Get over it. Yeah, I said it. He's gone and the Nation needs to accept it. Terry Francona was relieved of his managerial duties and all I hear on the radio and media is that the Sox lost a huge part of their team. Yes, I agree that they did, but its not the end of the world (talking to you WEEI). Tito began to lose this team for many reasons (not all his fault). This team had their head up their asses all season (don't look away from me, Gonzalez), starting with opening night and fittingly ending with them blowing a late lead.
Francona is an unbelievable coach and no one can take that away from him but he couldn't handle all the egos of the players this year. With Tito gone, I think this team is getting a wake up call.
Now, I've never been a fan of the"if it doesn't work, start all over again" approach. This only seems to set teams back in the dark ages only to come out of it 30 years later (kudos to Detroit Lions on mastering this). Terry has been to handle personalities before, like in 2004 with Manny, Big Papi, Pedro, Millar, and even Curt Schilling. The reason why he could handle them was because they weren't ridiculously over paid and the '04 group just wanted to win. Sadly, the 2011 bunch wanted that paycheck every month, not even caring if they won or lost. By the time they realized they had dug themselves a nice hole, they couldn't climb out. That's what happens when you pay the big bucks! Terry got sick of having to deal with everything that was happening in the club house and I don't blame him for wanting to leave. I think he wanted to stay but he wanted some changes that the front office weren't positive they could provide. When you have overpaid players like Josh Beckett, John Lackey, Carl Crawford, Adrian Gonzalez, and J.D. Drew, they are all bound to have an ego, which is fine if they perform. Out of this group, only Gonzalez had a decent year, while Beckett was solid for the first half of the year. Tito couldn't handle watching players like Lackey disgrace the game of baseball (I will save the Lackey rant for a later date as it could take many, many pages).
Tito left some big shoes to fill and many aren't going to want to be put up to the task of filling them. The front office laid a huge burden on him by supplying him with players who wanted the check rather than the trophy. Theo Epstien isn't the only person I'm talking about in the front office because I don't believe some of the signings were wanted by him. I wasn't a fly on a wall during the meetings, but I find it hard to believe Theo wanted Carl Crawford. From seeing Theo in action for his tenure in the Red Sox, this move baffles me beyond belief. Lackey is another one that Theo shouldn't be held responsible for because he's never been a fan of giving contracts that long to older players. I do believe he wanted Beckett signed because he felt that he wouldn't have any other solid pitchers for a few years after that deal. Beckett has fallen into the "I'll do just enough so you guys think I'm good" category while Lackey just flat out, can't pitch.
Here's my point: Tito is gone, move onto how the front office needs to improve this team. The next manager, whoever it may be, must have balls to coach this team and deal with this front office. Theo may leave to take that Cubs job, which I think he'd be dumb not to take unless the Sox make him co-CEO. Let's just not remember Terry for this collapse as it is not entirely his fault. Its more of the front office and the players than Tito's. Now that Tito's gone, stop thinking he's coming back media, because he's not. Any more talk about "well Terry did this and Terry did that", I'm going to go crazy! Let's hope the front office learns from this year and hopefully we will not have to deal with any bigger issues than missing the playoffs by one game. And Theo, get a manager before you leave town!
Francona is an unbelievable coach and no one can take that away from him but he couldn't handle all the egos of the players this year. With Tito gone, I think this team is getting a wake up call.
Now, I've never been a fan of the"if it doesn't work, start all over again" approach. This only seems to set teams back in the dark ages only to come out of it 30 years later (kudos to Detroit Lions on mastering this). Terry has been to handle personalities before, like in 2004 with Manny, Big Papi, Pedro, Millar, and even Curt Schilling. The reason why he could handle them was because they weren't ridiculously over paid and the '04 group just wanted to win. Sadly, the 2011 bunch wanted that paycheck every month, not even caring if they won or lost. By the time they realized they had dug themselves a nice hole, they couldn't climb out. That's what happens when you pay the big bucks! Terry got sick of having to deal with everything that was happening in the club house and I don't blame him for wanting to leave. I think he wanted to stay but he wanted some changes that the front office weren't positive they could provide. When you have overpaid players like Josh Beckett, John Lackey, Carl Crawford, Adrian Gonzalez, and J.D. Drew, they are all bound to have an ego, which is fine if they perform. Out of this group, only Gonzalez had a decent year, while Beckett was solid for the first half of the year. Tito couldn't handle watching players like Lackey disgrace the game of baseball (I will save the Lackey rant for a later date as it could take many, many pages).
Tito left some big shoes to fill and many aren't going to want to be put up to the task of filling them. The front office laid a huge burden on him by supplying him with players who wanted the check rather than the trophy. Theo Epstien isn't the only person I'm talking about in the front office because I don't believe some of the signings were wanted by him. I wasn't a fly on a wall during the meetings, but I find it hard to believe Theo wanted Carl Crawford. From seeing Theo in action for his tenure in the Red Sox, this move baffles me beyond belief. Lackey is another one that Theo shouldn't be held responsible for because he's never been a fan of giving contracts that long to older players. I do believe he wanted Beckett signed because he felt that he wouldn't have any other solid pitchers for a few years after that deal. Beckett has fallen into the "I'll do just enough so you guys think I'm good" category while Lackey just flat out, can't pitch.
Here's my point: Tito is gone, move onto how the front office needs to improve this team. The next manager, whoever it may be, must have balls to coach this team and deal with this front office. Theo may leave to take that Cubs job, which I think he'd be dumb not to take unless the Sox make him co-CEO. Let's just not remember Terry for this collapse as it is not entirely his fault. Its more of the front office and the players than Tito's. Now that Tito's gone, stop thinking he's coming back media, because he's not. Any more talk about "well Terry did this and Terry did that", I'm going to go crazy! Let's hope the front office learns from this year and hopefully we will not have to deal with any bigger issues than missing the playoffs by one game. And Theo, get a manager before you leave town!
