First off, the 7-20 collapse in September has absolutely nothing to do with this decision, at least directly. The Red Sox collapse actually made me feel good in a sort of, "I know I shouldn't, but I am SO interested in visiting that train wreck site from last week." I grew up with the Red Sox of the 90s; my most vivid in-person memories of the Red Sox are of watching Roger Clemens let up a MASSIVE home run to Mark McGwire that travelled further than Magellan and watching Jeff Suppan (Red Sox version 1.0) lose several games in very Suppan-like ways (i.e. getting crushed for a few innings before relenting to a completely ineffective bullpen). In other words, I do not mind awful Red Sox baseball, in fact, it was a welcome addition and made me feel like a little boy again.
The collapse did not directly lead to this sabbatical, but some of the handling of the collapse, and the aftermath of the collapse, did. For years, the Red Sox had one constant when trying to battle funks. The one constant they had period; Tim Wakefield.
Step One: Disrespect Classy Veterans
Most of the media made a big deal of Wakefield's 200th win (and rightfully so, not many pitchers debuting today will ever come close to that milestone), but you could see the toll every unsuccessful attempt was taking on the pitcher and the team. Tim Wakefield has never tried to be anything more than what he is; a reliable middle-to-back of the rotation starter.
Tim Wakefield has, or rather, had, a chance to become the Red Sox's all-time leader in wins, but the Red Sox, who have a storied history of misusing and abusing Wakefield, saved their best (read: worst) for last; with Wakefield in striking distance of that record, the Red Sox decided to offer Wakefield a contract... err... a minor league contract. Not surprisingly, Wakefield, in the face of this embarrassment (even though he would never admit it), retired.
The Red Sox though were just getting started. The other elder statesmen on the team, Captain Jason Varitek, was offered the same minor league contract. Varitek, who had a pretty good season last year before he got hurt, is being passed over for the more youthful catchers in the system, despite none of the catchers being capable of completing a full season (and WAY too much faith being put in Ryan Lavarnway, who in no way showed he could handle a major league pitching staff).
Varitek is going to announce his retirement on Thursday, taking with him most games played, started, most home runs and most hits by a Red Sox catcher... ALL-TIME.
Step Two: Bungle Every Off Season Move
The Red Sox finally did one thing right after the epic collapse in September; firing Terry Francona. However, in the old Red Sox fashion of one step forward, two steps back, they immediately mishandled every move after that.
The Red Sox of the past couple of years have made some very confusing moves that become quite obvious after realizing the management firm that is now the Red Sox organization is just out to make headlines, "sure, let us bring aboard Carl Crawford even though there is nowhere to put him in the lineup." The Red Sox fired Terry Francona, an awful in-game manager, albeit a terrific clubhouse guy who clearly lost control of the clubhouse last year, and hired... Bobby Valentine?
WHAT?!?!?! Bobby Valentine?!?!?! The guy from the Japanese beer cans? The guy who is so unprofessional he wore a Groucho Marx mask after he was ejected from a game? Just... Just... stupid.
Valentine has spent the last few years either in Japan or on the set of baseball tonight. The more you listen to him on ESPN the more you realize he really is out of touch with the game, but it is okay, the Red Sox hired him anyways because whenever you an hire a manager who is completely out of touch with the game and can never stay more than a few years because he grinds and wears on every player like it is a college team, you have to bring him in.
Then the Red Sox let go of Papelbon, refusing to pay a salary, which, yes, would be a bit more than you would like to play, but this is the same team that overpaid DRASTICALLY for Carl Crawford the same year Jacoby Ellsbury proved his might be the best centerfielder in baseball. Some think Bard is the answer, but if you watched the end of the season, you know he is not the answer at all (oh, we moved the guy who couldn't get three outs to the starting rotation? Oh, that is gonna end well).
Instead of signing Wakefield to a real deal the Red Sox are going with the Pu Pu Platter approach and signing every bargain starter East AND West of the Mississippi, but paying them more than they would have paid Wakefield.
Step Three: Find Every Excuse in the Book
If you read all of New England media outlets this offseason you would know the Red Sox collapse was brought on by fried chicken and beer. Look, these are professional baseball players. If these guys, ON THEIR OFF DAYS, want to have some friend chicken and beer at the end of a long season then they have every right to. People who think Josh Beckett's new found diet caused the tire around his stomach to expand are also glossing over the fact it is quite difficult to run on a busted ankle, something the Red Sox and Beckett (a joint effort obviously) decided it would be best for him to pitch on, instead of giving him some rest.
The first PR move by the new helmsmen Valentine was to come out and ban alcohol from the clubhouse. Great move... really getting to the crux of the problem there. Never mind the fact you have no solid catching, no back end of the rotation, no solid bullpen, and oh yeah, no corner outfielders. But please, go right ahead of tell me you are taking away the coolers from the clubhouse.
I have been in a minor league clubhouse. I know how hard these guys work. Some of you might not think baseball is the toughest sport in the world, but all of these guys, even the "lazy" ones, bust their butts every single day to try to improve and keep themselves in shape (and they do this for more than 220 days in a row).
The average major league baseball player gets to the clubhouse at 12:30, gets some food in, stretches, runs, does some individual practice and then goes back into the clubhouse for some food/shower, then goes back out for batting practice, comes back in for pre-game meal and shower and then does everything he can for the next three+ hours to try to help his team win. He showers after the game, answers some questions and then goes home, hopefully getting to his door sometime around midnight, most nights later. If he wants a beer in the clubhouse, I promise you that beer (or four) will do more good than harm over the long run. Plus, you are a fool if you think saying "No Booze" will stop adults from getting some of Grandma's Medicine.
The Red Sox have done nothing right over the last couple of months, so please, join me in my journey of trying to watch the Red Sox with an objective eye. I am sure I will fail, but it will sure be fun to try.
-Jake
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