"I am running out of ways to hate this Redsox season"  Well put by Bill Simmons last night on Twitter...
Seriously, why are the Sox so unlikeable this year and what is going on in their expensive non the less, club house??
I guess the icing on the cake for many of us fans in Boston came when the news broke that Josh Beckett was observed out swinging his golf clubs last week after he had been scratched from his start with a sore lat.  That may not sound like a huge deal but it feels like a huge blow after all that has gone on since Bobby V has taken the healm.  I personally am still a little bitter with how things were handled with Terry Francona at the end of last season.  He was a classy guy who won this city two World Series Championships however he was booted out of town like a piece of junk.  I understand there is more to it, but in comparison Bobby V just seems like a joke.  He seems like his primary purpose in Boston is to bring on drama.  It feels like the Sox are starring in their own soap opera which airs live daily on NESN...
And I have never been one to like soap operas.  Partially the lack of appeal in soap operas comes from long drawn out plots that never seem to conclude.  That feels like what is going on with the Sox the past few years.  It is starting to feel like groundhog day...  Ellsbury hurt, Youk with an ailing back, Crawford epic failure (if you haven't read my previous blog on Crawford, let me know.  I won't get started on him right now), a bullpen that explodes in every outting...
And WHAT have the Redsox done to move away from these things??  Well, frankly not much.  I find myself wanting to see the newer faces in the lineup like Middlebrooks, Doubront, and Aviles since they haven't yet let me down and are refreshing.  I find myself going to Fenway to enjoy being in such a great park.  And my motivation to go over and over, comes from the excitement of watching and enjoying the opposing teams coming into town.  I found myself in a heavenly state a few weeks ago watching Josh Hamilton, Ian Kinsler, Elvis Andrus put on a show in Fenway.  And at the end of the day, I feel SO bad for Dustin Pedroia as he seems like the only one on the field who really cares about this team and cares about being a leader.  On Sunday in the 17 inning game, he was still diving for balls in the 16th inning like it was the first inning.  He always puts forth 110%.  His uniform is always dirty by the second inning. I hope that he doesn't get frustrated soon and give up, becuase he is the string that The Sox are desperately clinging onto right now.
Now, I know that some of you are thinking, 'Well what about your Phillies... they are not much better'.  No, they are not much better, BUT they are still a likeable team.  They have clear leaders, some of which are injured, and others whom have learned to step up to the plate in their absence.  They take the field every night with a determination to win, and a willingness to try.  They are not playing out drama on the field and their skipper is never flustered.  After each game, they state that they need to play harder and that losing is unacceptable... They don't blame each other or look to create drama.  Thus, while it sometimes feels like I am watching the Bad News Bears on TV, I continue to watch The Phillies night after night.  I have to say, I have always liked the movie the Bad News Bears and would watch it any day over a soap opera.  

CL