BBTF's Sox Therapy Discussion :: Statements from the Boston Red Sox, Jon Lester, Josh Beckett, John Lackey, and Terry Francona

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Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Statements from the Boston Red Sox, Jon Lester, Josh Beckett, John Lackey, and Terry Francona | redsox.com: Official Info

Tomorrow anonymous sources will report about satanic rituals in the bullpen.

YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST!!!

PRESIDENT/CEO LARRY LUCCHINO ON BEHALF OF THE BOSTON RED SOX: “Tonight our organization has heard directly from Jon, Josh, John, and former manager Terry Francona. Each has assured us that the allegation that surfaced today about drinking in the dugout during games in 2011 is false, and we accept their statements as honest and factual.

“As we continue our internal examination to fully understand what went wrong in September, 2011, we appreciate these strong and clear statements from our players.

“It is time to look forward and move forward, rather than allow a reckless, unsubstantiated accusation from ‘anonymous sources’ to mislead the public.”

Jim Furtado Posted: October 19, 2011 at 12:12 PM | 41 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
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1. Jim Wisinski

Posted: October 19, 2011 at 02:09 PM (#3968003)

Yeah Larry, you would never want public opinion to be swayed by questionable statements from anonymous sources

2. Jose Can You Seabiscuit Posted: October 19, 2011 at 02:20 PM (#3968013)

Look, from the sounds of things the players probably took some liberties that were both inappropriate and had a negative effect on the season. At the same time, this is getting ridiculous. The number of stories looking at what the Sox should do going forward or looking back and the pluses and minuses of 2011 that I've seen on Boston.com can be counted on one hand and that's counting Peter Abraham's piece where he said the Sox have a "tough decision" regarding Varitek and Wakefield (psst...it ain't that tough).

3. robinred

Posted: October 19, 2011 at 02:27 PM (#3968021)

I think these statements are OK, but at this point, like I said a few days ago, I think all these guys from Henry on down should say, "We've addressed those issues, internally and in our statements, so let's talk about 2012."

4. Gonfalon Bubble Posted: October 19, 2011 at 02:37 PM (#3968034)

"Red Sox fans can rest easy, knowing that our master plan to lock the barn door is nearing completion."

5. Koot Posted: October 19, 2011 at 04:37 PM (#3968224)

I'm tired of this "unnamed source". I hope they find out who he is and the players can get their hands on him. Maybe that's ownership's diabolical plan, to turn everyone against this cowardly unnamed source. That'll promote unity amongst the players, organization and fanbase.

6. Jose Can You Seabiscuit Posted: October 19, 2011 at 04:45 PM (#3968238)

OK, stupid conspiracy theory time, what if Terry Francona is the unnamed source?

Put yourself in Tito's shoes, you are concerned that some of your personal issues are going to get out there so you include those in a litany of issues. Because of your popularity and the dignified manner with which you dealt with being let go the backlash somewhat predictably is against ownership for slandering you. Meanwhile, you get to make it clear that the lazy players and not the manager were the ones who failed at the end of the season despite your attempts to treat them like men rather than like children.

The end result is that blame is shifted off of you fairly quickly, your own dirty laundry comes out (as would be predicted) but does so in a manner that still leaves you looking better than ownership and you ride off into the sunset waiting for that next call.

7. The Yankee Clapper Posted: October 19, 2011 at 04:54 PM (#3968250)

Maybe that's ownership's diabolical plan, to turn everyone against this cowardly unnamed source. That'll promote unity amongst the players, organization and fanbase.

There are probably going to be some lingering issues over who let who down, who threw who under the bus and who broke the rules on clubhouse confidentiality. Deciding what to address and what to ignore may be a big issue.

8. Mattbert Posted: October 19, 2011 at 04:58 PM (#3968257)

OK, stupid conspiracy theory time, what if Terry Francona is the unnamed source?

With the obvious qualifier that we don't really know any of these guys personally, this strikes me as a very un-Tito thing to do.

9. Guapo Posted: October 19, 2011 at 05:04 PM (#3968265)

So drinking in the clubhouse is OK, but drinking in the dugout is a mortal sin?

How about the runway between the clubhouse and the dugout- can you drink there?

10. Dread Pirate Dave Roberts Posted: October 19, 2011 at 05:11 PM (#3968278)

So drinking in the clubhouse is OK, but drinking in the dugout is a mortal sin?

How about the runway between the clubhouse and the dugout- can you drink there?

Lisa: What are we gonna have?
Homer: Well, that depends on what your teachers say. If you've been good, pizza. If you've been bad... uh... let's see... poison.
Lisa: What if one of us has been good and one of us has been bad?
Bart: Poison pizza.

11. Jose Can You Seabiscuit Posted: October 19, 2011 at 05:16 PM (#3968286)

With the obvious qualifier that we don't really know any of these guys personally, this strikes me as a very un-Tito thing to do.

Agreed, but it wouldn't be a stupid conspiracy theory if it actually had any basis in fact.

Now excuse me, my tinfoil hat needs some repairs.

12. jacksone (AKA It's OK...) Posted: October 19, 2011 at 08:03 PM (#3968458)

OK, stupid conspiracy theory time, what if Terry Francona is the unnamed source?

Well, Francona did deny there was any beer drinking in the dugout, so I am going to assume he was not the source of the leak...

13. Hugh Jorgan Posted: October 19, 2011 at 10:19 PM (#3968549)

It's all Cuba Goodings....er Carl, yeah Carl Crawfords fault. All Sox conspiracies originate from this one, very shady, anonymous source!

14. Bob Dernier Cri

Posted: October 19, 2011 at 10:37 PM (#3968560)

But the satanic ritual slaughter stuff is true, right?

I love the idea of an "internal examination to fully understand what went wrong in September, 2011." I suspect the team ERA of 5.84, but then I'm not a trained investigator :)

15. Darren

Posted: October 19, 2011 at 11:29 PM (#3968580)

They should set up some sort of group to look into this: the September '11 Commission.

16. Morty Causa Posted: October 19, 2011 at 11:36 PM (#3968584)

The Red Sox shall come again!

17. Avoid running at all times.-S. Paige Posted: October 19, 2011 at 11:46 PM (#3968593)

What if the unnamed source is.......Derek Jeter.

*faints after typing the name*

18. Hugh Jorgan Posted: October 20, 2011 at 12:19 AM (#3968640)

I suspect the team ERA of 5.84

No sorry, fried chicken trumps lousy ERA in the meltdown meter....

19. IronChef Chris Wok Posted: October 20, 2011 at 11:14 AM (#3969118)

I wish they had gotten prostitutes

20. Rowland Office Supplies Posted: October 20, 2011 at 11:20 AM (#3969119)

I wish they had gotten prostitutes

Dude, spoiler alert!

21. Textbook Editor Posted: October 20, 2011 at 01:37 PM (#3969193)

Padres Interested in Lackey, Sans Fried Chicken + Lots of Cash

Depends on how much they ask us to eat, but I say move him. I don't see a path forward with him that doesn't involve continued decline or surgery, so best to get some salary relief out of a awful situation.

22. The Yankee Clapper Posted: October 20, 2011 at 01:54 PM (#3969199)

Padres Interested in Lackey

Wouldn't the Brewers be a better fit?

23. Liver of blaspheming 'zop Posted: October 20, 2011 at 02:12 PM (#3969209)

Depends on how much they ask us to eat, but I say move him.

2 drumsticks and a breast, most likely.

24. Ron J Posted: October 20, 2011 at 02:40 PM (#3969228)

#14 It's more pronounced than that. The starters had a 7.08 era (7.99 RA) in September.

Needless to say the starters didn't tend to last long -- averaging 4.75 innings per start. Which of course place an awful lot of extra load on the bullpen -- which responded with their worst month of the year. Dan Bard went 0-4 with a 10.64 era (.256/.396/.372), and given his role that hurt a lot. (Papelbon was OKish, Aceves was very good)

They played 9 1 run games and went 2-7. They also went 0-3 in games decided by 2 runs. (I'm surprised to see how many close games there were, but the offense did its part in September and it's a pretty good one even without Youk)

25. Darren

Posted: October 20, 2011 at 04:01 PM (#3969293)

Thanks Ron. Next, can you kick me in the face? :)

26. Ray (RDP)

Posted: October 20, 2011 at 04:06 PM (#3969297)

#14 It's more pronounced than that. The starters had a 7.08 era (7.99 RA) in September.

If only Lester, Beckett, and Lackey had not imbibed the occasional clubhouse beer on days they weren't pitching, THIS WOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED.

They played 9 1 run games and went 2-7.

Clearly that's the Popeye's.

27. Don Malcolm

Posted: October 20, 2011 at 04:30 PM (#3969323)

I don't see a path forward with him that doesn't involve continued decline or surgery, so best to get some salary relief out of a awful situation.

Are they going to amputate and turn him into Jim Abbott? Or will they be amputating at the neck??

28. Ray (RDP)

Posted: October 20, 2011 at 04:33 PM (#3969327)

According to one of the insiders, Jason Giambi and Roger Clemens would routinely drink beer on the dugout bench when they played for the Yankees, passing back and forth what Giambi called his "protein shake," code for a cup of beer, the source said.

And they weren't the only ones who partook. "Rally beers are big in the clubhouse," one insider said. "Guys would drink them all the time, on the bench, in the clubhouse, in the training room. It's common."

...

Beer has been a staple in Mets clubhouses, too, one of the sources said. "Guys would go into the clubhouse, pour beer in Gatorade cups and return to the dugout," he said. "In the old days, the beer distributors would leave beer for the players. We'd have three or four cases in the clubhouse at any one time."

...

MLB forbids alcohol in the dugout, spokesman Pat Courtney said, although booze is allowed in clubhouses, or on team charters, at the discretion of team officials. Teams used to provide beer in clubhouses, but many have stopped in recent years because of liability issues involving drinking and driving. The Yankees banned alcohol on the charters, and it is never seen in the main clubhouse of either the Yankees or the Mets.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/2011/10/20/2011-10-20_beer_in_the_clubhouse_is_nothing_new_and_not_the_blame_for_the_boston_red_soxs_s.html?page=1

It's hard to believe we now need investigations into whether players drink beer during games. I had always just thought the answer was yes.

29. JJ1986 Posted: October 20, 2011 at 04:35 PM (#3969329)

Beer has been a staple in Mets clubhouses, too, one of the sources said. "Guys would go into the clubhouse, pour beer in Gatorade cups and return to the dugout," he said. "In the old days, the beer distributors would leave beer for the players. We'd have three or four cases in the clubhouse at any one time."

This explains Roger Cedeno's play in the outfield.

30. Loren F. Posted: October 20, 2011 at 04:52 PM (#3969351)

Without beer, the players would realize how boring the game is. [/Homer]

31. Nasty Nate Posted: October 21, 2011 at 07:04 PM (#3970873)

Boston.com says that Curt Young is returning to the Oakland A's. It doesn't say whether he is fired, or he quit, or whether the Sox are asking for Gio Gonzalez as compensation for the last year of his contract...

32. Mike Emeigh

Posted: October 21, 2011 at 07:11 PM (#3970884)

Boston.com says that Curt Young is returning to the Oakland A's.

The coaches were given permission to seek other employment, so my guess is that he left voluntarily. He had one year left on his contract with Boston, but teams almost always release the coaches when the manager departs.

-- MWE

33. Famous Original Joe C Posted: October 25, 2011 at 07:51 PM (#3975196)

In a not related but still related story, Lackey is having TJ surgery, and is out for 2012.

34. Textbook Editor Posted: October 25, 2011 at 08:01 PM (#3975207)

Re: #33 - Were I not a lazy man, I'd find all the threads where I stated this had to be the case. ARGH!

Well, now we get a ML minimum year of Lackey! Whee!

35. Chip Posted: October 25, 2011 at 08:01 PM (#3975208)

In a not related but still related story, Lackey is having TJ surgery, and is out for 2012.

Least shocking news ever.

No doubt there will be a separate thread shortly ...

36. Shredder Posted: October 25, 2011 at 08:02 PM (#3975210)

In a not related but still related story, Lackey is having TJ surgery, and is out for 2012.

I think I'd still trade Vernon Wells straight up for Lackey right now.

37. Fly, the most judgment-free human being on Earth Posted: October 25, 2011 at 08:09 PM (#3975218)

"Still"?

Lackey just got about 150% more valuable.

38. Joel W Posted: October 25, 2011 at 08:50 PM (#3975276)

@TL, what do you mean ML minimum? He doesn't count against the tax?

39. Fly, the most judgment-free human being on Earth Posted: October 25, 2011 at 08:54 PM (#3975282)

Joel: If Lackey missed something like 10 weeks with an elbow injury, it triggers a clause that gives a club option at the end of his contract at the ML minimum.

40. Dan Posted: October 30, 2011 at 05:34 PM (#3982777)

A source tells Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald that the Red Sox attempted to convince John Lackey to get Tommy John surgery as early as April, but the right-hander refused.

From mlbtraderumors.com

41. ellsbury my heart at wounded knee Posted: October 31, 2011 at 05:12 AM (#3983102)

A source tells Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald that the Red Sox attempted to convince John Lackey to get Tommy John surgery as early as April, but the right-hander refused.

Are you ####### kidding me? Dear god, I think I hate Lackey even more now. Unbelievable. Next we'll find out Crawford needed eye surgery.

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Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Statements from the Boston Red Sox, Jon Lester, Josh Beckett, John Lackey, and Terry Francona | redsox.com: Official Info

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