So for posterity, let’s recap what went on yesterday…a day certain to live in infamy in Red Sox Nation.
The morning began with the article in the Boston Globe blaming the Red Sox collapse on a broken clubhouse and a manager who couldn’t control his players.
While the buzz about the Bob Hohler piece was just picking up speed, the unofficial announcement came out that General Manager Theo Epstein and the Chicago Cubs had come to an agreement that would give Epstein a five-year, $15 million contract (and title of not only general manger but president as well).
In the midst of online, television and radio discussions about who to blame for the leaks in the Globe story, especially the revelations that marital issues and a painkiller “problem” caused the disconnect between Francona and many of his players, Dustin Pedroia went on WEEI radio to defend his former manager, even going so far as to say he’d play “for free” if Francona asked him to, and to assure Red Sox fans that the team would come back hungry to erase the memories of the September collapse.  Meanwhile, David Ortiz did a video interview for ESPN where he said that he was tired of all the “drama” and didn’t know if he wanted to be a part of it anymore while also not ruling out going to the New York Yankees through free agency.
But wait, there’s more.  A story came out where Jack McKeon, former Florida Marlins manager, claimed that he had to lock the clubhouse because Josh Beckett and other player would go to the clubhouse during games to drink.  Later in the day, former Red Sox and Marlins third-baseman Mike Lowell went on the MLB Network and said that the story was false because the Marlins clubhouse was across the field from the dugout and Beckett would have had to cross the field during the game to get over there.
By the end of the day, Red Sox fans were preparing to hear it was raining frogs on Yawkey Way.
Today has begun with a piece by Dan Shaughnessy on how the Red Sox are back to the Sox of old and calling them, among other things, “pathetic”.  No surprise there.  Shaughnessy has been waiting since 2004 to write this article.  Sadly, Red Sox fans need to prepare for more of the same from other writers until the team gets their act together, or at the very least, hires a manager and general manger.
(Originally published on Examiner.com)