How to Fix the Boston Red Sox

I want to thank all of you for your concern and kind words. I received multiple texts, IMs, and emails in reference to the most recent Red Sox collapse. I'm happy to report that no, I did not drive off a bridge and no, I did not torch all of my memorabilia. Before I get too far into this post, though, I want to state up front that a lot of what I am about to write out is in the moment and I may look back and regret it. Then again, I may look at this post in a few months and compare it to what will actually happen and wish that this was the blueprint for the future. Only time will tell but I felt a sense of obligation to try and put together a rational plan for my favorite team following a choke job of epic proportions.

1) Figure Out the Managing Situation
The breaking news this morning from Ken Rosenthal is that Terry Francona and the Red Sox are mutually agreeing to part ways. The two parties are meeting this morning (or perhaps they already have) and it's likely that sometime today or tomorrow there will be a formal announcement that Tito has been let go. If he departs he leaves with a 734-531 record and two World Series championships. The Francona regime has easily been the most successful in Red Sox history and it's a shame to see it potentially end in such a disgracing manner. There are reports coming out of Boston that there were problems in the clubhouse, including pitchers drinking during their off days and cliques forming that caused fissures in the team's chemistry. I don't know how much stock I put into these things just yet but if it was happening under his watch then it's a huge red flag. Maybe this is just a case of a manager's message getting drowned out after so many years of continuity. At any rate, Francona is likely gone and he's rumored to be an option for the Chicago White Sox and I hope no Red Sox fans harbor ill will towards him for this ending. [NOTE: ESPN is now reporting that Francona has told the team that he is out as manager.]

As far as other options to replace Tito, well there isn't a whole lot out there. I've already seen Tony La Russa, Bobby Valentine, and Joe Torre as options but let's not kid ourselves, those are terrible fits. Buster Olney is speculating that the team should look at Pete Mackanin, the bench coach of the Philadelphia Phillies. I'll have to plead ignorance here because I don't know a heck of a lot about the guy but I trust Buster's opinion. Joe Maddon isn't going to leave Tampa Bay for Boston so that idea is shot and everyone that posts it on a forum or calls into a radio show suggesting it should just stop talking spots. It's obvious that John Farrell would have been the best option but he was stolen away by Toronto last offseason. If the team wants to stay in house then I personally believe that DeMarlo Hale is an excellent candidate. I doubt there will be a major, shocking hire but if I had to throw out a big name possibility I would say keep your eye on Mike Scioscia. I don't think he'd leave the Angels but that's the craziest possibility I could think of that has even a toe in the realm of possibility (I should note as I was typing this that Colin Cowherd mentioned it on his radio show, perfect timing). [NOTE: The Angels just let go of their GM, Tony Reagins. My main rational for the Scioscia suggestion was the fact that there was supposed tension between he and the front office. Scratch his name off the list.] I have accepted that it will probably end up being Jim Riggleman or someone of that ilk.

2) Give Carl Crawford Some Space
He's already being nicknamed the "Carlbatross." Fans and radio hosts on WEEI are already saying that he is more disappointing than John Lackey. There are suggestions that the team should try to trade him ala Vernon Wells. Stop it. Everyone who keeps suggesting this just freakin' stop. Yes, Crawford had the worst year of his career and he's signed for another six years to a gazillion dollars. I get it, he missed a catch that we as fans have seen him make time and time again for Tampa Bay. Here's the thing though: Crawford probably shouldn't have been signed in the first place. There was literally no place to put him in the lineup and it didn't make sense at the time and it makes even less sense now. Crawford doesn't like to hit leadoff and the team also happens to have Jacoby Ellsbury there. Alright, well he usually hit second or third in Tampa and he's more comfortable there anyway. Well, the team also happens to have Dustin Pedroia (pretty much the perfect #2 hitter) and Adrian Gonzalez (ditto for the #3 slot). Crawford started the year hitting in the three hole and it was obvious that he struggled to produce. So where does that leave him to hit in the lineup, the bottom third? Well then that negates his best asset, which happens to be his speed, because how can he steal a base when David Ortiz, Kevin Youkilis, or J.D. Drew are on base ahead of him? After his various leg injuries he didn't have confidence in his wheels and it showed.

Hopefully his sophomore year in red will bring better results. Maybe he had to take a step back to take a step forward, I truly have no idea. Perhaps the team should do with him what the Yankees did with Curtis Granderson, who also struggled against left handers: adjust to the pitcher on the mound. If there's a right hander up there then put him in the two hole and bat Pedroia in the cleanup slot (which, somehow, he makes work). When there's a leftie then bat him near the bottom and hope that he eventually has an epiphany like Granderson did this year. As far as his defense goes, anyone who knows advanced defensive stats or just watches baseball knew that he would lose a ton of value there. A lot of flyball outs that he got in Tampa were now doubles off of the high walls of the Green Monster. Remember the Evan Longoria walkoff homer on that dinky little fence in the left field corner? Yeah, I think it's easier to make to make an out on a flyball in Tampa than Boston.