Now that some time has passed, I can finally talk about my beloved Red Sox and their down fall. After realizing it was bound to happen, it’s even more disappointing. Something happened to the team this year; the organization made me sad and disappointed. In the spirit of learning from my own mistakes and others here’s what I think we can learn from the 2011 Red Sox:
-Money doesn’t buy talent…or World Series: Yeah, I know, “What about the Yankees?” but that’s exactly it…it didn’t always work for them either. It’s pretty crazy to think two Red Sox players make more than the entire Tampa Bay Rays roster combined and they’re the ones in the play offs. The Red Sox have the 3rd highest pay roll in baseball: 161 million dollars, and what did that get us? Money may buy the potential of talent, but actual “Its go time,” clutch talent….clearly not this time. How about the Orioles? They’d get nothing out of beating the Sox and played their hearts out in front of an almost empty stadium and beat us. Pretty sad when a team who doesn’t even have a chance of making the play offs has more passion to win then we do.
-Passion is obvious in person, on TV, and shows in everything you do: The amount of passion and energy you have for something is obvious to those around you. They almost always know when you don’t care at all or as much as normal. I saw it all season and towards the end…the lack of energy and passion of this year’s team. Where’d the team I know, go?
-Sometimes idiots and cowboys do it better: I think this one is self explanatory.
-It starts from the top: I’m not blaming this season on just one party. I think it was Epstein’s, Francona’s and the player’s faults. However, influence starts from the top. Discipline begins here. I mean, according to Boston Herald’s John Tomase, the Red Sox pitchers could drink beers on their off days in the Club House. EXCUSE ME??? You’re getting paid HOW much to drink AND lose? According to ESPN’s Jeremy Lundblad, in the final month of the season starters had a combined 7.08 ERA, the worst month for Sox starters in team history. Reliever Alfredo Aceves finished second on the team in innings pitched in Sept (25 IP, 1.80 ERA). This is just pathetic. Meanwhile, there chugging an ice cold beer while they watch their teammates give up hit after hit and walk after walk.
-Preparation is key: It’s no secret the Red Sox were out of shape. Part of the reason they couldn’t finish games. So tell me you tried your best but the other team had a great night and hit all your strikes. Tell me you tried your best but you bobbled that ground ball. You can’t tell me why you couldn’t lift a weight or run some sprints. That’s just pure laziness.
Never take advantage of those who admire your organization: The Red Sox have obviously lost Francona and may lose Epstein. Francona has made it obvious he tried to have many team meetings about the problems going on during the season and none of them produced results. He almost alluded to a lack of respect and therefore a lack of influence. He can take losing, but a lack of respect and guys that don’t care...I’m sure that pushed him over the edge. And how about Red Sox nation? If anyone can take losses, we can. We’ve taken them year after year and stuck by. However, we stick around because of the passion, the effort, the energy. Suck that out of the organization and it will change Red Sox nation forever.
As a lifelong Red Sox fan I truly hope this team pulls itself together and realizes what has happened this season and how damaging it could be if it keeps happening. One Red Sox I’d like to give a shout out: Dustin Pedroia. Why can’t they all just be more like him? When’s the last time anyone but Pedroia slid head first into first base? We’re lucky if anyone else even runs out their “hits!”
According to USA today:
"We went into September nine games ahead and look where we are right now," Ortiz said. "It can't get no worse than that. The way we were playing this month -- that's not a playoff team. Not without changes. Not how we played."
Afterward in the Red Sox locker room, designated hitter David Ortiz said "I can guarantee you that everyone in this room will learn from this."
I hope so Ortiz, I really hope so.
Is it me or were the Bruins meant to win the Stanley Cup this year? Without Red Sox play off baseball tonight I am more than amped to watch the opening game for the Bruins. In fact, if I was Theo Epstein I’d spend some money in the right place: Rent out a movie theater, put the Bruins game on and have your team watch what passion really is. Maybe they’ll remember. Maybe.
