As everyone in Baltimore knows, the Orioles finished their fourteenth straight losing season a few weeks ago and are searching for a new general manager after Andy MacPhail decided to leave at the end of his contract. Their young pitchers under performed and the O’s are in serious need of middle of the order help and a couple solid starters if they want to improve next season.
Despite all of their downfalls, the Orioles find themselves in a better position than the Boston Red Sox, who entered the 2011 season as the favorite to win the AL East and many people’s pick to win the World Series. Things in Boston spiraled out of control after the Orioles eliminated their playoff chances with a walkoff 4-3 win in game 162 in what was statistically the biggest collapse in MLB history.
Since that time the Sox decided to let their manager, Terry Francona, go after rumors circulated that he had lost control of the locker room of this $160,000,000 team. In case you need a quick recap of how bad things are in Boston, here are a few highlights.
- Beer, chicken and video games became the priority in the Sox clubhouse as Josh Beckett, John Lackey and Jon Lester were reportedly drinking during games according to Bob Hohler of the Boston Globe.
- The collapse got an official music video as country music singer Kevin Fowler’s “Hell Yeah, I like Beer” featured all three of those accused of drinking during the game. Yes that’s a real song and no you can’t make this stuff up.
- This isn’t new behavior for Beckett. The Palm Beach Post reports that during his time with the Marlins in 2003, skipper Jack McKeon used to lock the clubhouse during games because Beckett and Brad Penny would sneak into the locker room for mid-game drinks. McKeon resorted to handing out bathroom passes to his own players.
- Mike Giardi of Comcast SportsNet New England wrote that Carl Crawford, once known as a leader in the Rays clubhouse, “kept more and more to himself” because of how bad the culture was in Boston. Apparently, Crawford gave a heart felt speech in the middle of the collapse, but was never taken seriously by his teammates.
- Players that Francona had protected during his tenure, an aging Jason Varitek, David Ortiz in the midst of steroid allegations and Jon Lester who once seemed like son to him never took his defense during the collapse according to Giardi.
- The guy that put all the pieces together for Boston during their curse snapping title in 2004, general manager Theo Epstein, is also on the outs as he decided that taking a job with the Cubs in Chicago was better for him than fixing Boston’s problems. It certainly promises to be a difficult task.
Zach Wilt is the Founding Editor of BaltimoreSportsReport.com. You can follow him on twitter @zamwi or send him an email: zach@baltimoresportsreport.com
A young innovation general manager would make me very excited about this team. Let’s hope it happens.
Where are all the Dicky Eklunds who were on this site earlier this year telling us how “old school” Josh Beckett is? Yea, you know, puka shell wearing, soul patch sporting, Popeyes chicken and biscuit eating, “Hell yea, I love beer”, Call of Duty playing Josh Beckett? He’s “old school” all right.
Zach, you are a great writer and a true Baltimore Sports guy but I have to disagree with you…
The Orioles are about to hire some clown with the name of “Clarence Smalls” to be a GM in name only as the manager, Buck Showalter actually is the defacto GM. Another clown move by the Oriole team while Boston will “THINK” about a GM that WILL improve their team and not be a “Yes” man to Angelos and Bucky…
Zach, you are my nephew but I thought I brought you up better than that “flip-flopping”, Chow loving father of yours…
You’re just pissed that the team you adopted as “your baseball team” is lookingretty stupid right about now. Chicken, biscuits, beer, and Pacman and the low life Orioles kept them out of the post season.
No MGW, I’m actually pissed that Walmart did not, I repeat, did not, have “Fava Beans” yesterday.
Do mister MGW rike Chow? cause Chow rike mister MGW. that crown dog ricker SPY say mister MGW rike Chow bout 2 month ago. but me chow, being smart guy Chow be, no risten to the roonatic SPy. Chow rike go to Oriole game with Mister MGW. Chow not good at basebrawl but mister MGW teach Chow what happening between the rines. maybe one day Chow, mister MGW, mister WINK, mister BM1949, Mister intimidator, mister sader, mister prol, mister zak pray game. Chow be all day runner cause chow run fast. Chow rearned to run fast in chow homerand cause Chow had to run from gangs who want Chow homegrown herb. Talk to Chow guys so we can do pickup game. somebody bat for Chow cause Chow no can hit. SPY can pray. SPY can crean off homeprate, get Chow water and rub ointment on chow body so Chow muscles no cramp up.
Hey chinky chinky chowman,,,,,,,,your hari-kari did not work,,,,,,,,you missed your heart and hit your brain…………..
Thats hilarious….me rike.
Jon rike Spy? Jon, Spy rike when you dangle dice on he forehead so go be a diceshooter.