GoodBoys Nation - Archives » Done Like Dinner

July 27, 2010

News item: TV and radio ratings fall for Red Sox.

I can’t say that’s surprising, because even though I spent good money on my MLB Extra Innings DirecTV package a couple of months back I haven’t felt a whole lot of interest, let alone passion, for this year’s edition of the Boston Red Sox. Talk about a waste of money - I’ve only watched a handful of games from start to finish, many not at all.

Y’know in show biz, it’s great if you’re really really good, even OK if you’re really really bad. The worst thing you can be is boring, and that’s what the 2010 edition of the Red Sox have been. Oh sure, there have been some nice human interest stories along the way in the replacement players the Sox have had to throw into the fray with the major injuries to Jacoby Ellsbury, Dustin Pedroia, Victor Martinez, Clay Buchholz, Josh Beckett, Jason Varitek, and Jeremy Hermida, and the day-to-day ailments of Mike Cameron and J.D. Drew, but let’s be honest: people don’t want to watch the likes of Kevin Cash, Darnell McDonald and Daniel Nava. Worse, in a town that’s gotten pretty cozy with winning, these guys ain’t gonna bring you to the Promised Land.

In a division with the Yankees and the Rays, not even close.

But there’s something else going on that maybe people don’t want to admit: sure, the Sox have had a damned good run with two World Series championships in 2004 and 2007, but now the cast of characters that brought those championships has gotten a little stale to interest people on a day-to-day basis. Think about it: David “Big Papi” Ortiz, while putting up decent enough numbers, is still a shadow of his former self. Pitcher Josh Beckett may be in the same category. Terry Francona has been a great manager - perhaps the best ever to have ever been at the Sox helm - but haven’t we seen his full act after seven years? The grand old core of Pedro Martinez, Curt Schilling, Varitek, Ramirez, Jonathan Papelbon, Hidecki Okajima, Drew, and Ortiz belong to the ages. It’s time for new management - and new blood - to surround the core of Pedroia, Buchholz, Kevin Youkilis, and Daniel Bard, especially with up-and-comers like outfielders Josh Reddick and Ryan Kalish, and shortstop Jose Iglesias just a year or two year away from bringing youthful enthusiasm and a sense of real excitement and passion back to the old ballyard.

Until then, watching the 2010 Sox is akin to watching the Rolling Stones or the Eagles play out the string. They was great times, to be sure, and they can still put on a hell of a show on occasion. But it’s time to move on.

All one has to do is contrast the play of the Rays and Yankees to realize the 2010 Red Sox are done like dinner. Right now, they’re not pitching well or defending well. And don’t even get me started on shortstop Marco Scutaro or Daisuke Matsuzaka. I can’t watch either of them.

I’m not jumping off the bandwagon; heck, I was never on it. I just find it hard to watch a caliber of baseball that simply doesn’t match up in excitement or intrigue to what I’ve - we’ve - been used to seeing. Obviously, I’m not alone in that assessment.