The Boston Red Sox opened the second half of The Major League Baseball
season tied for last place in The American League East and 9.5 games
back of the first place New York Yankees. The Red Sox have been hit by a
slew of injuries which has seen the likes of All-Star outfielders Carl
Crawford and Jacoby Ellsbury miss the majority of the season. All-Star
second baseman Dustin Pedroia recently hit the disabled list as well
with a thumb injury. Since last September, The Red Sox have resembled a
team that is trying to steer around icebergs without a rudder.
Chemistry issues have plagued this team from last season when The
BoSox stumbled to the finish line with a record of 7-19 in September and
failed to make the playoffs. The fallout from Boston’s disappointing
season culminated with the departure of longtime manager Terry Francona
and general manager Theo Epstein. Francona was left to dangle out in the
wind as the fall guy for a team that underachieved. Now at 44-43 the
blame is being passed onto current manager Bobby Valentine. Valentine
has a quirky way of managing which might ruffle some feathers. Valentine
infamously called out All-Star third baseman Kevin Youkilis’ work ethic
which never sat well with him. Youkilis and Valentine had a bad
relationship that I am sure continues to be that way even though
Youkilis was traded to The Chicago White Sox.
Youkilis was not the problem on the team as he is one of the
hardest working players in baseball. The problem is that Valentine
inherited a club that lacks chemistry. Boston is a team that has great
individual talent but they cannot do it as a team. The Red Sox have
become snake-bitten with that bad contracts of Crawford, John Lackey,
and Daisuke Matsuzaka in which these players carry large contracts only
to be familiarized with the disabled list. Epstein left Boston with some
bad contracts and they have gotten away from “the idiots”.
hardest working players in baseball. The problem is that Valentine
inherited a club that lacks chemistry. Boston is a team that has great
individual talent but they cannot do it as a team. The Red Sox have
become snake-bitten with that bad contracts of Crawford, John Lackey,
and Daisuke Matsuzaka in which these players carry large contracts only
to be familiarized with the disabled list. Epstein left Boston with some
bad contracts and they have gotten away from “the idiots”.
There isn’t a Johnny Damon or Kevin Millar type player in the
current clubhouse that will hold players accountable for what they do on
the field. Millar wouldn’t have a problem policing the clubhouse. The
one guy that would police the locker room was Youkilis who was
shockingly ostracized by Valentine.
current clubhouse that will hold players accountable for what they do on
the field. Millar wouldn’t have a problem policing the clubhouse. The
one guy that would police the locker room was Youkilis who was
shockingly ostracized by Valentine.
Boston is second in runs scored in The American League with 435
and tied for third in team batting average at .268, but they are 10th
in team earned run average at 4.18 and 11th in quality starts with 41.
Pitcher Felix Doubront has been a pleasant surprise as he leads the ball
club in wins with 9, but Boston needs the studs to step up. With a
record of 4-7 and nursing an ailing shoulder, it is time for pitcher
Josh Beckett to regain the form that he had when he won 20 games in 2007
and led The Red Sox to a World Series Championship in 2007.
and tied for third in team batting average at .268, but they are 10th
in team earned run average at 4.18 and 11th in quality starts with 41.
Pitcher Felix Doubront has been a pleasant surprise as he leads the ball
club in wins with 9, but Boston needs the studs to step up. With a
record of 4-7 and nursing an ailing shoulder, it is time for pitcher
Josh Beckett to regain the form that he had when he won 20 games in 2007
and led The Red Sox to a World Series Championship in 2007.
The Red Sox appeared to have turned the corner until they
limped to The All-Star break. Boston was swept by The Oakland Athletics
and they lost three out of four to The Yanks at Fenway Park. According
to USA Today, The Red Sox own the third highest payroll in MLB at $173
million and it is time for these players to live up to those paychecks.
limped to The All-Star break. Boston was swept by The Oakland Athletics
and they lost three out of four to The Yanks at Fenway Park. According
to USA Today, The Red Sox own the third highest payroll in MLB at $173
million and it is time for these players to live up to those paychecks.
Ellsbury led off last night for The Sox
against The Tampa Bay Rays and went 1-for-5 in what was only his eighth
game of the season. The Red Sox are hoping that Crawford will be able to
make his season debut Monday at Fenway against The Chicago White Sox.
The game Monday will indeed be bittersweet as it will mark the return of
the fan-favorite Youkilis to Boston.
against The Tampa Bay Rays and went 1-for-5 in what was only his eighth
game of the season. The Red Sox are hoping that Crawford will be able to
make his season debut Monday at Fenway against The Chicago White Sox.
The game Monday will indeed be bittersweet as it will mark the return of
the fan-favorite Youkilis to Boston.
At this rate, The Red Sox might not catch The
Yankees for The AL East Title, but they can still make some noise in The
Wild Card race. The Red Sox are 1.5 games behind The Cleveland Indians
and The Baltimore Orioles entering play today for the last Wild Card
slot. It is time for players such as Beckett to put the injuries aside
and be the leaders of this team for the second half. If The Red Sox fail
to make to the postseason for a third consecutive season it will look
bad for the players. Epstein and Francona are long gone and the mess in
Boston cannot be blamed on Valentine.
Yankees for The AL East Title, but they can still make some noise in The
Wild Card race. The Red Sox are 1.5 games behind The Cleveland Indians
and The Baltimore Orioles entering play today for the last Wild Card
slot. It is time for players such as Beckett to put the injuries aside
and be the leaders of this team for the second half. If The Red Sox fail
to make to the postseason for a third consecutive season it will look
bad for the players. Epstein and Francona are long gone and the mess in
Boston cannot be blamed on Valentine.
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