An article by Michael Silverman in Wednesday's Herald has some quotes from Terry Francona's upcoming book (co-authored by the ubiquitous Dan Shaughnessy). Tito has some things to say about Sox ownership, and they are not complimentary. "Our owners in Boston….they come in with all those ideas about baseball, but I don't think that they love baseball. I think they like baseball. It's revenue, and I know that's their right…and they're good owners. But they don't love the game. It's more of a toy or hobby for them. It's not their blood. They're going to come in and out of baseball. It's different for me. Baseball is my life."
The piece goes on to talk about the ownership's concerns about slumping NESN ratings and management's wish to have some "sexy guys" on the roster to boost TV numbers. Apparently, this opinion was at least part of the reason for the signings of the now-departed Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzales.
It what Francona says is true (Theo Epstein was also quoted in the piece) it seems like after 10 years, ownership is getting bored with running the Sox. Rumors have abounded that John Henry is more interested in his English soccer squad. In my opinion, it is time to sell the team.
Many folks in the world like-but do not love- their jobs. I doubt, for example, if the man who plowed the parking lot behind my apartment building this week loves running a snow plow. It may pay him good money, but I doubt if he goes home and tells his wife or girlfriend "I loved plowing today." But men who run professional sports franchises have to love what they do- their actions, good or bad-have a profound effect not only on 25 players, but on millions of fans who pay top dollar to see the Sox play.
During Tom Yawkey's long tenure as Boston owner, writers often accused him of treating his team like a toy. But for all his faults-and there were many- no one could accuse Yawkey of not loving the game and deeply wanting the Sox to win a World Series, which they never did in his lifetime.
Mssrs. Werner, Henry, and Lucchino, I believe the time has come to move on. Let someone like Robert Kraft take over. Liking isn't enough.
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