Thoughts from a former Red Sox fan

Red Sox fans demand change!

I thought I would give it a few weeks, collect my thoughts, gather as much information as I can before being considered irrational. But enough is enough. I'm about ready to toss in the towel with being a dedicated Red Sox fan.

Being a native New Englander, that's not easy to do. The Red Sox were, and still are, a part of growing up in this area. There was nothing like the good 'ol days of spring training kicking off with the annual departure of the moving van from Yawkey Way in February. The hopes that this could be the year, and knowing in the end, it really wasn't going to be the year, but there was hope. 

2004 changed everything.  And for that matter, 2007 was just the dessert, but the World Series Championship really was the greatest moment in Boston sports history. Edging past Adam Viniatieri's kick against the Rams in the Super Bowl (certainly one of my all-time greatest memories). 

But the Red Sox were the Red Sox. The loveable losers who always came so close but never actually winning. Yet we always listened to the games on the radio while doing yardwork or enjoying a late summer bbq in the evening. Always loved keeping tabs of how far behind the Sox were behind the Yankees in the standings and watching highlights from those late night games on the West Coast in the morning. 

Since 2007, things have been quite different. Now I know you can't complain about a pair of World Series Championships and I understand that. But this 2011 team finally put me over the edge. Risking team chemistry by assembling the second-highest payroll (yep, we're the Yankees North) is what we as fans want our owners doing.  Building teams that will challenge for a title. 

But the lofty attitude by the three amigos (Henry, Werner, and Luchino), Theo, the broadcast crew, and even Tito. Now I will always give Francona a free pass for what he accomplished and he certainly went out with his head held high during tough times. 

And now we have the news that that pitchers not scheduled to pitch were chugging beers, eating fried chicken, and playing video games in the clubhouse during games, is just too much to take.  How about getting in the dugout, cheering on your teammates trying to reverse the most embarrassing late-season collapse in MLB history. 

Hopefully someone, anyone, will clean house an right this ship and hopefully save an angry fan base. 

Maybe see if that moving van might be available to come a little early.