TedWilliams101

Awwwee, an out

I can't remember the last time I've seen the bases loaded 3 seperate times in one inning before making a single out!

Lets break the Fenway record for the most hits and runs scored without recording an out.

And ross turns an RBI walk into an inning ending DP.

I guess I've just become spoiled with the Patriot model of being 100% team, 100% effort, and 100% passion or you're getting cut. I'm just soo sick of all the excuses, lack of passion and accountability from so many overpaid players. Dustin Perdoia (in terms of passion/effort) should be the 'rule' in sports, not the exception. If so many players don't really care, why should I?

I don't think it is as much to do with a sense of "entitlement" as it is with the exptations. For the last couple seasons we have had one of the highest payrolls and have given out huge contracts to guys, only to see this team come out flat and then collapse when it mattered. What pisses me off isn't just the 1-5 start following all the s*** that happened last year. It's the fact that our supposed pitching staff leader has a terrible attitude and seems to only pitch up to his contract once every leap year. It's Lackey throwing the blame everywhere but towards himself. It's about Crawford faltering to the pressure of Boston, the way they've handled Bard and the pen, the 40-year-old washed up starter experiments that are no surprise when they fail misserably, the $12 million contract thrown at a reliever who hasn't done anything in years and is a dumbass. It's trading your starting SS just to move a couple million $ off the books when the difference represents less than 1% of the payroll. I just don't really like this team. The '04 and '07 Redsox might not have been the most talented, flashy, or or stacked team, but they had character. They had confidence, comradery, they CARED. This team has too many overpaid players who don't have their head where it belongs. That's not to say I don't root for the team but if I had to choose between a stacked roster and a roster of gritty BASEBALL players who love the game and build a strong lockerroom, I pick the latter. I know that no team is perfect, but I expect professional athletes to actually love what they do and be committed to excelence, not just care about picking up another paycheck or folding when things get tough. I don't need a perennial championship team, just a team I can be proud of.

That lineup nearly made me puke in my coffee.

Sox vs Rays: 2011: 6-12 2010: 7-11 2009: 9-9 Not exactly a great trend. I think we split the series with the Yankees, but I don't see us going anywhere near 12-6 against them like this past season. Even against Baltimore and the Jays last year we were just barely above .500.

Thanks for the support. Things are alright I suppose. I've been consumed by the NFL and the rest of my focus is for NHL and NBA. The way we finished the season + all the offseason crap has really turned me off of baseball. Everytime I watch another sport I wonder why they can't put a cap on MLB so it's no longer a joke. For all the praise that Theo got at times, the Rays have had practically as much success while playing with 75% less money. Meanwhile the Yankees will always be there because of $. I'm just so sick of it all. Get a freakin' cap already.

My prediction? The Red Sox finish 3rd in the division. Way way way too many holes on this team to compete with the Yankees and Rays. Lack of pitching depth is going to kill the team. Beckett has another sub-par year with a 4.5+ ERA Lester has 3-4ERA with 15 wins Buccholz has a 4.0 ERA with under 15 wins #4/5 starters change constantly throughout the season and lose them a lot of games Pedroia has another solid season, Jacoby doesn't hit 30 HR, hits for .300, 80ish RBIs, 40+ steals. Agon hits 30HR, leads team in BA, drives in 100+, Ortiz has under 30HR, Youk misses a 3rd the season and performs below his career marks, the rest of the lineup doesn't add enough to make up for the lack of quality pitching. The bullpen falls apart as Bailey fails and loses the closer spot and Bard can't fill the role because he's stuck starting because the rotation is a mess. The team starts falling out of the Wild Card race by the beginning of September.

So is everyone easing up on the "Whats wrong with this FO/we should have signed him" now? It sounds pretty clear to me that he had no intention of staying in Boston, even if we had matched or even surpassed the Phillies offer.

This is also a big problem with me about guaranteed contracts in MLB. If a player starts acting up and no longer even becomes tradeable, you can't really just kick them off the team (money wise). I just don't understand that. You should be able to cut problem players without having to still give them $50 million for future work they aren't going to do. It's ridiculous. As is now, I'm still inclined to either trade or flat out cut any and all of these problem players. I don't care if that's half the payroll, this team's identity needs to change and there needs to be 100% involvement from everyone, from the core to the expanded roster pitcher who throws 2 innings in September. Back to the Tito interview: One quote that really stood out to me was this: Tito talking about the work ethic/passion of his players (Some just want to show up late, play hard, then turn it off and go home, some have immense passion, some just take it as a job, etc) he said: "the more guys who have the care, care deeply, probably the better off you are". We don't need guys who just want to show up, take their AB and go home. We need more Pedroia's. Not necessarily as intense, but guys who live for the game and have passion and respect for management. I don't have too much of a problem for the guys like Rolan who give 125% when they are with the team and perform, but the passion is what unites teams and makes the difference.

I don't understand how people are calling his weakness a "good trait". The guy couldn't handle his players, that's a BIG part of the job. Letting them ignore you is NOT an option. You have to find a way to get their attention and respect, that's your job! If they still refuse to listen, then you get their ass off the team. That's how you build and control a TEAM. I'm sick of this "oh, just let them do their thing, they'll show up and get in the batters box when their name is called". Either they are part of the team and respect/listen to the manager or they are gone. Period. I'm glad Tito is gone. The guy had no balls. Good riddance. Time to get someone to lay down the law.

Apparently Tito was leaving regardless of the FO decision. He said the team this year was not as he was expecting (attitude wise), pitchers drinking in the clubhouse, general bad attitude and he didn't want any more of it. I guess Tito really did lose control of this team. I'm not liking what I'm hearing about the team chemistry. The problem players need to go in my opinion.

I agree that I'm worried about his attitude. I do realize that he's still going to perform well, but he may not perform anywhere near his ceiling with the attitude he seems to have. I'm more worried about his influence on this team. We need leaders, hard works, people who take responsibility. The fact that AGon hasn't shown any of those attributes this season is Alarming.

I think you'd find many on this board who believe a corpse would make a better manager than Tito... I don't think an upgrade at the position will be that much of a challenge.

I agree I'd rather have Bay than Lackey, but luckily it isn't a one or the other situation. How about this? Look elsewhere to dump Lackey. How about this: Cut him and call his contract a "f&ck up fee". You know, like the Dice-K negotiating fee...

Bay? Are you f8cking kidding? Seriously, Bay? He's averaged a 0.723 OPS the last 2 seasons. The problem isn't Citi field, it's that the Sox were right and his knees are gone. Why the hell would you want to swap a Healthy overpaid underperformer for a unhealthy overpaid underperformer? That might be the worst idea I've seen.

My worries are that Crawford doesn't have the personality to be successful in Boston. We've all seen it before. I don't think he has it in him. To make matters worse, I think he could very well fall apart in a couple seasons if his legs go. He simply doesn't have the bat or fundamentals to overcome slowing down with age. As I said before, I hope I'm wrong on him and he can turn it around and rise above the pressure, but I'm just not optimistic. So I guess I shouldn't say 100%, absolutely get rid of Crawford. If they think his personality is a problem though, then I would look to trade him. That makes sense to me.

Ellsbury Pedroia Team Player Team Player Ortiz (only a 1 or 2 year deal at the right price) Team Player Team Player Scutaro catcher Yeah. Everyone not named should be on the trading block (yes, that includes Agon). Crawford, Agon, Youk, and Lackey all need to be examined and shipped out if they aren't completely dedicated. I don't care if that means some downgrading. I'd rather have a weaker, blue-collar lineup than a bunch of prima donas who don't take responsibility or put in the work. I'm hoping I'm wrong on all those guys, I really am. But if they are problems, eradicate them.

Personally, I'd rather have a gritty, heart-in-the-game, blue-collar team with a smaller payroll that fights for every hit, every pitch than than a gigantic payroll and collection of under performing talent just waiting to cash their game check.