Lester either.

 

Many of the everyday players have looked distracted and half asleep at the plate and on the base paths. At least last night that seemed to leak into the fielding as well which was downright comical at times. It would not surprise me if at those times when they were just about to be picked off of first base or just about to swing at a slider a foot off the plate a look between their ears might reveal a big "I don't want to be here".

 

And that is where the parallel between Reggie's Yankee team and this year's edition of the Sox breaks down. When that Yankee team took the field if anything it seemed that their anger and discontent fueled their focus. Near riots in the dugout turned into a roaring turbine engine on the diamond. This Sox team seems to go the other way in that regard.

 

There seems no binding influence that can make it work for the Sox the way it worked for the Yanks of that era. Ortiz might have been that guy but he has likely lost a little credibility since lounging around the bases the other night and getting nailed in the process. Pedey really does not seem to lead that way and while his nipping at the ankles of his mates seems natural for him and is accepted by them, establishing a more traditional leadership footing seems just as unnatural for Pedey as the other stuff seems natural. When Agons tries it, it seems so transparent and strained that you almost chuckle. Hard to take him seriously and you are never sure when he is going to break out another of his "God does not want it to be that way" sort of comments.

 

Maybe the guy that could do it is one of the guys currently on the shelf healing. I just don't know. However I will say that hearing about discontent being an issue and recognizing that since it manifests itself in field demeanor may also mean that it manifests itself in field performance is truly disturbing to me. I would normally not put much stock in this crap were it not for looking at their play which is often clearly distracted. Their lapses in judgement and focus comes in bunches and you would be kidding yourself if you think this much field malfeasance is just a matter of luck or the law of averages.

 

I do think that as Sox fans we tend to lose track of what baseball elsewhere looks like. However without mentioning team names I would urge you to watch other baseball games....games where the Sox are not playing but where one of the teams they must get past is playing. Might give you a different perspective on where this team is going currently and how much needs to improve for the Sox to make a legitimate run. It won't leave you with a comfortable feeling but it might give you with a more balanced perspective.

[BornToRun]

It's a f***ing baseball team, not high school. All I see here is speculation and "anonymous" sources. I'll believe this when someone who actually has a clue comes out and confirms it but I think our struggles as a team have more to do with bad luck and injuries than tiffs in the locker room.

 

Plus, using body language as evidence is just plain old retarded.

[SCM33]

It's a f***ing baseball team' date=' not high school. All I see here is speculation and "anonymous" sources. I'll believe this when someone who actually has a clue comes out and confirms it but I think our struggles as a team have more to do with bad luck and injuries than tiffs in the locker room.[/quote']

 

Buster Olney is not Dan Shaughnessy. If he put it on paper, it happened. Hes one of the most respected writers in the game and is usually 5 steps ahead of everyone else.

 

Bad luck and injuries...really? Wow.

 

2nd best offense in baseball even with the injuries and the Starting Pitchers have been healthy all year until your boy went on the DL last night. Youd rather have Lackey or Dice-K than Doubront?

[mvp 78]

On winning teams, is the body language better than on losing teams? Most likely, but I think Olney has the cause and effect backwards.

[jacksonianmarch]

Olney has sources, I can guarantee you that one. He just wont reveal them, as he shouldnt. He's a good journalist and isnt full of s***

[BornToRun]

Buster olney isn't Ed morrow. I'll buy this when I have more than whispers and rumors to go on.

 

People are grasping at straws to paint this team as a walking bucket of douchebags when the facts are that we are 500 with a plus 27 run differential and are missing several key parts of the team.

[redsoxrules]

What a f***ing idiot.

they wont win with team chemistry they'll win with talent.

No s*** , thats how team win anyways. No team wins because of there chemistry.

[SCM33]

Buster olney isn't Ed morrow. I'll buy this when I have more than whispers and rumors to go on.

 

People are grasping at straws to paint this team as a walking bucket of douchebags when the facts are that we are 500 with a plus 27 run differential and are missing several key parts of the team.

 

This is the problem. Not the fact that Crawford, Dice-K and Lackey are hurt.

 

2nd best offense in the league.

[jacksonianmarch]

A team with poor chemistry flops in crunch time. And as the season wears on, it makes it harder and harder to weather the blows of being down early.

[Station 13]

What a f***ing idiot.

they wont win with team chemistry they'll win with talent.

No s*** , thats how team win anyways. No team wins because of there chemistry.

 

You can have chemistry when you start to win. Pitchers didn't performed when needed. Now hitters don't when the pitchers has done better of late.

[SCM33]

What a f***ing idiot.

they wont win with team chemistry they'll win with talent.

No s*** , thats how team win anyways. No team wins because of there chemistry.

 

So when the local guys write bad things about the Redsox, its because they are negative.

 

When national guys write bad things about the Redsox, they are f***ing idiots.

 

I take it you watch nothing but NESN.

[mvp 78]

Seeing that there are 200ish players and coaches from low A on up, it's little surprise that some people aren't happy. Poll 200 people and I'm sure many will have complaints about their job. Why should this be different in baseball.

[Station 13]

This is the problem. Not the fact that Crawford, Dice-K and Lackey are hurt.

 

2nd best offense in the league.

 

It's a feast/famine offense. They score runs when Buchholz and Doubront pitches. Everyone else gets scraps.

 

They have 10+ game with double digit runs. They must have 20 games they score 0-3 runs.

[redsoxrules]

You can have chemistry when you start to win. Pitchers didn't performed when needed. Now hitters don't when the pitchers has done better of late.

 

Thats nothing to do with chemistry.

Buch sucked at the begining of the season due to chemistry problems? Is that why Bard s*** the bed as a starter too>?

[redsoxrules]

So when the local guys write bad things about the Redsox, its because they are negative.

 

When national guys write bad things about the Redsox, they are f***ing idiots.

 

I take it you watch nothing but NESN.

 

Its writters , they'll take digs whenever they can .

[SCM33]

Its writters ' date=' they'll take digs whenever they can .[/quote']

 

So there is no possibility that one of the most respected writers in the game knows more than you do about it?

[d-money]

This team just needs to be bussiness like and just win f***ing ball games!!!They look like they go through the motions with the losses.Its like a losers mentality!

[Station 13]

Thats nothing to do with chemistry.

Buch sucked at the begining of the season due to chemistry problems? Is that why Bard s*** the bed as a starter too>?

 

?????

 

 

 

What's your definition of chemistry?

[redsoxrules]

So there is no possibility that one of the most respected writers in the game knows more than you do about it?

 

not every single story a writter write is true.

[SCM33]

not every single story a writter write is true.

 

Yeah, if were talking about John Tomase or Dan Shaughnessey.

 

Olney doesnt need to make s*** up....players actually like him. If he wrote it, he knows something.

[d-money]

I never thought Bard was starter material.Even at UNC he was iffy as a starter.I never liked the idea.He should have been kept in the bullpen as a set up man or closer.

[Gringo]

ESPN Insider article, Buster Olney:

 

 

 

Jeez, I wonder who they are referring to....

 

HMMMMMMMMMMM.................

 

I really don't know, who? BV?

[jung]

This is the problem. Not the fact that Crawford, Dice-K and Lackey are hurt.

 

Hold up there big fella'. Saying that THIS is THE PROBLEM is probably putting to much weight on team chemistry, player discontent and its impact on play. Yea they look like they are distracted and lack focus. They even look whiny at times and I think it likely that it is an issue for them.

 

I also will agree with you that the injuries are just a huge pile of excuse making if that is your point about the injuries. The teams they are competing with have monster injuries to contend with. For the most part the Sox injuries have been to everyday players and their offense has still been good enough to keep them 2nd in the league even while losing to many ballgames. So CC is not really a valid reason for their demise and while dice and Lackey are pitchers, they were lost to the Sox long before spring training. The Sox decided not to try to fill those holes. So, I really don't think you can point to their absence at least for this year.

 

They need to bury the hatchet on this CRAP because any mistake made because of a lack of focus due to discontent or the sort of unhappiness the article is discussing is unacceptable and there are so many field lapses that the Sox are making at this point and a fair amount of open discontent that you can see as the camera pans the dugout and as we listen to the players in their interviews. It is hard to believe that one thing is not associated with the other. However that is not THE PROBLEM.

 

They don't have enough starting pitching. That is the problem. If they really want to take a run at this thing this year, they need to solve that problem. If they don't in my view, they are not likely to make a legitimate run although I have reserved judgement until I see how June finally pans out.

 

It is remarkable how many field lapses there are in a Sox game and that is why I suggested watching some other baseball just for the heck of it and just for comparison. However until and unless the Sox resolve their SP, everything else at least to me melts into the background.

 

At least in my view if the Sox are on the outside looking in when all is said and done it won't be because somebody got picked off daydreaming on first base during a July 23rd night game. It will be because they never had enough starting pitching to begin with and don'e have enough now.

[BornToRun]

So because olney wrote it, it's automatically true?

[SoxSport]

I've been saying the management is not on the same page. The players know what's going on. It affects the team effort.