The Village Idiot

Never Forget. Let's do this. Go Sox.

I met Kalish at the Pedro event at Jillian's last January. Poor guy was seated at the same booth as Bobby V.; it was just RK and BV at the table. Valentine was really grumpy. He barely looked at me and my friend even though we were, quite literally, the only attractive women to pass through the autographs line pretty much the entire late morning and early aftenoon. Kalish was really friendly though, a very cool guy. He had nothing to say to Valentine, and Valentine had nothing to say to him either, it appeared. I was skeptical of the entire Valentine hire from the get-go, but that event sealed it for me. There was absolutely nothing endearing/charming/warm/charismatic about the guy, and it was an expensive Jimmy Fund event honoring Pedro f***ing Martinez. I knew we were doomed from that moment on. Even Pedro seemed pissed that morning, but I think that was because his wife wouldn't give him a minute's peace or an inch of leeway interacting with the fans...at least that's what I'm going to tell myself because the reality of Pedro, for me, didn't live up to the legend. That's OK though.

"I like our chances." When have we heard that before from Yankees fans?

That pitch Johnson served up to Russell Martin was a cookie. Unforgiveable to throw that pitch in that spot. It's one thing if a guy just outhits you on a tough pitch, but Jim Johnson just Joe Nathaned that top of the 9th for his teammates; I'm surprised Buck kept him out there so God damned long! Channeling his inner Bobby V.....

Dear Santa, I hope you had a good spriing and summer and that all's well. I've been better. Thanks in advance for understanding. I don't have much time for BS, and who are we kidding, you don't either. You have a lot of work to do between now and Christmas Eve. In short, I thought I'd provide you with the following for reference, because let's face it, the Red Sox don't have much time either. Again, thanks in advance for your understanding, consideration, and generosity. The Village Idiot's Christmas List for the Boston Red Sox (1) Top/middle of the rotation pitchers -- 2 would be perfect -- who do not s*** the bed nightly. (2) A manager who can manage personalities and the media and a coaching staff -- which is 99 percent of the battle in big league baseball -- and who doesn't say dumb things to the press just because. (3) Batters who know how to get on base. Who understand that a walk's as good as a hit and results in runs. Remember those guys? Guys like Bill Mueller and Johnny Damon and, yes, even J.D. Drew. (4) A closer who can...ready, Santa?...close out games so that they turn into wins. (5) A manager/coaching staff who doesn't waste outs on bunting, which is, generally, for f***wads. (6) Guys who play with heart. Pitchers, fielders, vets, rookies, all of them. You gotta have heart. (7) A FO staffed with folks who (a) have the balls to stick with the very organizational philosophy that once worked for said organization, and ( do not get overly cute, reactionary or full of themselves. What's that? You say you can only deliver on 5 of these things? If it must come to that, I'll forego the bunting thing and the closer thing. Because the other stuff in the balance of my list could make up for a few bunts here and there and even a shaky closer here and there. Give my best to the Mrs. and to Rudolph et al. Sincerely, TVI

Ciriaco's probably a little swing-happy given his recent success against the Yankees. I'll forgive it. Iggy's taking that Phelps pitch the other inning is probably a worse offense. But I respect your frustration, fellas. Good luck to Pedey's wife Kelly, and here's hoping baby Cole comes out safely, and most important, hating the Yankees.

I'd like to take this opportunity to remind us that the squander of Salty on 3rd a while back tonight could've been done by Gonzo and/or Crawford for somewhere in the neighborhood of $20M per year, as opposed to it happening at the hands of the rooks/scrubs of the team. So look on the bright side: this organization has $275M in new money to invest in improving this club, and preventing said squanders from happening in future seasons, rather than assuming that the Crawdaddy, Beckett and Gonzalez were part of the Red Sox's future. A stathead may prove me wrong (go for it), but it ALWAYS felt like Gonzo and Crawford squandered such opportunities, and I'm glad we don't have to see that s*** in big games against big rivals ever, ever again. Onward to the future! Come on Sox, let's win this f***ing game already. Do it.

A Red Sox legend. The only one of his kind? Die in a fire, 2012 Red Sox (except for Papi, Salty, Padilla, and Clay). These players really do deserve to finish in last place this season. No wonder I'm beyond caring. They do not deserve my care.

By the way, I made a few mistakes in my post late last night. Late night out and a tough week. I know they only have Ross for one year, so they can't/won't "move him," they'll either sign him or not sign him. And I definitely oversimplified the FO's analysis of whether or not to sign FAs, which of course is an in-depth process...although it will never make sense to me why they took on the Crawford contract: another lefty, in the least important outfield position in Fenway, who is a free-swinger, who is past the prime of his career. It was the kind of signing the Sox would have NEVER done a few years before, I didn't get it. At least Lackey made sense to me; add another quality starter, who, as much as people discriminate against him for his face and his soundbites to the media (which are empty most of the time), is known in baseball to be a great clubhouse/team guy, as is Josh Beckett. Anyway, apologies for my lack of attention to detail before.

Are you saying that the Sox don't need to do anything and will be fine next year? I think it's extremely clear, based on the results this year, that the Sox ownership overreacted when they pushed Francona out of town last year after just ONE bad month of baseball, as opposed to the past 4.5 months of bad baseball we've seen under Valentine's leadership this year. He's said the wrong things to the media about several key players at key times, adding unnecessary fuel to the fire in a town where the media pounces on everything. How often under Tito, over an 8-year period, did you hear any grumblings that there were clubhouse chemistry problems? Not until after last year's collapse, which, again, was based on one bad month of play during September. Valentine causes a stir wherever he goes. It's what he does. Look at his history. That approach from a manager is not the best thing for a veteran team, particularly a veteran team that had a once in a lifetime manager, with a track record of success, like a Tito. Valentine may have worked in a market with a young team and a market where they needed to drum up interest in baseball -- like a Miami -- but a Boston? This was the ownership group's mistake, and it should have puzzled any fan who was seriously looking at the strengths and the flaws of the Boston Red Sox's team. I was flabbergasted when they selected Valentine. Flabbergasted. Also, you can talk about injuries all you want this year, but they're not everything. Look at how the Sox finished in other years they suffered injuries relative to this year. And look at how other teams with just as many injuries, or more, than the Sox have had this year, have fared (the Yankees, for instance). I don't think Valentine is all to blame for this year, just as Tito wasn't the one to blame entirely for last September's poor baseball, but the manager's role is certainly an important factor. Maybe Tito was done and he shouldn't have stayed, but in that case, you just don't hire the polar opposite of a Tito to come in and...do what? Change the clubhouse culture? Why? A culture that had largely worked fine and resulted in success for the better part of the 8 years prior? It just didn't make sense to throw the baby out with the bath water. That's what the owners did. Now, we're seeing the consequences of that. I think if anyone's to blame for the slight shift in philosophy that resulted in the too expensive contracts the Sox are now saddled with, that it basically comes down to Theo and the ownership group going slightly off-course during Theo's last couple of years in town, and the ownership's knee-jerk reaction to hire a Valentine. Also, at this stage, it's pretty clear that they overestimated what their dynamic duo of Lester/Beckett could jointly achieve in this, which should be one of both of their prime years pitching, and Cherington also made a bad move in picking up a Bailey who has historically been an injured pitcher. It was really a shock when Bailey wasn't available to start the year as closer? The guy's spent his career injured. Amazing what a few big mistakes can result in. This will turn around eventually, but the best thing that could happen now is for the Sox to sputter to the finish, for Valentine to resign or get fired at the end of the year (he'll never resign though), for the Sox to try to get some deep pitching talent by unloading Ellsbury for value in return, and for the Sox to give Lavarnway and consider trading Salty to also get some more value in return. They need to cut Valentine loose; add some talent to the pitching staff and see what a healthy Buch, Lester, Lackey can do; let Crawford get the surgery he needs NOW, not waiting any longer; maybe see if they can unload Beckett who's struggled so mightily, and move forward. I think the leadership change -- ditching Valentine -- is going to be inevitable and will make a huge difference. By the way, I came into this season really trying to and wanting to give Valentine a chance. I was not a Valentine hater. But I can't objectively look at what this guy has done, and the moves he's made on the mound and with the starters and with the pen, and the things/missteps he's made on camera, and say he's been a good choice. He really hasn't.

timmylowell: Trolling on a Sox message board that anyone can sign onto, pretty much, during a losing Red Sox season. A manly, character-laden thing to do! What a macho, macho man! But back to our regularly scheduled program, there's this: what we're witnessing this year, friends, is what happens when a franchise makes some key mistakes from which it will hopefully learn. All of which occurred due to a slight but pivotal shift in organizational philosophy. It is as simple as that. I repeat: all of which occurred due to a slight but pivotal shift in organizational philosophy. In case we need to remind ourselves, here's what happened. (1) 2007: Sox are the dominant team in the A.L. East, winning the division and the World Series. Supreme drafting in prior years cultivated young, cost-controlled pitching and positional players. The franchise didn't sign overpriced free agents in the two years prior; it believed in its core. (And don't talk to me about Drew, who was an OBP machine and the best right fielder the Sox had, defensively, since Dwight Evans. And don't talk to me about Lugo, who was Theo's only bad signing of that several year period between 04 and '07. We needed a shortstop. He had all the tools, in Tampa, that you want in that position. It was a logical move when it was made. Everyone's allowed one blunder or two. This wasn't one of Theo's biggies; the Sox won the World Series Lugo's first year with the team.) (2) 2008: One game away from reaching the World Series. ONE GAME AWAY. Same young, talented, core team intact. Strong pitching performances from key starters. Clawed back in the ALCS during and after a seemingly impossible victory against the Rays, only to lose Game 7 with Lester on the mound. Gotta tip your cap to the Rays. It was their year, it wasn't ours. (3) 2009: Same core group intact, for the most part. It was the beginning of the injury string of events, and it was, I believe, a tipping point factor in what we saw in the time period that followed: the reaching for something to keep the fans from shirking away. The need to keep the team interesting and competitive on the field. Also worthwhile to note that this was the year the Yankees won the World Series. And in that off-season, they felt the need to make at least some big move, to make any move. And that brought us one...Mr. John Lackey. (4) 2010: We can't POSSIBLY ever have/sustain injuries in '10 that were to the degree that they were in '09, could we? Nah! It'll never happen. But then the weekend of the Giants series in San Fran, the s*** hits the San Fan. Pedroia injured, Youkilis injured thereafter, I mean Jesus -- EVERYONE was injured that season. Everyone! Ellsbury, who got slammed by Mr. Beltre and was on the shelve for months. Drew and his time on the shelf. Pedey and the foot screw. And on and on and on. THE POINT, the 2010-2011 off-season, to me, is where the organizational philosophy shifted. They stopped believing in their past strategy. The grip of the prior two years' injury bugs were strong. "How can we do something to remain competitive and keep people in the seats and potentially shirk this off?" I think the owners asked themselves. How do we get this Gonzalez guy with the Padres, because Beltre could be a one-year, one-hit wonder? We can't sign V-Mart, because he'll go to the highest bidder and by George, we can't sign them all. And we can't let the Yankees dominate every year's free agent market! We have to compete! The Yanks may get Crawford. Do we need a Crawford though? What do you mean? He's always killed us. Hard worker, good Fenway numbers, fast and pushes the envelope when on base! Answer: yes, we have to keep the wheels churning. Who cares if they're expensive free agents? Let's go with our instincts instead. NEVER go with your instincts and marketing needs when making free agent acquisition decisons. 2011: First place for much of the year, except for when it counted most. Thus, the nuclear fallout last September, leading to... 2012: (1) Biggest Sox mistake #1: Hiring Bobby Valentine for Boston. Total reactionary move. Poor fit for the city, ballclub, players, FO's philosophy. With all due respect, Bobby, you were just never the right fit, period, end of story. Anyone with any questions, please research the pre-2012 Bobby Valentine. The facts speak for themselves. (2) Big mistake #2: Is connected to #1...letting BOTH Theo and Tito go their different ways/directions in the same year. Just way too much change all at once, particularly with Lucchino overriding Cherington's original managerial choice, which resulted in a Valentine coming in at all. (3) The mess with Youk. Unnecessary, premature move; Middlebrooks has struggled off and on. You never bet on a rookie's potential success, and you never unload a proven commodity too soon. The fact is this: The BEST thing that can happen to the Sox that I love is for them to finish out the year poorly. Because then, the owners will have no choice but to fire Valentine and make some key roster moves. I think that they move three key players in exchange for value: Ellsbury, Crawford and Ross. THAT will give them the prospects and pitching they need, and it will keep the core of the rest of the team intact. The Sox farm system is strong. The owners have made mistakes, but they'll learn from them. The FO is smart and strong. Much of the team is strong too. But they've wasted money, then need to be bold. They need value in return from so of the value they must unload. It's always darkest before the dawn. This too shall pass. But I do think the owners need to make some big, bold decisions, and what's more, losses at this stage are better for the long-term longevity and success of the team than the team coming storming back between now and the playoffs.

The Sox have gotten too cute for their own good these last few years. And last season and this season are the results. It's a tough pill to swallow, but it really is as simple as that. Everyone's to blame, but mostly the management/owners/front office and the guys on the God damned field, of course. All this being said, however, as real fans, we really have no other choice than to intently observe how this all shakes down. Just take deep breaths while you're doing it, engage in regular physical activity to keep your cardio strong, and don't expect too much. I love Sox wins as much as or more than anyone, but to everything, turn, turn, turn, there is a season, turn, turn, turn, and a time to every purpose, under heaven.

I feel a bit terrible saying this, but Rivera is a player for the New York Yankees. A team I hate. He is the best closer of all time. He has seen lots of success. Yes, he is a class act. He is also 42 years old. 42. Most players who do what he does were gone 7 years prior to being his age. Gonezo, kaput, seeeya. Mo has 5 World Series rings. He is a multi, multi, multi-millionaire. He is a critical piece of the puzzle for our chief rival in the league that we have decades of history with, the majority of which are riddled with strife. It is a given that Mariano is a class act. I never root for injuries. But by God, the Red Sox and all Boston teams and other teams have suffered with devastating injuries year after year, season after season, affecting players that may or may not be far better people, in reality, than Mo Rivera. I congratulate Mo on a historic career and wish him well in his recovery. And if he comes back in any way, shape or form, I will be the first applauding and commemorating his valiant response to this. But if I never see Mariano Rivera pitch again, it will not faze me in the least. Am I the only person on the planet who feels this way? Jesus Christ. Somewhere, Keith Foulke is saying: Red Sox Nation, remember me? FTY.

If Youk turns it around in the next couple of weeks, don't be surprised if the Sox trade Middlebrooks for starting pitching. Middlebrooks is a great athlete, defender, and hits for power and average. But he doesn't get on base at the clip that a team like the Sox would need him to. What else? He's at his peak, value-wise, as a prospect. The Sox could deal him for some promising pitching prospect(s), which they could really use. Another option is trading Lavarnway, another guy whose value on the market is very high now, in relative terms. The Sox won't trade Youk. His slow start means they won't get enough in return. The Sox hold the option for '13 that they won't pick up. Dealing Youk now? Silly. Everyone else is locked up in contracts that are unbreakable. I think people are panicking too early. Look at the standings. The Sox are a couple of games out during a stretch where they're playing the toughest competition in the league. Can we please just deal with it rather than sounding like a bunch of fraidy cat Nancies, already? By the way, great f***ing ceremony this afternoon. The Dentist did very, very well. If you're a lifer Boston fan and didn't hold this afternoon close to your heart, you're made of stone and ice runs through your wiry veins.

You are beyond lame if you can't appreciate what transpired at Fenway this afternoon. You are either catatonic, have only followed this team for about 2 years, or you have no concept of what it means when players from every generation care enough about their experience playing in a ballpark and in a city and for a team that they're willing to cross the country to come back, pay it homage, thank a fan base and reminisce. What the f*** is it with people these days? Part of me wants the Sox to suck this year to get rid of fans who have no f***ing clue. That being said, get 'em tomorrow, Felix.

These places are worth checking out, and all are centrally located or accessible via the T's green line and red line: Harvard Square, Cambridge The Freedom Trail, a red line painted on the sidewalk that wraps through the city and goes through most historical sites Bunker Hill and U.S.S. Constitution, Charlestown Boston Museum of Fine Arts, Huntington Avenue Boston Public Library, Boylston Street The Public Gardens, Arlington Street Beacon Hill, start at Charles Street/Beacon and walk toward Cambridge Street The Esplanade along the Charles River, two blocks toward the river from Beacon Street/Back Bay Shopping on Newbury Street and Boylston Street, Back Bay The New England Aquarium & Quincy Market/Fanueil Hall area (for lunch, outdoor restaurants on the water/harbor, and touristy shopping and street performers) Bars & Restaurants: The Sail Loft, Lewis Wharf (waterfront) Mamma Maria, the North End (Italian section0 Legal Seafoods, any location Sevens Bar, Beacon Hill Bukowski's Dead Author's Club, Dalton Street, Back Bay Daisy Buchanan's bar, Newbury Street Charlie's Sandwich Shop, Columbus Avenue, breakfast/pancakes Wally's Bar, Mass Ave, late night bar/jazz club Stephanie's on Newbury, good brunch spot, Newbury St. Eastern Standard, Commonwealth Ave, Kenmore Square Cornwall's Bar & Grill, Kenmore Square Copperfield's bar, Brookline Ave, Fenway Park The Last Drop bar, Mass Ave & Marlborough St. (if it's still open/there) Have fun and GO SOX!

It's late, so perhaps I'm missing your sarcasm. But if I'm not, and there's no sarcasm in your post, then what you're saying is just moronic. A National Historic landmark like Fenway Park is certainly worthy of celebrating when it turns 100. You don't punish or lambast the birthday boy or girl just because some of its invited guests decide that they can't make it that day. For every great player who for whatever reason can't make it, there will be another great player who is there who was just as great in his time roaming the outfield or infield of this national treasure. Fenway Park is one of the few remaining original homes of our national pasttime, for God's sakes. When it turns 100, it is a landmark occasion for the game, the sport, the league, quite frankly. You lack historical perspective and an appreciation for the game and the sport you follow.

Texas fan, you'll be fine in the ole ballpark. New Englanders are far, far nicer people than their general reputation around the country, for whatever reason. As for hotels, a couple of tips. Go on Hotwire, plug in the dates you're looking for, and choose Back Bay and select that you want hotels that are three stars or higher in that neighborhood. If you get any hotels listed back that are in the vicinity of $100-$150/night, book it and you can't go wrong. The neighborhood is safe, nice, comfortable, and walkable to Fenway. There are very, very nice hotels in that 3-star range, and it'll save you having to stay outside the city and schlep around on long train rides and expensive cab rides...cabs in Boston are pricey. If Hotwire doesn't work for you, I can always get a hotel room for about $120-$150/night right smack in downtown Boston that's called the Club Quarters Hotel on Devonshire Street. It's a few blocks from the Boston Common and the Green Line, the subway line that goes straight to Kenmore Square, which is right next to Fenway. And another cheap but very solid option is the John Hancock Conference Center, located literally one block from all the Copley Square hotels that are all hundreds per night at their regular rate. I've gotten rooms at the John Hancock for as cheap as $100/night. Seriously, start by trying Hotwire. It's scary to not be able to see the name of the hotel you're booking when you're booking it in a city you don't know, which is how Hotwire works, but trust me: roll the dice and you cannot go wrong. Again, I've used it at least 20 times booking weekends in Boston over the past 8 years, and it has never steered me wrong. Final point: Boston is very safe as long as you stay in Back Bay, Kenmore, the Fens, Downtown, the Financial district, the Waterfront, Cambridge, and the South End's main/well-traveled/foot trafficked areas. You really, really have to go out of your way, as a tourist, to wander into a not-so-safe neighborhood. Boston's a piece of cake. You'll have a great time. But I hope the Sox kick the Rangers' asses!

I'm thrilled Tito's going to be there tomorrow. I also think we all, myself included, tend to overthink and inaccurately assess most of this stuff. There's a pretty good chance that this is the sequence, in reverse chronological order, of what happened with this entire situation over the past 7.5 months. (1) APRIL: Tito thought about it, probably talked with some confidantes, family, regional friends/contacts, AND his colleagues at ESPN, and decided that going would actually be the best thing for HIM. And for us. So he's coming. (2) WINTER: Sox make the decision to hire Bobby Valentine. Decide team can pretty much stay intact thanks to its oodles of talent. Change of pace will be all everyone needs to shake things up ever so slightly. Bobby's changed over the years, learned, strong work ethic, never sleeps, very hard worker. All will be a groovy fit, right? Meanwhile, questions swirl around about Cherington being a puppet (3) OCTOBER: Scandalous, salacious article hits the newsstand. Most avid fans are appalled at the ratting out, by someone, of Tito. May or may not be a purposeful, spiteful leak. Almost irrelevant either way. The unfortunate damage is done. (4) EARLIER IN OCTOBER: Team, manager, front office and owners are all shocked -- shocked -- at the last game of the season's result and at the Sox not making the playoffs AGAIN. Very good chance that everyone -- everyone -- thought that they'd catch a streak of luck at the very end of the season, last a bit into the playoffs, and that therefore this all would basically be a non-issue in the off-season. But they were wrong. Dead wrong. In their state of relative shock, everything went wrong. People got angry, stubborn and unprofessional. Tito walked away while ownership completely blundered the entire situation. Theo had been thinking about his future for months anyway and decided no better time to split and run than the present--didn't feel he owed anyone anything, after all, it's just business. (5) LAST GAME IN SEPTEMBER: Sox, being a talented team, expected to win that game and put the s***** end of the season behind them. They were wrong, dead wrong. They couldn't put it together. Season over. (6) GAMES IN SEPTEMBER: Sox go 7-20. Basically, this team was about 5 wins away from this entire firestorm ever ensuing. 5 games. With just a couple of Lester wins and, say, one preserved game by Bard, and one better game pitched by Beckett (despite his injury), and Pap doing on the last night of the season what he had done all year long, this entire firestorm likely doesn't ever happen. Think about that: just 5 wins. Over a 162-game season. Game of inches. Life of inches. Deal with it. But you know what, let's have some perspective, even if just for one day. Most of us have been Sox fans for our whole lives. We will be for the rest of our lives. Fenway's been with us since it started. It may not be here with us at the end of our lives. Honor it. Cheer it. Celebrate it. Nothing lasts forever, but... Fenway forever. Go Sox.

Thank you, I'd overlooked this. Yes, I think I stumbled in there once about 12 years ago...it's an oldie!

THIS. Anyone know? Kalish is such a God damned mystery. Wasn't he all that two seasons ago? I know it was a shoulder injury last year...oh my...a very Ells-esque injury.

I think my fellow Boston fans have become far too spoiled. Championships by all 4 teams over the past 8 years? That is just an insane amount of sports fortune. Insane! We are not worthy. No one is. So when 1 of those 4 teams misses the playoffs a couple of years in a row, sorry, no one really has any right to complain. Everyone does have the right to analyze and say appropriately critical things of the team(s) they care so much about. But anyone who claims to be a pissed or disillusioned fan gets NONE of my sympathy or of the rest of the country's sympathy, trust me. It's high time for Sox fans to stop sounding like Yankee fans (aka spoiled brats) and start taking a deep breath, being grateful when the team wins, and getting behind this team you've rooted for now for 1 or 10 or all of your years on this planet. Like the old days. Being a Boston fan didn't used to be for the faint of heart...too many lily-livered new fans among us, apparently. Sox'll be fine, and stop your wimping and complaining and just root on your team.

I agree. I think most fans are completely underestimating this lineup, especially Youkilis/Ross/Sweeney. Youk looked much better today, Ross reminds me of Nick Swisher, and Sweeney is looking great. Also, Shoppach--as weak as I know his career offensive stats are--looked really, really comfortable out there today. Any chance he makes a run for the starting job if this keeps up? (And I know a 3 for 4 day is not the everyday Kelly Shoppach, but I just get a feeling about him...Beckett clearly was very comfortable with him today.)

So will it be Darnell, Ross and Sweeney starting in the outfield this week, and then this fella Lin'll be called up but come off the bench? Will it work this way until Crawford's back, which probably won't be until early May? Also, anyone know what's up with Ryan Kalish? Feels like he's been injured and recovering for like 2 years. What the hell is wrong with him, again? 2012 Taco, we hardly knew ye. And somewhere, Boras is throwing back shots and practicing his speech to convince Tacoby to go under the knife at Mass General before the end of the weekend. f***!