Thank you Walrus and i totally agree with your comment about Hamilton - should not be wanted in Boston.
I mentioned the scarlet letter because of how brutal it is to play in Boston with the media - AGon was right when he said he answers more tabloid questions in Boston then Baseball questions. Now when you are making $20M a year that should be a non issue. See excerpt from ESPN article
Loser: The reputation of the Red Sox
Players and coaches constantly talk with players and coaches on other teams, which is why Boston's dysfunction and the toxic relationship between the Red Sox players and Bobby Valentine is so well known in other clubhouses, and it's how the stories of problems have been passed around the sport like a virulent flu.
Beckett might no longer be a favorite of Boston fans, but he is respected among players. Crawford is eminently likable. Genial Gonzalez knows practically everybody in both leagues because, as a first baseman, he gets a chance to speak to almost everyone. Other players will ask these players and others about what happened, and other players will hear about how it came to be that these three established stars embraced the opportunity to exit Boston less than two years after agreeing to massive contracts with the Red Sox. The stories told about the club's management and about Valentine will be ugly and perhaps one-sided, not necessarily fair. But they will become a factor as the Red Sox look to acquire players from other teams -- as well as retain their own stars, including Jacoby Ellsbury.
A decade ago, when the Orioles' decline became steep and no prominent player would seriously consider signing with Baltimore, then-GM of the Orioles Syd Thrift joked that it seemed as if his team was working with Confederate money. Unless there is a significant and tangible change, the Red Sox may well be facing a similar dynamic.
Not saying i agree with it entirely but i bet there is some truth to that. Guys like Pedroia and Bucholtz and the media need to be gushing about how focused this team is and how great the lockeroom is rest of this year - because if they bitch at all the winter becomes that much more difficult (JMO)
