WHY THE RED SOX COLLAPSED
The Boston Globe has a story ripping the Boston Red Sox organization and blaming their collapse on three pitchers who didn’t seem to care anymore.
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Date: October 12, 2011
Categories: Sports
May 18, 2012
Blog by John Steigerwald
The Boston Globe has a story ripping the Boston Red Sox organization and blaming their collapse on three pitchers who didn’t seem to care anymore.
Related posts:
Date: October 12, 2011
Categories: Sports
Making good Pittsburgh guy Terry Francona a scapegoat here. I don’t buy it. Can’t defend him on their September collapse this year. But can someone tell me how many World Series they won before he got there ?
The leakers were the owners. The Boston Globe is partly owned by the owners of the Red Sox
From what I’ve heard on the Boston sports radio stations, a lot of the upheaval was about was players drinking beer in the locker room, and other lack of discipline type behavior like that, especially from the pitching personnel and the veterans. Yes they did win the Series, twice, under Francona’s leadership, but it looked as though his control over the locker room had waned over the last couple seasons.
From what I can tell the only reason why they didn’t win enough games to make the playoffs is because of a lack of intensity and desire to win, the players got too comfortable with the status quo. And while a lot of that is up to the veterans to set a good example, at the end of the day it’s up to the Manager and his coaching staff to set the tone and expectations of the players.
Despicable to insinuate Francona has a drug problem or to include his personal life. Did he lose the clubhouse? Yes. If players are drinking beer and eating KFC during games it’s on Francona but the personal stuff was bullshit. The writer should be ashamed of himself. I’m a Yankee fan but I have always had respect for Francona. Eventually he will manage another team and they will be better off for it. It was time for him to leave Boston.
I can assure guys drank beer and ate chicken during their World Series championship years also. When a team blows a 9 game lead in September with their payroll., a lot of fingerpointing ensues. Blaming it on the guy who ain’t there no more is convenient.
In the story Francona says he was pissed off at the guys who were hanging in the clubhouse during games. How hard is it to go three hours without eating?
The players are a bunch of spoiled brats because they make way too much money. I have no patience for pro athletes anymore. Bad actors & punks with inflated egos.
The players were spoiled brats before getting to the majors. It has nothig to do with the money.
It’s long term GUARANTEED money.
The NY Times, who owns the Globe, owned 17% of the Red Sox but if memory serves, they recently sold that interest.
Francona is a great guy but a totally average manager. It’s not a “how many WS did they win before he got there?” question anymore than with Theo Epstein, Curt Schilling, etc..
Most importantly, Francona was a players manager and over time, his players took full advantage of that. Then when the wheels began to come off and he tried to reign them in…..nothing.
As a manager, I was never really sold on the guy. He had an aggressive GM, committed-to-winning ownership and a highly productive farm system.
Plus, look at the players Francona was had at his disposal over the years; Pedro, Ortiz, Ramirez, Schilling, Damon, Nomar, AGon, Pedroia, etc, etc..
He was handed a pretty stacked deck.
“Stacked decks” can be difficult to manage. A lot of egos. I think managing in Boston is the toughest job in baseball.The sporst media are not a bunch of ass kissers like we have in Pittsburgh.
As much as I’d like to forget 04 Francona did manage a team back from 3-0 against the Yankees.Those wheels didn’t fall off and he deserves a good share of the credit.
Terry Francona, like his father, is a class act from top to bottom, whether he’s managing a major league team or helping out the little league coach. Another caring, down to earth, sports superstar who has never forgotten where he came from….. Beaver County.