Kill the Messenger

There has been much ado over the latest installment into the soap opera that is the Boston Red Sox. The article brought to light lots of the issues within the clubhouse this year. And while you can certainly point fingers at the constituents within the clubhouse, where were these reports while the Red Sox were going 80-41 between the end of April and the end of August? It wasn't there. It isn't entirely fair to be casting blame now. And where is this "Monday Morning Quarterback" mentality coming from? There is only one place that all of the info that was talked about came from, right from the top, the Boston Red Sox ownership.

Take a look at the series of events surrounding Terry Francona's firing:

They (Lucchino, Werner and Henry) try to tell Francona to slow the process down so that they can find out an appropriate way to spin Terry Francona no longer being the man for the job (he was fired, don't let them fool you). But those plans were sullied when Francona was pissed that ownership didn't back him and he wanted a decision that day. They were made to look "the fool" that fateful Friday, and they didn't like it.

The smeared the good name of Terry Francona when they said, "Team sources also expressed concern that Francona's performance may have been affected by his use of pain medication, which he also vehemently denied." Terry Francona had everything cleared with the Red Sox medical staff to make sure he didn't have any sort of addiction, and this should have been a non-issue. The guy has had more than 20 surgeries on his knees, and during this season got his knees drained of blood and fluid which is a painful procedure, I think he's entitled to popping a Vicodin.

Then the ownership made note that, "Francona spent the season living in a hotel after he moved out of the Brookline home he shared with Jacque, his wife of nearly 30 years." Let me get this straight, the brass is now going to bring to light the intimate details of Francona's marital status? Where was this talk when the Red Sox were in First Place better part of the season? Did anyone ever ask John Henry about whether his divorce affected his money making decisions with the Boston Red Sox? Didn't think so.

Much like a year ago with their strategic announcement of the raising of ticket prices, they probably wanted to drop the Francona bombshell around the time of the Bruins Banner Night and the rematch of the Jets/Patriots. When Francona didn't oblige the PR Machine they strung him up, and publicly maimed him through the media to try and pass off to the "Pink Hats" that loved Francona, that he wasn't all sunshine and rainbows. To hear these dastardly, sorry excuses for owners besmirch someone like this is despicable. Francona was the best manager in the history of the Red Sox, and during his departure they couldn't let him leave gracefully, they had to slander his character. So much so, that he can never interview for another job without being asked about prescription drug abuse. It's deplorable.

Now the PR Machine is spinning up again with the latest news that Theo Epstein has opted out of the last year of his contract and is heading to the Windy City. In the piece, they make it a point to say that "ownership was divided on the Carl Crawford signing. At least one top executive believed Crawford's skills as a speedy left-handed hitting outfielder seemed to duplicate Ellsbury's." They even went as far as to say that ownership feels "betrayed" that Theo Epstein is leaving to go to the Cubs. So the Red Sox want to now get into the business of calling out business mistakes? How about when the Red Sox crushed Ortiz in negotiations, felt bad and bought him a truck? Or the impulse re-signing of Mike Lowell just because he won World Series MVP? Those weren't Theo issues, but we can talk about those too if you would like to Mr. Lucchino.

Major League Baseball has made it a point to say that teams shall not block their employees from taking positions at other organizations if the new position(s) are considered a "promotion". If the Red Sox were not equipped to offer Epstein a promotion or at least more autonomy within his current post, then he had the divine right to leave.

This is not the first time that Red Sox management has tarnished the reputation of a figurehead in Boston upon their departure:

Nomar Garciaparra

Johnny Damon

The owners are so out of touch with baseball operations they even bought their players each 300 dollar headphones and invited them to a private party on John Henry's yacht. The last thing these guys needed during a September swoon was to be gallivanting on a yacht drinking Stella Artois.

For anyone thinking that I'm jumping the gun in blaming ownership I'll ask you this. Who was made to look good in this article?

Terry Francona is a pill-popping, wreck of a husband.

Players were eating fried chicken, one of the worst things you can put in your body, and essentially forgetting about conditioning.

Theo Epstein signed the wrong players and betrayed ownership.

Ownership spent too much money trying to create a better team.

Also look who owns a large stake in the Boston Globe. If that doesn't speak volumes as to where this article came from, you may want to pick another blog to read.

Stay Tuned

Norton