The Man in the Mirror

The Boston Red Sox are officially in the Dysfunctional Franchise Club. They have joined the ranks of the New York Knicks, the Orlando Magic, the Washington Redskins, the Miami Dolphins, the Miami Marlins and the New York Mets. The difference between the Sox and the aforementioned teams is that those teams (even Ozzie Guillen’s Marlins) have taken steps to move in the right direction.

The Red Sox have been sinking into the abyss since last September. For those of you in a coma since last year, the Red Sox completed one of the most historic collapses in Major League Baseball history, completing the epitome of epic choke jobs with a loss to the last place Baltimore Orioles on the same night that the Tampa Bay Rays completed the epitome of epic comebacks against the first place New York Yankees, eliminating the Red Sox from the playoffs and leading to the firing of longtime manager Terry Francona.

Reports later surfaced that Red Sox starting pitchers (not up in the rotation) were drinking beer, playing video games, and eating fried chicken in the clubhouse during games. In the midst of a collapse during a pennant race, their antics made Ken Griffey, Jr. sleeping in the Mariners’ clubhouse and missing a pinch hitting opportunity seem like a minor blooper. Focus was not sharp in Beantown; management needed to shake things up.

Chicken and beer is fine for rapper Ludacris, not MLB pitchers fighting for a playoff spot. 2

MUTINY

ESPN reported yesterday that a number of Red Sox players met with Red Sox management to air grievances about the current manager, Bobby Valentine. Valentine’s reputation as a hard liner and a man who does things his way is well documented. Tension appeared to peak earlier this season following critical remarks Valentine made about longtime Red Sox third baseman Kevin Youkilis. Second baseman and 2008 American League Most Valuable Player Dustin Pedroia responded in the media by saying that Valentine’s methods were not the way they do things in Boston.

Call me crazy, but the manager’s way IS the way things are done in any clubhouse as long as he is the manager. The whole Youkilis/Pedroia incident was the first red flag in a season that would be full of them. Youkilis would soon after be traded to the Chicago White Sox. Now the inmates are trying to run the asylum again. I think the “Youkilis treatment” may be in order.

Pedroia (left) and Valentine (right) are miles apart no matter how close they are in the dugout. 1 

WHEN YOU POINT ONE FINGER, THERE ARE THREE POINTING BACK AT YOU

The Red Sox have had sky high expectations, and the salaries to go with them, since the start of the 2011 season. At the moment, the Sox were under .500 and are probably not going to reach the playoffs this season. Bobby Valentine is the manager and shoulders much of the blame for the Red Sox’s underachievement in 2012. However, the puzzling series of events dragging the profile of the organization down preceded Valentine’s arrival.

Consider the following:

Boston Red Sox – 2011

• Record at the beginning of September: 83-52, first place.
• Lead in division: 1.5 games over the Yankees, 9 games over the Rays.
• Result: 90-72 (7-20 record in September), third place, eliminated from the playoffs, one game back of the Rays.
• Manager: Terry Francona (someone who is not Bobby Valentine)
• Key players: Dustin Pedroia, Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford, David Ortiz, Kevin Youkilis, Josh Beckett, Jon Lester

Boston Red Sox – 2012

• Record: 57-60, fourth place
• Games back: 12.5 games back of the Yankees in the division; 6.5 games back of the final Wild Card spot.
• Manager: Bobby Valentine
• Key players at the start of the season: Dustin Pedroia, Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford, David Ortiz, Kevin Youkilis, Josh Beckett, Jon Lester

Hmm…both profiles are unflattering, but the one constant is the key players. Let’s dig a little deeper.

Dustin Pedroia, 2B

• Batting average, 2012: .280
• Batting average, career: .302
• On base percentage, 2012: .338
• On base percentage, career: .369
• At bats per home run, 2012: 44 (9 HRs in 2012)
• At bats per home run, career: 38 (84 career HRs)
• 2012 salary: $8 million

Adrian Gonzalez, 1B

• Batting average, 2012: .307
• Batting average, career: .295
• On base percentage, 2012: .352
• On base percentage, career: .373
• At bats per home run, 2012: 35 (13 HRs in 2012)
• At bats per home run, career: 20 (208 career HRs)
• 2012 salary: $21 million

Josh Beckett, SP

• Winning pct., 2012: .333
• Winning pct., career: .588
• ERA, 2012: 5.19
• ERA, career: 3.93
• Ks/9 IP, 2012: 6.5
• Ks/9 IP, career: 8.3
• 2012 salary: $16 million

Jon Lester, SP

• Winning pct., 2012: .375
• Winning pct., career: .651
• ERA, 2012: 5.20
• ERA, career: 3.76
• Ks/9 IP, 2012: 7.9
• Ks/9 IP, career: 8.3
• 2012 salary: $8 million

Less complaining and more batting practice may cut down on the strikeouts. 3

Wow! Four key players declining in key statistics compared to the course of their careers, almost across the board? Of the aforementioned key players not statistically detailed, on Big Papi Ortiz has improved relative to his career numbers. I don’t think that is Bobby Valentine’s fault.

Reportedly, Pedroia and Gonzalez were the ringleaders in the players’ meeting with management. I can’t help but think, considering the behavior of the players and the undesirable results since last season, that these guys are making a bunch of excuses for losing. Should Valentine shoulder a chunk of the blame? Absolutely. But managers manage and players play. Key players, team leaders, should play up to their abilities before complaining about the manager.

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1) Image from http://articles.nydailynews.com
2) Image from www.cbsnews.com
3) Image from http://blogs.eagletribune.com