Today I read Bob Hohler’s article published in the Boston Globe called “Inside the Collapse”.  Hohler refers to “team sources” when stating how he learned of the intimate and disturbing details associated with the 2011 Boston Red Sox.  These indiscretions include:

• Top Red Sox players (Beckett, Lester, Lackey) drinking booze, eating and playing video games while their teammates were actually playing a game.
• Disgruntled players who openly objected to trivial requests of management.
• Selfish players only concerned about their own accomplishments.
• Constant undermining of the manager and coaches.

The article goes on to then malign the job of former manager Terry Francona citing highly personal issues that include:

• A failing marriage
• A potential prescription drug addiction
• A real concern about children/relatives deployed as soilders in Afghanistan

There is no doubt that the 2011 Red Sox are/were a disgraceful bunch of underperformers who casually dismissed management and their adoring fans.  That said, for Red Sox owners Larry Lucchino, John Henry and Tom Werner to float unsubstantiated rumors about their former manager is downright unseemly.  Larry, John and Tom endorse the philosophy that firing a person is not enough agony to inflict on another human.  They must use the puppet media to deflect criticism, and burry any and all viable scapegoats.  I don’t know Terry Francona but he seems like a decent person who helped generate a lot of money for management/ownership over his 8 year tenure as Red Sox manager.  During interviews conducted post his dismissal, Francona was openly remorseful when taking responsibility for the failure of his team.  He had plenty of opportunities to lash out, but remained professional and composed as he exited Fenway Park for the last time. 

Red Sox General Manager, Theo Epstein is heading to Chicago to become the Cubs Director of Baseball Operations.  In the coming days, I am certain Hohler will publish another article that cites unnamed “team sources” who besmirch Theo’s 10 year run in Boston. 

Firing someone for lack of performance is certainly the right of management in every business setting.  The 2011 collapse of the Boston Red Sox should have meant the end of Francona and Epstein.  That said, trying to destroy someone’s reputation in order to preserve one’s own image is reprehensible.   

Related articles

• Pitchers Hooked On Beer, Fried Chicken, And Video Games! Francona On Pills! The Boston Globe’s Version Of The 2011 Red Sox Collapse [Boston Red Sox] (deadspin.com)
• Theo Epstein Is On The Verge Of Leaving The Red Sox For The Cubs (businessinsider.com)
• Latest Boston Globe Story on Red Sox 2011 Chaos Confirms One Thing: Ownership Revels in Bad Spin (juliorvarela.com)
• Theo Epstein To Cubs; Deal Finalized (yankeesfansunite.wordpress.com)
• Source: Red Sox GM Epstein to join Cubs (tsn.ca)