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Too soon to have real names, isn't it? However, I wouldn't mind if they got John Farrell from Toronto. He's pretty hard nosed.

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/09/30/report-terry-francona-red-sox-to-part-ways/ And so it starts. Apparently Francona is gone. http://espn.go.com/boston/mlb/story/_/id/7037796/signs-point-end-terry-francona-boston-red-sox

BTW: Don't take my post above to mean I'm advocating for getting rid of Tito. I'm waivering on whether or not that's necessary. The ownership and FO know what they were concerned about in Toronto but wouldn't state it at the press conference. They are the ones who had to deal with all of the above clubhouse problems. If a substantial number of them can be addressed with personnel changes in the lockerroom, then I'm fine with them starting with that. They know the personalities better than I do. Substantial changes need to happen and, as Theo said, some may be painful.

How many people here actually WATCHED the press conference today? As time goes on we are going to find out more about what happened to the 2011 Sox. Theo and Tito both spoke in the press conference about the team's 14-0 win in Toronto on September 6th. Both mentioned that as a particularly 'concerning' game, despite the victory. What the f*** happened that game that they found so concerning? The team lost 5 in a row after that. How about rumblings of Beckett, Lester and Lackey forming a 'clique' with Varitek, and other players feeling uncomfortable about it or feeling excluded? This was a clubhouse where Ellsbury was a relative loner, where Youkilis apparently continued to harp on him for training in Arizona last year instead of sitting with the team, even while Ellsbury was having an MVP season and Youk has his thumb up his ass on the bench. (Jackie MacMullen article) How about the comments about a 'lack of conditioning'? There's a clubhouse problem here. We all watched many games this year, but people struggle to identify it. Many of you saw it yourself, correctly calling out the team early on as destined to struggle. But what was it? Tito talked about wishing that his players had defended each other more on the field. They talked about concerns with conditioning. *We had Ortiz bursting into a press conference to complain about a GODDAMN RBI! *We have Lackey yelling at teammates when they don't make a diving play. * We have Wakefield complaining about not getting starts over Andrew Miller. * We have Ortiz calling for Aceves to pitch, undermining his manager. * We have Lackey yelling when he gets pulled like a bitch. They should let Ortiz walk. Just get rid of him. He's great when things are going well, and a bitch in the face of adversity. In 2004 and 2007 he had bigger dogs behind him. Now he doesn't and I don't think he's a great leader. He has also tested positive for steroids apparently, had two horrendous starts in 2009 and 2010, and had a freakish improvement in hitting against LHP this year. That's suspicious as far as I'm concerned. Undoubtedly, advocating for replacing Ortiz will create concern among other posters, but I'm in favor of it. He's a one man show. They will be able to replace his production, and even if they can only approximate it, getting the right personality in there (even just in an "all hustle youngster") can improve the performance of others. Opening DH gives Youk and Gonzalez the flexability for off days, opens a potential hole for Middlebrooks to come up, opens a hole for a RHH bat, saves some money, and on and on the list goes. Bye bye Tek Bye bye Wake Get your s*** together Lackey, because we're looking to trade you. If you continue being a douchebag we will bench you a la Carl Pavano, even if we can't trade you. Anyone who is acting like they are bigger than this team will get a firm talking to, and then will be benched. You lope out of the box or don't hustle on a double, you will not be playing the rest of the game. This team should re-focus. There are plenty of seemingly great players and decent clubhouse guys to build around on this club, but they need to prioritize the character of the clubhouse above all else.

What was the news conference supposed to accomplish? No decisions have been made. It was less than 24 hours after a horrible, painful, demoralizing loss. Their goal wasn't to have everything righted by the end of the conference. It is a pretty standard post-season wrap-up with the press before the players, coaches, etc., head home for the winter. Not a huge PR move to smooth everything over.

If players don't know fundamentals and intensity by the time they get to the Red Sox, I don't suspect the manager is going to give it to them. I think people are making too much of the role a manager plays. Tito may go as a sacrificial move, he's a figurehead after all. But he's the same guy who won in 04 and 07. The game hasn't changed, the city hasn't hanged. He just had players this year who didn't get it done, and TOO MANY OF THOSE PLAYERS WERE ONES TITO DIDN'T HAVE A CHOICE ABOUT. Could he NOT give Lester the ball? How about Bard? Could he really sit Crawford? Could he stop Ortiz from running into stupid outs at 2nd or his dumbass 3B coach from sending Scutaro with one out in a pivotal game? No, those were all decisions other humans made but Tito gets the blame. Now, I'm okay with them moving on from Tito to placate the pitchforks and the torches and the mobs screaming outside of Fenway. I just don't think it makes that much difference. The next guy might be a loud, beligerant, argumentative cuss, but if he's burdened with the same particular mix of personalities (immensely talented though they may be) then the team might not get much farther. It might do worse. Who knows.

Do I really need to use the keystrokes to go ?

Clearly an imposter. He's not wearing a Sox hat or uniform. You'll have to try harder than that, Jacko.

probably make sure its saved to your computer, then use the little picture-looking duhickis above the message in the reply box... it should help you out...

I've been agreeing with you a lot recently. Scary. I will give my hopes for the team sometime in the next few weeks, but needless to say I'm open to a LOT of different options. I agree with you about Ortiz. I think there's a good chance that he's gone only because he would really open the lineup up. It is a HUGE risk to not resign him, but is one of the most significat crossroads the team faces. They might want to look at moving Youkilis. He's affordable for the rest of his contract, and would be a really valuable established offensive piece for a team that needs that. A Seattle, San Francisco, Milwaukee or maybe another team could benefit from him and he could bring a good return. Look at a guy like Buehrle for the #5 spot, and have Aceves in case #4 Lackey doesn't work out. Obviously move Lackey if any opportunity presents itself. No more Darnell McDonald. He's not a good enough backup OF. Kalish and Reddick should both get a shot to take the RF job. Look for a legitimate backup OF. Overall, this team needs some subtle but important character guys and needs to think about the culture of the clubhouse. More athleticism, a higher expectation for conditioning, more versatility. I would think about bringing up a young guy or two who can allow Gonzalez, Pedroia and Ellsbury to take a leadership role. It's nice to have a team full of veterans, but there's a lot of urgency to be gained with young guys trying to prove themselves. I would think seriously about letting Iglesias, Lavarnway, Kalish and Doubront compete for importannt spots on the roster. Lots of other thoughts too... Just too many directions to go right now.

I think generally his responses are generally very measured. That's something I appreciate about him most. Listening to his interview, though, I didn't get the sense that he holds himself too accountable (he's not saying "it starts with my head on the chopping block"). When he says things like (paraphrasing) "if we had gone 9-18 in September we would be where we wanted to be" (the playoffs) I think he's making it clear that it is on the players and, maybe, the coaches. In other words, if the FO gets you to a place where playing 9-18 (.333) ball the rest of the way gets you in the playoffs, what more can we do? I would be interested to know which teams DID NOT go at least 9-18 in September. I bet it was very few. It doesn't take a genius GM or 160m payroll to win 1/3 of your games when it matters most. It takes the players doing what they are supposed to do. Period. That's basically my take on it too. Yes, they could have had more depth. Yes, they could have made a bigger splash at the deadline. But overall the players could have done more. Lester, Beckett, Bard, Crawford, Wakefield, Lackey, the list goes on and on and on and on. A few better performances here and there and the team is 9-18 and in the playoffs. A few 'average' performances and the team is competing for the division and home field advantage.

A very dejected Theo: What role did injuries play? "...We don't have any excuses. Things went wrong from an injury standpoint, luck or fate, or whatever you have it, but the overriding factor was just poor play, did it to ourselves, so we have no excuses. We have time to dissect it going forward, right now is just massive disappointment obviously." "we're all emotional, shocked. There will be a day for post-mortem" "After every year you have to look at where you are as an organization, not just the current season, but trends and where you'er going in the future. It's our responsibility to do that every year and, when you have a month like we just had, it will only intensify that effort." "We can't deny that this month happened. You know, just because it was preceeded by 4 months of being the best team in baseball doesn't mean that September didn't happen, so we'll have to take a close look at everything that's not right, we have to fix, and that includes the whole organization, so, I guess if there's any silver lining from this it's that you can't look the other way. If there's anything that's not exactly the way you want it, you have to address it now. That process is going to be difficult but its... something that we have to do." "This is one for the ages. What's going on with those two games. How poorly we playe din September; can't sugar coat this. This is awful. And we did it to ourselves, put ourselves in the position for crazy night like this to end our season, shouldn't have been this way. Went 7-20 in September.. we go 9-18 we're where we want to be. 9-18 is, what, winnning a third of your games? The worst teams in baseball win a third of their games so, there's no excuse, did this to ourselves." I suspect this will motivate a pretty substantial overhaul of the team and a strong push to not repeat this.

So far a tall glass of whiskey on the rocks has helped a bit...

Appreciate the responses. I'm still open to the option of a japanese pitcher. Darvish has a better build than Matsuzaka and I'm not ready to write off an entire population of baseball die-hards just because of a particular failed venture. Additionally, the nuances of the posting system make it a potentially adventageous place for a high payroll team like the Sox to use their money. I'm not necessarily advocating for aggression toward Darvish, but I'm not against it yet either. Want to check out his stuff a bit more.

I'm f***ing pissed off. I'm hurt. I'm disappointed. But you know what? I'm not going to spend my time bitching and moaning. No excuses, they just have to do better. This should motivate the team if anything would. There's no reason not to make significant changes here. If the FO thinks they have a plan that will give this team more wins by moving on from established Sox veterans, then I'm all for it. If they want to move on from Francona, I support it. I agree with the need for new blood. I disagree that Theo needs to go. Or, to put it another way, if Theo goes, THAT is the biggest move of the offseason. If people want to come back with this team and a new GM, so be it, but that seems like a tacit admission that the team is good right now. Players I will think long and hard about moving forward: Ortiz: May cost too much, for too many years. Do I have a better replacement in mind? No. Papelbon: Just watched him blow two games down the stretch. He's a great, elite pitcher. Can't be replaced. But should they sign him to a 5 year-15m contract? I don't know. Pitching: How the f*** do they improve this rotation? 1. Drop Wake 2. Accept that they are going to have to suck up some of the cost for Dice-K and Lackey and be aggressive. 3. Look at a trade and don't take players off the list of availability. Ellsbury for a true ace? Maybe. Buchholz +? Maybe. 4. Go after a guy like CJ Wilson? Certainly explore it... but don't drop ANOTHER 20m contract. They just can't do it right now. Not for Wilson. 5. Go after ANOTHER Japanese player in Yu Darvish? I would consider it strongly. Again, LOTS of non-payroll tax money to get an established pitcher. They can't let thei rfrustration with Matsuzaka deter them from looking at other potentially good players. 6. Aceves/Doubront/another internal option? Nah. Go with those guys as depth. More pitching: * Have to get more locks in the bullpen, but bullpen guys are so freaking variable. Can they find a deal for a decent middle-reliever out there? Who knows... Meh, I don't know. I'm sure my thoughts will develop over time. Lots of decisions to make, and now is a good time for a substantial (but targeted and intelligent--not reactionary--shake up).

That actually wasn't meant as a defense of Theo. It was a defense of the entire club. You guys take my preference for Theo too far. I didn't mention him or the FO once. I was specifically writing about those who have been on the ledge, ranting about the team not being worth watching the past few seasons, etc., I think it is reactionary. This club is filled with very talented elite players and I won't be surprised at all if next season the core of this team wins the World Series. People act like the team itself is a complete disaster, as if it couldn't possibly get worse. With very little memory usage, most of us should be able to recall a time when it WAS much worse. No playoffs. No pennant race. Few allstars. I'm grateful to have a club that competes year after year. Apparently I shouldn't be. I remember posting something similar after the disappointing 2006 finish. In 2007 the same core of a team won the World Series. I think this core is considerably better.

So a good team is a relative concept? A team that wins 90 games but beats the red sox consistently is a good team, while a team that wins 90 games and beats the Yankees consistently is a disappointment... Of course I know that's not what you are saying personally but I do find the woe is us attitude to be a bit wearing. You guys should know that people where I live see the sox struggles as a collapse but it isn't being talked about in epic proportions like some might want to believe (specifically talk radio, Yankee fans and pessimistic/hyperbolic sox fans). a lot of people I know are highlighting the sustained period of success rather than the failure. In a work filled with Rockies and a's and Mariner fans the talk of collapse is just a novelty. It isn't important. I suggest--not that my thoughts matter--that people climb off the ledge, not base the entire success of this team and franchise on a single game, and ask yourself if you are happy with this franchise as a fan it not. Has it given you lots of menoriable and thrilling moments? If the season ends today are you going to give up on the team forever or will you be right here, rooting for them if they are in a one game playoff at this time next year? I think I know the answer because I have seen so many of you here for years. Let's hope the sox pull it off this season, but if they don't then ask yourself if you would prefer to be a fan of another big market team more. I suspect most of you are hooked on the sox like i am. Anyway, I will be accused of homerism or something by defending the club, but I would prefer to be thankful for what I have than bitching about what I don't. This is ancompetitive franchise--if they dint make it they will be all the more influenced to do so next year and I trust they will get there soon once again.

Fun post! I appreciate the perspective. Sometimes that's all we have left, isn't it?

I just want to make the point that the team the Sox are competing with here is GOOD. People like to spend plenty of time talking about how the Sox can barely beat a team with less payroll, etc., but the fact of the matter is that payroll aside, the Rays are a very, very good team. They have been for a few years. Folks simultaneously bash the Sox as being horrible, unwatchable, a disaster, an embarassment, etc., and then say that they should be built like the team that has the same record after 160 games. Do I think the Sox should have been better at this point? Yep. However, I don't think there's much shame in losing out on a playoff trip to that Rays team. They are very, very talented.

Those are phenomenal pics man. Seriously. The pics of Ellsbury and Ortiz are especially crisp. Did you use a special camera, settings or anything? Or just a nice camera?

That's the thing though, he's not super "unpolished". He's been in the farm for a few years, they've been working his ass off to make him servicable defensively. Over the long haul, I see Lavarnway as the primary catcher and a plus defensive backup behind him.