The most frustrating thing about the Red Sox this season, aside from their disappointing record, is their inconsistency in all facets of the game. It's embarrassing for a $170 million team to be in fourth place, yet it's not hard to see why they are where they are. Just when they look like they've got it together, they play the choke card and it all comes tumbling down again. It's like they can't make up their mind whether they are a contender or pretender. Everyone shares in the responsibility for this uneven season, from the players to the coaching staff and manager, all the way up to the front office.
One of the most glaring coaching problems this year stands in the third base box with a malfunctioning windmill. Tim Bogar did fine at first base last year. He did so well there that no one knew who he was. That's the way it's supposed to be. We're not supposed to pay much attention to the base coaches. This year at third it's an entirely different story. Bogar is just not cut out to be a third base coach. Obviously, it requires a different skill set than being a first-base coach. The Sox might want to try moving him back to first and giving Ron Johnson a crack at third. He can't be much worse, or can he?
The 2010 Red Sox are a completely different kind of team than the 2004 and 2007 teams. The latter two teams had a high-powered offense with Big Papi and Manny Ramirez. They knew how to win both at home and on the road. Their top starting pitchers were, for the most part, consistent. Oh, and they won games both at night and during the day.
The 2010 team, although they do hit a lot of home runs, they can't seem to play day games and they look hopeless in extra innings. Their "aces" have been hit or miss, the bullpen is questionable beyond Pap, Bard, and possibly Delcarmen, and they all walk too many batters and are constantly in 3-ball counts. The defense has also been an adventure, making it appear as if the front office sold the fans a bill of goods when it came to improving pitching and defense.
Yes, Terry Francona won two World Series and they made the playoffs every year but 2006 (and most likely this year too), but maybe his management style is not the best fit for a "pitching and defense" focused team. A team without a 30HR 100 RBI guy in the lineup is one that needs to manufacture runs more often and pitch and play defense consistently well in order to succeed. Starters and relievers have to be managed carefully so that games do not get out of hand and large leads don't get coughed up. Francona's style of managing fit the 2004 and 2007 teams very well, but this team needs to approach the game a little differently. Hoping for mistakes by outfielders throwing the ball home, or for the 3-run home run and the big inning is not the most proactive way to play. Managers like Joe Maddon of the Tampa Bay Rays have a much more proactive managing style that seems to elicit the best work out of their talent. The Red Sox have talent, but their play isn't reflecting it. Managers need to adapt to the way baseball is changing as the steroid era comes to an end (if it hasn't already). That era had lots of home runs and playing for the big inning might have been a good strategy at the time. Now, not so much.
Francona isn't the only one who needs to turn the calendar to 2010. Theo Epstein could use a new calendar as well. Had his mind been in the current year as opposed to, say, 2007, he may not have been so quick to sign Josh Beckett to a long-term extension. He also might have properly calculated the ages of some of his acquisitions, such as Mike Cameron and many of the aging bullpen arms he collected, most of which are hanging out in Pawtucket and one of which SHOULD be either in Pawtucket or on waivers. Theo does a great job with the draft and the prospects, which suggests that perhaps he would be better off as the head of player development, where he can focus on where his strengths are. He has a clear weakness in free-agent signings.
I know I'm no baseball expert, but my eyes are telling me this is a disjointed team and all this talk about the manager, coaches and GM is just brainstorming on my part to find out just what's causing an expensive and talented team to underperform to the tune of fourth place in the AL East and a .500 record. Running a baseball team in a market like Boston is an extremely difficult job, one that I'm 100% certain that I could not do. However, as a fan and someone with probably too much time on her hands, this season puzzles me and I'm just trying to figure out what's holding the 2010 Red Sox back.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!! TRY TO WIN SOME MORE OF THESE ROAD GAMES, OKAY?
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