But you still need to activate your account.
Turn out the lights. The party’s over. Or, as former ABC football analyst “Dandy” Don Meredith – he of Dallas Cowboys fame – used to sing, “It’s all over but the crying.”
And so it is in Boston with the old town team.
Yes, it’s only been two seasons since the Red Sox won the World Series. And, yes, it often seems like it never happened, primarily because the New York Yankees have made all the right moves – again – while Sox faithful bit their proverbial lips until they bled because their team did nothing substantial to give the boys a chance to win.
Despite an unprecedented rash of injuries and illnesses, this version of the Red Sox decided a long time ago to stand pat and not mortgage the future by trading young players to get veterans, thus aiding the process to contend again in the always tough American League East.
So be it.
Perhaps Bangor sports talk radio station WZON-AM 620, the Sports Zone, will have a contest for listeners to call in and become owner for a day in Beantown.
Now, that would generate considerable interest. If I entered the thing and won, this is what I would do. Let’s list three key moves that need to be made – personnel-wise – to get the boys back on track.
No. 1 – Fire the GM.
Yes, you read that correctly.
Theo Epstein needs to go.
Space does not allow us to list personnel blunders this year, but it is sufficient to say that Theo’s halo is a tad tarnished. His superiority complex with the media is wearing thin, and overall, his better-than-thou attitude has already sent a few quality guys packing.
Yes, I’m the owner. So, I fire the wonder kid. Sorry.
No. 2 – Fire the manager.
Yes, you read that one correctly, too.
This guy walked into a title team, but I feel in my heart that Terry Francona is not the guy to rebuild the club.
He’s a nervous wreck most days. He can’t handle pitchers. And for a National League guy – he played with the Expos and managed the Phillies – he does very little to advance baserunners.
Players look and act just about the way they want to in Boston, and that’s sad. Pay him what is left on his contract, and show him the door.
No. 3 – Only the following players are untouchable.
In no particular order, keep the following stalwarts and trade the rest.
DH David Ortiz stays. Catcher Jason Varitek stays. Third baseman Mike Lowell stays. First baseman Kevin Youkilis stays. Pitcher Josh Beckett stays. Pitcher Jon Papelbon stays. Pitchers Curt Schilling, Tim Wakefield, and Mike Timlin should be allowed to stay in Boston and retire. Utility infielder Alex Cora stays. He’s one of the bright spots on this year’s club. And, of course, Jon Lester, the young phenom lefty pitcher battling cancer, stays.
Other young arms need grooming and work. The rest of the so-called lineup can go, with the possible exception of the talented shortstop Alex Gonzalez, who can catch anything hit his way and a couple of the young infielders from the minors.
Too much housecleaning for you? Sorry. This club let key personnel go following a world title. In my mind, they started building for the future about 20 minutes after the champagne bottles were opened in St. Louis in 2004.
BDN columnist Ron Brown, a retired high school basketball coach, can be reached at bdnsports@bangordailynews.net
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