Sox Therapy: John Henry and Larry Lucchino Talk about the Red Sox September Swoon

Some very interesting comments and ownership insights into the team. Give it a listen.

Hall of Merit: Most Meritorious Player: 1965 Results

Congratulations to Willie Mays, unanimously voted the Most Meritorious Player of 1965!

                  1     2     3     4     5      6      7      8      9      10      Pts
Willie Mays      14                                                                  210
Sandy Koufax           12    2                                                       194
Juan Marichal           2    7     1      3      1                                   174
Ron Santo                          5      1      2 ...

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Sox Therapy: Red Sox Fans Need to Take a Deeeeeeeep Breath

One phenomena which is quite interesting to me is how most of the analysts calling for Theo's head, and talking about what a flawed team the Red Sox are, are the same people who were talking about how great this team was in the spring and July. People (and by people I include the Red Sox ownership) need to relax and stay the course with this front office. There are decisions in life, unfortunately, where you do everything right in preparation and consideration, but the outcome disappoints. ...Read More...

Sox Therapy: Not so ‘Free’ Agency

I stole this link from Philly over on SOSH: This BA article, which measures how homegrown each playoff team is, includes a comparison of the Red Sox and Yankees free-agent signings. The results are... not pretty. The whole thing is worth reading, but the takeaway is: in 2011, the Red Sox $67 million for free agent players and got back 2 (2!) WAR. That number is particularly friendly in that a) it doesn't count Dice-K (because he wasn't a free agent, per se?) and b) it uses $14 mil. for ...Read More...

Hall of Merit: Most Meritorious Player: 1966 Discussion

1966 was the first season of major-league baseball in a Deep South city as the Braves moved from Milwaukeeto Atlanta. In the American League, once again the race ended rather early, with Baltimore taking the top spot in June. Although Detroit, the eventual third-place finisher, got as close as a game-and-a-half towards the end of June, the fell further and further behind as the season progressed. At the end they finished ten games out, and were passed on the day before the season ended by ...Read More...

Sox Therapy: Thank You Terry Francona

It appears that, per NESN, Terry Francona is out as the manager of the Boston Red Sox. Someone had suggested that we have a "Thank You Terry Francona" thread and that sounds like a good idea. Thanks Terry, you were at the helm during the most successful period for the Red Sox during my lifetime. It couldn't have been easy, and for whatever small criticism I might have had over the years, you deserve the credit for those accomplishments. Good luck in whatever you choose to do next. Have at it.

Sox Therapy: In which rumors are mongered

Let’s collect all the rumors about the Red Sox clubhouse. After yesterday’s press conference, it is now clear that interpersonal breakdowns, conflicts over authority, and general chaos in the clubhouse were important causes of the recent unpleasantness. At the very least, both Epstein and Francona espoused the view that clubhouse tensions lead to games lost. I accept that not everyone finds this stuff fascinating, but I really do. And I know that we’ll never achieve certain ...Read More...

Sox Therapy: Trader Theo and the Redemption Plan

I see two basic directions that this offseason could take for the Red Sox. You can basically bring back everyone, trusting in the team’s third-order winning percentage and boosting them with better depth and perhaps new coaching and training staffs. If you don’t want this same basic club back, but you do want to compete for the AL East next year, that will require major, blockbuster trades. The Redemption Plan is pretty simple. You give these players a chance to redeem themselves. The ...Read More...

Sox Therapy: Point / Counterpoint

We must respond with blind, wild rage. Now is not the time for a careful accounting or a half-hearted defense of the men who created this broken team. It is time for rage, and not just any rage, but the pure and blinding rage where you forget your name and what your hands look like. Tear this club the #### down. Terry Francona, gone. Jonathan Papelbon, enjoy your big contract elsewhere, see if they can get you to throw a split-finger to the guy who’s sitting fastball. If any of the big ...Read More...

Sox Therapy: Game 162

There isn’t a lot you can say about an individual, upcoming baseball game. What will determine tonight’s contest is how well the players play. I hope the Sox play well and the Orioles don’t. The outcome of this game rests somewhat more on the shoulder of the starting pitcher than usual. Not only is Lester pitching on short rest in the biggest game of the season, but he’s pitching in front of a bullpen that is utterly gassed. In September, the Red Sox bullpen has had to cover an ...Read More...