2011 Boston Redsox Epic Fail!!!

2011 Boston RedSox – Epic Fail!!!

    There’s nothing like a good slap in the face when you wake up to get the morning started off right. That’s what I got this morning as well as everyone else in Red Sox nation. Not only did they make it unbearable to see our beloved team go out like they did but we actually were forced to root for our most hated rival, the New York Yankees.

     This team was already projected to not only win more than 100 games but was considered to be the best team ever assembled. With a $162 million dollar payroll which included the huge signings of Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford and considered the best pitching in the game you might expect them to at least get to the playoffs right? After last night their record for the past month was 7-20 which included blowing a 9 game lead in the Wild Card. The best team ever assembled not only couldn’t break 90 wins but failed to even make the playoffs.

    On paper, I could see why the expectations were so high. They had 3 potential aces in Beckett, Lester & lackey and one of the best young talents in the game with Clay Buchholz. Then as their 5th starter they had Matsuzaka who would at worst be a number 3 starter for any other rotation and then at the tail end of the season they added Erik Bedard. Their bull pen had the likes of Jonathan Papelbon and Josh Bard who both could easily be ranked top in the league when the games on the line. Then they added Bobby Jenks and Dan wheeler who were already proved to be quality relief pitchers.

   The batting Lineup included perennial All Stars Kevin Youkilis, David Ortiz and former MVP Dustin Pedroia. The Red Sox then added the likes of Carl Crawford and hitting machine Adrian Gonzalez. Not to forget to mention Jacoby Ellsbury who was looking like a man possessed and was right in line to secure his first MVP Award and to tie it all together they had the “Best Manager in Baseball” Terry Francona.

   The starting pitching has been awful with an ERA of 7.34 in September, and it’s the main reason the team has tossed away a big lead in the AL wild-card race. Buchholz has been injured all year and Matsuzaka has been non existent for the past 2 seasons. Lackey, who was known as a “Big Game” pitcher, appeared to sh*t himself during the big games. The pitching staff went through multiple stretches were their ERA was worst in the league. Injuries were indeed a huge part of the struggle. Carl Crawford managed to hit career lows in steal, batting average, RBI’s and HR’s. Lackey finished the year with a 7 ERA and a record of 12-12. Buchholz was gone all year, Pedroia was hurt, Youkilis was hurt, JD Drew has been hurt since he started playing baseball and the list goes on.

    I agree that the injuries where a major part in why this team achieved the worst collapse in baseball history but injuries are part of the game. The team lacked heart and toughness. While I watched the game, I noticed that the players looked like it was already over and they were just done with the season. Carl Crawford looked like he wanted to be anywhere but there and I think I seen Jason Varitek sleeping on the bench during the 3rd inning. This team needs to learn how to fight back when the times are tough, that was what the Boston Red Sox were known for. You had to play this team all 9 innings to the fullest. We don’t need a new team; we just got into some bad habits that need to be corrected. Forget about the loss of money, you need to get the players out of here that are not here for the right reasons. Boston Red Sox of 2011 was an epic fail.