TedWilliams101

I'm not sure Theo should be fired as I don't think there is anyone better to replace him right now. As long as he realizes that he himself made plenty of mistakes we'll be fine. It's like asking for Belichicks head after 3-straight playoff losses. He's still one of the best coaches in the game and he takes 100% responsibility of everything that happens. You just want to see him right the ship and win another championship. Same goes for Theo. That said, I won't panic if Theo is gone. I just think they need to make sure they upgrade the position if the let him go to CHI.

So you are going to cut the entire team? Tito can't manage this team, he has no control over the guys. We need a manager that has full control, is hard on his players, expects perfection, but gets respect from the results and work he puts in himself. If our players aren't willing to be a part of that, then they need to be released or traded. I agree that a lot of the players are to blame and we definitely need to make a lot of player moves, but the problem goes far beyond that. The entire culture of this team needs to change and that starts at the top.

Can Belichick take a summer off? We need structure, discipline, someone who can control the players and get everything out of them. We need a manager and coaching staff that not only teach good, sound fundamentals, but don't settle for less than perfection. If the players are having trouble or slacking, you come down on them hard. Come in earlier, field balls for longer, run laps if they aren't putting in the effort. It's boot camp time. If the players aren't willing to put in that kind of effort, then get rid of them. We need a hard working team that loves to play the game and is willing to give it 150%, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year. Youk putting on weight in the offseason is unacceptable, let alone putting on weight mid-season. Now, maybe those aren't all problem on this team. I don't know. All I know is what we all see on the field and what we see is a lack of fundamentals, a lack of passion/effort, and players consistently faltering to pressure. Another thing to think about: A lot people believe that you shouldn't push players to far or put pressure on them, but there's really 2 trains of thought and they are player dependent. Either 1: You keep telling the team to ignore the media, they have the talent, they can do it, no pressure, just do your job, give 150% and we win. or 2: Put as much pressure on the team as you can through out the season, take the players down a peg and squash that ego, toughen them up so that when they do face adversity and pressure when the season is on the line, they are ready for it and know how to handle it. Of course that requires having players that won't completely shutdown if they aren't cuddled. If that is this team, then those guys need to GO.

I think people are forgetting this: A lot of your power comes from your legs. Your legs are the first thing to go and once they do, both your power and speed will suffer. Now, a power hitter who also hits for average might be more valuable as they will still be able to hit. A player who relies on his speed is at a much bigger disadvantage.

Get rid of Crawford, DiceK, and Lackey. I don't care what it takes, I just don't want those guys on this team. As crazy as it sounds, I'm also worried about Adrian. I REALLY didn't like what he had to say after the game. He doesn't sound like a leader, like someone who takes responsibility, and he completely disappeared when this team needed him late in the season. Keep Paps if it's reasonable. He shouldn't get Rivera money, he isn't that good/valuable. Get another BP pitcher to compete for the 8th inning and find some depth Go after an an elite pitcher. Get it done, what ever it takes. The only thing I don't want to see is us overpay contract wise. Try to sign Ortiz to a 1 or 2 year deal at a reasonable amount. If he wants more money/years, let him walk Give Youk an ultimatum. Either he gets his ass in shape or he finds himself another team. Let JD Drew walk Sign Ellsbury to long term deal. I love the kid, he's got a bright future. Let Wake and Vtek walk Sign more SP depth. I'm not sure who will be available, but I'm thinking (aside from going after a #1) getting at least more solid starters or at least a BP pitcher who can start occasionally if needed. Salty/Lavarnway is a decent catching combo, but upgrading the spot should be on the to do list Not sure about SS right now. I'm done with Lowrie and who knows about Iglesias. 3B - Sticking with Youk? Yes if we keep Ortiz. If we let Ortiz walk, move Youk to DH and find another 3B. It would have been nice right now if we had resigned Beltre... IMPORTANT: Fix this coaching staff. The little, everyday things MUST be emphasized. They need to get better at defense and fundamentals and that comes down to good coaching and discipline. Unfortunately this is also something that us fans really don't get to see much of so I really don't have much to offer other than that That's about all I can wrap my head around right now. I need some sleep...

Well, today certainly sucked, but it's not like we didn't see this coming. There is at least one thing to celebrate today: JD DREW IS NO LONGER ON THE TEAM!!!!! YIPPEE!!!!! Who said you couldn't have a little celebration when the season ends so horribly...

1. Get rid of all 'problem' players and unproductive players, no matter how much money they are still owed. 2. Clean house with the coaching staff. It's their job to get the players in condition, teach fundamentals, put them in the best position to succeed, and field the best possible team each night out. As Belichick would say, there's really only two choices: 1. The coaching staff didn't do their job. or 2. The player didn't put in the work or the FO just plain screwed up with talent evaluation. Either way, it comes down the the coaches/Front office. Keep the 'good' core of this team and rebuild the rest. We need winners, team-players, and smart/successful coaches. Oh, and if Youk doesn't get his ass in shape, I'd show him the door.

I wouldn't mind so much if there weren't so many people on the team I can't stand. It's one thing to keep rooting for a losing team that simply doesn't have the funds to compete with the yankees, etc. The fact is that we spend a ridiculous amount of money now and we are trotting garbage out there night after night. We have guys like Lackey who are absolutely terrible, yet still run their mouth and show up their team mates. I'm sick of it. Baseball needs a f***ing salary cap and I don't even care if that means no more Redsox/Yankee domination of the league. It's a f***ing joke.

2011 Redsox: How to lose a 9-game lead in September. This team is pathetic.

Yeah, lets just look through this: Lackey: 1.3 War - $18 million Crawford: 0.3 War - $20 million ($14 million base + $6 million bonus paid out this season) JD Drew: -0.1 War - $14 million Cameron: 0.4 War (including FLA, so much lower as a RS) - $8 million Matsuzaka: 0.2 War - $10 million Wakefield: 0.8 War - $2 million Jenks: 0.1 War - $6 million Tek: 0.5 War - $2 million That's (not counting Cameron war since it include FLA) 3.1 Wins above average for a whopping total of $80 million. Just to put that in perspective, that's almost DOUBLE the payroll of the Rays. Just let that sink in. We spent nearly double their payroll on players who have given us practically nothing this season. Throw $80 million into a pile, cover it with lighter fluid and throw a match on it. That's what this Red Sox team did just for 2011.

Not only that, but they are the ones who are supposed to make the correct in-game/linup/pitching decisions and coach solid fundamentals (like not making more than an error a game down the stretch...).

lol. This team is done.

Am I a bad fan to actually want to see this team miss the playoffs to get Theo to make some bold moves this offseason and hopefully rethinking and retool this team? For one, I want an intelligent manager who knows how to do his job besides blowing the players to boost their self esteem.

And I disagree with you. 1. Lackey. I give Theo a pass for Crawford, no one saw this coming (though I still wasn't happy with the amount and length). Lackey, forget it. They gave him Beckett, #1 starter money when he has had his problems pitching not only against AL East teams but in particular at Fenway. How surprising that this trend only continued when he put on a Red Sox uniform... 2. Dice-K. Big big blunder from day 1, but relying on him as a starter this season was especially foolish. 3. Wakefield. Theo really expected Wake to be his 6th/replacement starter? The guy should have retired years ago. 4. Farm system pitching. Where the hell is all this talent we've been hearing about for the last couple years? In the last 6 years we've gotten what, Lester, Buch, Bard, and Paps. Where the hell are the rest of the supposed talent? 5. Farm System Position players. Yet again, we were supposed to be deep with talent, yet it hasn't shown up anywhere. Reddick impressed early but has been ice cold ever since. Lowrie can't stay healthy and when he is on the field he's either hot or ice cold, more cold than hot, and he is far from solid defensively. 6. Deadline moves. We knew we needed OF help, BP and SP help and all we did was add one starter coming off another injury. Not enough. Not even close. Yes, some of the injuries have sucked, but you have to expect that to a degree. Depth is just as valuable as having strong starting players. Top that off with a horrible in-game manager and you have a recipe for disaster down the stretch. The season started off horribly, we didn't add enough help at the deadline, how surprising that the season is finishing horribly to...

Agod coming up small in a big spot, regardless of the error.

I disagree. Does an NL West team that wins 80 games, but cruises through a week division, deserve making the playoffs over a 95 win team that loses the wild-card spot in a tough division? How about an 8-8 NFL team that wins an all-time weak conference making the playoffs while an 11-5 team doesn't? In the end, the answer is Everyone controls their own destiny starting day 1, but I'd have a real hard time actually saying a stumbling team deserves to be in just because of luck/what ever (in this case a good middle-of the season). That said, when most of us (at least me) say that this team doesn't deserve to make the playoffs, I'm really just saying that we won't or likely won't control our own destiny. If we continue to lose, but back into the playoffs because the Rays keep loosing, then no, I don't believe we really earned it or deserve it.

f*** this team, they don't deserve to play in October.

Wow Reddick, Wow.

f*** the Yankees, f*** the Rays, f*** everyone for that matter. Win and your in. Simple as that.

Maybe I'm old school, but I believe that every team holds their own destiny. We win, we are in. Simple as that. I could care less about what happens with those yank/rays games. If we end up having to relying on certain teams winning/losing to get into the playoffs, we don't deserve to be their in the first place and it's our own fault. If the Sox had just taken care of business this month we wouldn't even need to have this conversation. Red Sox, just f***ing win. Don't look to other teams for help, win your own f***ing games or have fun golfing next month. It's all in your hands.

This team does not deserve to make the playoffs. This is embarrassing...

Maybe if our 100 year old backup catch could have held on we woudl have had an out...

Francona being an idiot again. 1 run game at home in the 9th and you have a piece of trash out there while your closer is sitting on the bench? Edit: And I've had too much Pliny and can't type...