Beckett Had a Down Year As Leader

Looking back this time last year many people was questioning Josh Beckett’s contract extension because of ending 6-6 and this year so people are questioning the extension for a different reason.

Beckett had an amazing first half the season leading to him being on selected as an All-Star. After the break his numbers began to decline ending the season with 1-2 record in the month of September but ending the season with a respectable 13-7 season with a 2.89 ERA.

So why are so many people upset? Reports have come out about starting pitchers drinking in the clubhouse on their off days. Beckett’s name has be mentioned over and over since these reports have come out, more so since Terry Francona left the team.

Beckett has been the leader of the pitching staff on and off the field but according to an anonymous Red Sox player saying, "Josh has some real leadership qualities, but this time he didn't lead left, he didn't lead right, he led wrong." It’s a shame because the managerial staff has look as him as a leader to the point where they sent Clay Buchotlz to learn from him when he was called up to the bigs.

When Francona left he mentioned not being able to lead and influence players that he once was able to influence. Beckett was one of those players once easily worked with him in the past and now many people believe that is not the case this past season.

Beckett is a veteran in the clubhouse and many of the younger players look up to him. The pitching staff lead by him had a poor season and over and over have caused some problems with media. Beckett has been tied with John Lackey who has been a basket case for the Sox all season.

Many people also question Beckett’s preparation coming into the season being 20 pounds overweight and his conditioning was poor. His conditioning also affects the whole bullpen because of his lack of ability to go long in games as he did in the past. Which could have lead to the over use of the pen. 

Beckett needs to step up next season and become the leader of this team in a positive way. He has the ablity to lead the younger guys on the staff to a win. If the rumors of drinking in the clubhouse are true he needs to drop the crap. Even if you are not playing that day there is no reason to be drinking in the clubhouse period! You should be using the off time that you have to be preparing for you next start or in the dugout cheering on your guys. It is completely unacceptable to behave like this and hopefully he will go back to the 2007 Beckett that joined the Red Sox and became an instant leader worried about winning games. To some players big money contracts effect their play let’s hope Beckett is not one of them.

I am not saying that this whole season is on the shoulders of Josh Beckett but I am saying he is a part of what happened.

For those of you who want to know how much the Red Sox pitching staff like beer take a look:

Interview with David Ortiz

Jessica Moran over at csnne.com had an amazing one-on-one interview with David Ortiz discussing every thing from the collapse of the 2011 season to his free agency. Ortiz also speaks on Tito leaving the club its a good watch so go take a look. 

Francona says Red Sox Need "New Voice"

Ok not going to lie had to put this off for some time prior to writing this because I felt like I was right the obituary of a loved one. As you all know by now the Red Sox released Terry Francona from his duty as the skipper earlier today. The news came out sometime yesterday that it would happen and of course it did.

Early this morning team owners John Henry, Tom Warner, and Larry Lucchino meet with Francona as well as GM Theo Epstein. The meeting ended with ownership leaving as well as Tito. Epstein even went as far to put out a press statement announcing that no decision would be made and then rumor of Francona being back at Fenway brought back question.

Around 5 PM reports came out it was the end of an era and that Francona was no longer the manager of the Red Sox. Many people including myself at the time believe that he had been fired and was heartbroken at the time. Statements were issued from all three parties and dual press conferences were to be held. That is where the information came out.

"It was my decision. I don't know what I want to do. I know I want to stay in the game. This is all I've ever done, all I ever want to do," Francona said during his press conference held earlier tonight.

This got me to wondering what really went on in that morning press conference well Tito would tell us.

"We talked about a lot of different things. I think they wanted to know how I felt about coming back. I think that's probably a fair way to put it. I told them a lot of things that were on my mind, we talked obviously a lot about the organization, and then the team, and what went right, what didn't go right, and then I told them I thought it was time for a new voice. And that's not an easy thing to say. But I thought it was the right thing to do.”

Earlier today news came out of the Boston Globe about conflicts in the locker room even to the point of starting pitchers drinking in the clubhouse on days they weren’t playing. It seemed as if players would not listen to Tito anymore and it seems as if he felt the same.

"I felt frustrated, my inability to reach maybe guys I've been able to in the past," he said. "Or affect the outcome a little bit differently, and that bothers me."

So what did ownership do to keep him around? Not a whole lot in my book to the point where Francona went to add this:

"To be honest with you, I didn't know, or I'm not sure, how much support there was from ownership," Francona said. "I don't know that I felt real comfortable. You've got to be all in in this job, and I voiced that today. There were some things that, maybe, going through things here, to make it work it's got to be everybody together, and I was questioning some of that a little bit."

Later ownership was ask about this comment and if they had been behind Francona.

"I was actually puzzled by that comment," Lucchino said at a press conference held following one by Francona at Fenway Park tonight. "We have done nothing differently this year than we have done in previous years, and I think it's a question you probably have to ask him. I thought he did an exceptional job in conveying the strength of his feelings and his frustrations and his fatigue with the situation here in Boston."

Francona was ask about the pitchers drinking and other unacceptable behavior in the clubhouse and declined to answer questions on this.

"I'd rather talk about generalities. I would never single out players or an event, I'd never do that," he said. "I think I've been pretty open about that I was frustrated, and couldn't reach some of the things I thought needed to be reached, but I'd never single out players."

The greatest memory of Francona was when he led them to the 2004 and 2008 World Series and watching his guys in the dog pile.

As most Red Sox fans know Francona has the closest relationship with Dustin Pedroia.

"I love him. He’s given me every opportunity in the world and given me the respect to play the game with a freedom, and that’s what he allows us players to do. Geez, man, he’s done everything for me and everything for my family ... he’s done everything for me in the five years I’ve been in the big leagues. My heart’s broken for him and I wish he was back and I wish I could have played my whole career for him. It’s going to be hard. I’m sure he’ll come back a better manager and a better person for it. Us, as an organization, we’re going to move forward together,” added Pedroia.

All this should not have come as a surprise to Red Sox fans in the last couple of weeks when Francona was ask about returning for another season he would always decline to comment. But it still hurts the fans who loved him. Francona is considered my most fans including myself as the greatest manager in Red Sox history. During his eight year tenure including two World Series and having the second best win streak in the post season as the skipper of the Red Sox. I honestly believe if Tito wants to manage again he will be back.

In case you missed the press conference here is coverage from it.