The blame game is very easy for us who stand outside and look in at the Red Sox. Just who does what? The finger-pointing has given me an advanced case of arthritis. There is always something to be critical of and especially so when we can implement hindsight.
Dave Dombrowski is the real public image of management since he oversees everything baseball – president or some such title. But is he really Machiavelli? There is someone else pulling the strings – not that DD is a puppet, but we all have orders to follow and in baseball, you follow them explicitly or find another gig.
So, the ultimate turkey in this mini-tirade is the owner John Henry. Henry has created a model franchise that has consistently been competitive, mostly entertaining and has given the long-starved fan base respect (ah – take that, 2004 Yankees!) that comes with three World Series Championships. There have been potholes along the way and you may have to sell a body part to afford a ticket, but this is not the Yawkey years.
Everyone knew the Red Sox needed a bat as in big time home run bat. At BSI we wasted a barrel full of internet ink speculating on just who it would be? My favorite was the same as David Ortiz’s favorite – Edwin Encarnacion, but the Red Sox did nothing. I get it about the reset on the luxury tax, but, guys, manipulate the contracts a bit as this was a train wreck in 162 game motion.
The Red Sox offense was not mule meat, but a long way from the usual ribeye Red Sox fans expect. Now that mistake is going to be (hopefully) rectified with a worldwide search for a slugger of note. Giancarlo Stanton? J.D. Martinez? Someone will fill the void and consider the market conditions the failure to address this is 2016 offseason will probably cost $100 Million extra or some prime talent. A very expensive turkey.