As Sox bats exploded in a four-game winning streak, off-field problems took the luster off their best run in weeks. Taking advantage of subpar pitching from Baltimore and Cleveland, they bombed the Orioles 15-7, setting a Memorial Stadium record by banging 23 hits. Mike Greenwell, suddenly developing his power stroke, led the way with 3 safeties and 5 rbi's, while Marty Barrett went 4 for 6 and four other players had 3 each against the hapless O's. Mike Smithson fared little better, departing in the fourth after allowing 5 earned runs before winning hurler Wes Gardner settled things down.
Boston continued to rap the ball in 10-6 and 14-7 triumphs in Cleveland, venting some of their frustrations on starters Greg Swindell and Rich Rodriguez followed by a number of shellshocked relievers. The second win saw 21 more hits and 4 homers, two by the suddenly-torrid Greenwell. The week also saw the unlucky Jeff Sellers suffer a broken hand on a line drive by Joe Carter and immediately go on the DL.
But the big news in Cleveland was more turmoil. It apparently began with a disagreement on the team bus ride to downtown between Dewey Evans and Wade Boggs. A loud argument ensued, and it continued in the hotel lobby involving Evans and Rick Cerone. Others were said to be part of it, including Oil Can Boyd (surprise). A Dan Shaughnessy article pinned the cause on the Margo Adams lawsuit, in which she was quoted as requesting depositions from several players.
The following day, a Sox game story was overshadowed by columns from Shaughnessy and Will McDonough. Dan's story was entitled "Turmoil is Two-Pronged" and talked mainly about the Boggs case. But the piece from Globe icon McDonough was the most damning yet to John McNamara. It was headlined "McNamara Has Lost Respect". It accused the skipper of literally running away from the team bus while his players fought in the rear, and of often dozing in the dugout and his office. McDonough laid it on the line: "It is obvious that there is no discipline, that McNamara does not have control, and his players certainly do not respect him…It doesn't take a genius to figure out the situation. McNamara has to go…The players, intentionally or not, have buried him by pronounced lack of respect for his authority."
This article by the highly-respected McDonough was probably the real death knell for Johnny Mac. Though Lou Gorman announced that his job was safe, it was little more than wishful thinking, and Sox Nation knew it. It was no longer if, but when, Mac would be gone.
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