FredLynn

Yes, but thats his job

Thats actually a critical point E1. I don't see anyone on this team who can lead in the clubhouse in the way someone like Mike Lowell could lead. That role is really necessary on a team and its missing right now.

Treated as fact by whom? I doubt anyone who posted their opinion about the inner circle of the Red Sox FO felt that they were posting facts. I would submit that the only individuals treating those opinions as facts are those who interpret what was posted and not the posters themselves. In the end, its pretty easy most of the time to tell the difference between facts and opinions without having to label which is which every single time something is posted.

Paps is one example. Ortiz also said at the end of the season that he didn't think he could keep playing for an organization with "all that drama" all the time. We rarely hear about the offers that players turn down, just the ones they accept. My point is this: if the money being offered by a team that has its act together is the same or nearly the same as the money being offered by a team that is clearly dysfunctional, which team has the advantage? Would a player be more likely to come back to the team that is more "professional" and ask them if they would like to match the offer made by the team that is perceived as less professional? You need every advantage you can get in this game. As an example, I look at the Patriots. Though they have not won a ring in several years, they are in the thick of it nearly every year. Players WANT to play for them, and they leave money on the table to do so. Example: Randy Moss, when he signed. Others as well. You do not have to agree with this, obviously, but IMO a sound well managed professional appearing team is how I want the Sox to appear.

He would still have been a more active manager than Francona.

Well, did Francona get the job, yea or nay? If he is the greatest manager in our generation, why did the Cards take a pass on him? You figure it out. Oh-and no more BS posts needed. Just some intelligent stuff for a change.

Its not ALL negative. I am very happy with the way things have transpired. The Sox missed the playoffs and that forced the changes necessary to make our team a factor again. We hired a disciplinarian and a good field general as manager, if only for a short time. Other changes are brewing. Things are certainly looking up, but patience will now be required. While it would be wonderful if we could compete for a ring in 2012, I don't see that happening. It will take time for us to dig out of the mess Epstein left us in. But now there is at least a light at the end of the tunnel.

Truth be told Elk, we were posting the stuff those writers are now getting paid for writing in the middle of the summer. We were right about the vast majority of the major issues. I for one take no pleasure in posting about my concerns about the competence of Epstein and Francona or the pressing need to clean house. I wish it weren't so. I wish we were already a professional team that behaved professionally. We aren't. Many of us called for hiring a disciplinarian as manager, and now that too has come to pass. Unfortunately we still have a remnant of the previous regime as GM, but I think he won't be long for the organization...IMO, of course.

Most of us have been posting here for about two months, since the end of the season. None of us have been regular posters here for a year. Your problems have nothing to do with us.

We need to start discussing baseball again. All of us are Red Sox fans here. We just got ourselves a new manager; there is plenty of baseball to talk about. I am taking the rest of the night off of getting on anyone else's case...beyond tonite, no guarantees.

I am still waiting. You have shown me NOTHING. I explicitly stated that I have no knowledge of the inner workings of the team, but you go on with the drivel you write implying that I think otherwise. Since I know that you cannot produce evidence to support your claim, I am ending this conversation. Time to move on.

Thats your take on it. I think that LL delayed the hiring of Valentine because it wouldn't look good if his newly appointed GM resigned in protest. Of course he has SOME power. This whole thing looked bad and IMO has hurt the team this year in terms of FA who might be considering signing here.

I am STILL waiting for you to show me where I claim to have insider knowledge of the goings on of the team.....will probably wait a long long time.

If the media reports are correct, Lucchino got his man and Cherington did not. I suspect that Cherington reluctantly agreed to this move. Don't forget that he was trained by Epstein and watched Epstein manipulate Francona like a marionette for years. If he didn't like the way things were done here he would have moved on. My guess is that Bobby V and BC are going to lock horns and the Cherington will be a short term GM with Valentine following him out the door shortly thereafter. By then the house will be clean and we will be relevant again.

Sawxheads didn't end; most of us post in both locations. FYI. You should check it out..you seem curious.

I considered the source. Intelligent posts are not your forte sometimes. You do not think before you post occasionally. Example: your recent statements that implied that it was not hurting the team not to have a manager two months after ours resigned. That defies common sense.

I am not going to ignore you VA. Keep posting what you want to post. I got nothing personal against you. You do not like what I write. Fair enough. I don't care for the tone of your missives much either. Too vanilla for me. I will try to keep the criticism down a bit however.

Absolutely the most intelligent post I have ever read from you.

Good choice for manager Fred, but I still think we are two to three years from undoing the mess Epstein left the franchise in. We still have Matsusaka and Lackey under contract, and Crawford is ours for many years, though I am hopeful that he can turn things around. Our farm system is in shambles, without a bona fide SP prospect like the Yankees and Rays have. Its going to take time.

Francona couldn't wash Torre's shoes. How many WS and ALC did Torre win with the Yankees? Hint: its TWICE as many as Francona won with the Red Sox.