How to Fix the Red Sox

What would you do to fix the Red Sox?  Below Rob from The Bottom Line and I share our thoughts.

Rob Munstis from The Bottom Line:

The simple fix here is to dump Beckett and Lackey, name Pedroia captain, hire a manager that will hold players accountable for their actions and sign free agents to fill the gaps. Seems simple enough, right? The issue here, as always, is money.

The 2011 Red Sox payroll was $160+ million. Beckett is owed $51M over the next three years and Lackey is owed $48M. When I was reminded that Pedroia made $5.75M this past season… I almost threw up. But the Sox need to dump these beer drinking, chicken eating bums if they really want to change the culture in the clubhouse. Ownership is going to have to eat a ton of money, but they lost the real Sox fans years ago and they’re losing the pink hats as well with this smear campaign against Francona. The only way they’ll get anyone to care about this team come April is if they shut their months make some ballsy decisions.

The list of Free Agent starters isn’t very exciting, but if Lester can shake this off and emerge as the ace and Buchholz can bounce back from a lost 2011 season… they could make a run at veteran Mark Buehrle (33) for some stability and/or lefty CJ Wilson – the current ace of the Texas Rangers. From there, the Sox have there pick of pitchers that are more than capable of 10 wins and an ERA in the 4.00s… which would be a serious upgrade from Lackey (12-12, 6.41) or Wakefield (7-8, 5.12).

So… with the rotation stabilized and a new tone set, the Sox will need to look at the offense. With all the news about the clubhouse going to hell, I’m starting to feel very sympathetic toward Carl Crawford. He fell into a funk and then spent a season in hell… no wonder he sucked. I expect him to bounce back. With Ortiz and JD Drew gone, the Sox need two solid bats and will have some money coming off the books to use. The key here will be getting at least one of these two spots filled with a hitter than can protect Gonzo. I’m not sure Youk is that guy…

With all this turmoil and money being wasted, there no way the Sox sign Pujols or Fielder, so let’s not even go there…

This will be the biggest problem for the Sox. The Sox have a lot of holes to fill. They can spend a fortune to fill those holes with the best players available… but that hasn’t worked so well in recent years. I suspect that they will settle for cheaper options and that is likely to result in less offense… but if it stabilizes the atmosphere in the locker room, I’m all for it.

All that said… one big splash… something like an extension for Ellsbury or stealing Sabathia from the Yankees would get many fans back on the bandwagon.

Lastly, they need the right manager. I’m not sure who that is or what’s available, but that will be a crucial decision. The fans will need to decide how they view the upcoming season. With lots of potential turnover, will they still expect a championship? Or will they give the new GM, manager and players a break and be content with an honest effort?

Personally, I’m disgusted by all of this. I for one, will be looking for an honest effort and the chance to feel good about the guys wearing the red socks… something I’ve been wishing for since 2004.

Matt from Fenway West:

• Lower ticket and food prices – The Red Sox need to do something to get fans to believe ownership is committed to them and not just NESN ratings.  The first step in that direction would be to make going to a game affordable and accessible to more people.  They don’t have to go back to 1912 prices for the 100th anniversary of Fenway but they do not to address this problem.

• Let Ortiz and Tek walk. – There is no question the great things both of these players have done for the Red Sox and each will have a special place in Red Sox history.  However, it is time for new blood.  The Sox need some young players or hungry veterans (hungry for a championship, not fried chicken).  It was young, hungry players’ drive that led to the 2007 World Series.

• Trade Josh Beckett. – The recent news from the clubhouse shows that Beckett was a bad role model for Lester, Buchholz, and Bard.  I think those three can get back with the program but I am not so sure about Beckett.  Nothing would send a message like trading the ring leader.  Unlike Lackey, Beckett still has value on the market.  His inconsistent seasons since 2007 show he is just not a front of the rotation pitcher in Boston anymore even though he might be somewhere else.