The time has come to fire Francona

[conversationpc]

They WILL lose this game tonight, trust me. There's no way they don't give up a three run lead over the last four innings...

...Three innings to go, two run lead...no WAY they hold on for the win.

6-5!

That was the first game of the double-header...These guys were crowing about how the Sox were going to blow game 2, which they won 18-9.

[Seven Wishes2]

My point stands. The only way you can win a game with "AA" Weiland, Shellackey, and Cakefield is to score at least a dozen runs.

The thing is, if the Sox somehow manage to hold on and make the playoffs, they could do serious damage if Buccholz comes back - if he's ready to go, the top 3 of Lester, Beckett, and Buchholz is only rivaled by Philly.

[conversationpc]

My point stands. The only way you can win a game with "AA" Weiland, Shellackey, and Cakefield is to score at least a dozen runs.

The thing is, if the Sox somehow manage to hold on and make the playoffs, they could do serious damage if Buccholz comes back - if he's ready to go, the top 3 of Lester, Beckett, and Buchholz is only rivaled by Philly.

Yeah, I don't understand why Francona continues to run Lackey and Weiland out there. Weiland has good stuff but he needs more time at Pawtucket. Lackey is just done...He either needs to go elsewhere, into the pen, or something. He now has the distinction of having the highest ERA for a Red Sox full-time starting pitcher EVER.

[Seven Wishes2]

Great job, PapelBum! You gave up a season-losing 3 run double to a career minor league journeyman second baseman with a .256 career batting average - by grooving a two-strike fastball over the plate! Thanks for costing the Sox the season!!!

And double thanks to Lard, who will wind up with his FOURTH LOSS in TEN TEAM GAMES by loading the bases with one out in the eighth. ASSHOLE!!!!!

ASSHOLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[conversationpc]

The Sox have the 2nd worst record in baseball over the last 20 games. Way to go!

[Seven Wishes2]

Way to go, Francona. Beckett is pitching in obvious pain, 6 mph of his fastball, unable to generate any power because of his injury, and this idiot leaves him in the game to blow a 3 run lead.

I actually am close to rooting for Anaheim or Tampa to pass the Sox so they can completely overhaul this roster and put a competitive team on the field in 2012. This is PATHETIC.

[Seven Wishes2]

Wow! We're still within a touchdown with our ace on the mound after two innings! Hooray Red Sox! Great work, Francona! Terrific job, Epstein!

[S2M]

Anyone still on the bandwagon is either a pink hat, or delusional...wait! That's the same thing. This team sucks ass....already down 6-0 in the 3rd.

[Seven Wishes2]

This team has NO heart and NO balls. They WANT to lose.

[Gin and Tonic Sky]

Anyone still on the bandwagon is either a pink hat, or delusional...wait! That's the same thing. This team sucks ass....already down 6-0 in the 3rd.

where's the fucking rain like last night . Needs to come back, now !

[S2M]

This team HAS to lead the majors in:

Strikeouts
GIDP
LOB
Errors in the month of September.
Worst signings EVER: Matsuzaka, Bedard, Gagne, Drew, Crawford, Jenks, LACKEY
Managerial trips to the mound
Instances of giving up

[conversationpc]

I'm not happy about how the Sox are playing but why the hell don't you two guys find other teams to follow?

[S2M]

I'm not happy about how the Sox are playing but why the hell don't you two guys find other teams to follow?

Pink Hat alert....warning....warning.

[Seven Wishes2]

I'm not happy about how the Sox are playing but why the hell don't you two guys find other teams to follow?

Because I've been living and dying (mostly dying) with this team since 1971.

[Enigma869]

As big of a tank job as this is...it's still a complete non-issue for real Red Sox fans. As much as I'd love to see the Sox win it all, they've won two, and that's one more than I would settle for. Honestly, I don't like this Red Sox team, AT ALL. They're not a very easy team for me to root for. They're a team full of whiners, excuse makers, and overpaid prima donnas. Pedroia is about the only guy on this team that I really like.

[S2M]

As big of a tank job as this is...it's still a complete non-issue for real Red Sox fans. As much as I'd love to see the Sox win it all, they've won two, and that's one more than I would settle for. Honestly, I don't like this Red Sox team, AT ALL. They're not a very easy team for me to root for. They're a team full of whiners, excuse makers, and overpaid prima donnas. Pedroia is about the only guy on this team that I really like.

Agreed...Dustin plays with a chip. I like Ells too.

[TageRyche]

It's a choke job, not a tank job.

Tank job implies losing on purpose.

[Enigma869]

It's a choke job, not a tank job.

Tank job implies losing on purpose.

Maybe in your world. I'll call it what I feel like calling it! Go police someone else.

[conversationpc]

Unbelievably bad decision by Francona to start THE WORST STARTING PITCHER in baseball in game two of a double-header when the season is on the line.

[conversationpc]

As big of a tank job as this is...it's still a complete non-issue for real Red Sox fans. As much as I'd love to see the Sox win it all, they've won two, and that's one more than I would settle for. Honestly, I don't like this Red Sox team, AT ALL. They're not a very easy team for me to root for. They're a team full of whiners, excuse makers, and overpaid prima donnas. Pedroia is about the only guy on this team that I really like.

Agreed...Dustin plays with a chip. I like Ells too.

Youk plays hard, too, but there are others as well.

[Enigma869]

Youk plays hard, too, but there are others as well.

He does, but he's a bit of a douche and one of the more hated players in MLB by opposing players. The other thing about Youkilis is aside from his awful season this years, he disappears in the second half of every season, which simply isn't acceptable if you want to be viewed as a top MLB player.

[conversationpc]

Youk plays hard, too, but there are others as well.

He does, but he's a bit of a douche and one of the more hated players in MLB by opposing players. The other thing about Youkilis is aside from his awful season this years, he disappears in the second half of every season, which simply isn't acceptable if you want to be viewed as a top MLB player.

Who really cares if opposing players don't like him. Opposing players hate Pedroia even more than Youkilis. Pedey is an arrogant, mouthy little punk...But he gets the job done. Youkilis does for the most part, too...He's never going to be one of the best players in the game and so what if he tends to have a worse second half than first. If the team had all players who played well in the second half only then we'd always be too far out to even be contenders in the first place.

[Enigma869]

Who really cares if opposing players don't like him. Opposing players hate Pedroia even more than Youkilis. Pedey is an arrogant, mouthy little punk...But he gets the job done. Youkilis does for the most part, too...He's never going to be one of the best players in the game and so what if he tends to have a worse second half than first. If the team had all players who played well in the second half only then we'd always be too far out to even be contenders in the first place.

Youkilis is FAR more hated than Pedroia. Always has been. Pedroia backs up anything he says with his play, most of the time. He's also not the demonstrative, whiney guy that Youkilis has always been. I honestly don't care who likes anyone. That said, it's telling when that many people despise the same guy. As I said previously, the larger point for me with Youkilis is that the guy completely disappears after the All-Star Game EVERY season.

[conversationpc]

Who really cares if opposing players don't like him. Opposing players hate Pedroia even more than Youkilis. Pedey is an arrogant, mouthy little punk...But he gets the job done. Youkilis does for the most part, too...He's never going to be one of the best players in the game and so what if he tends to have a worse second half than first. If the team had all players who played well in the second half only then we'd always be too far out to even be contenders in the first place.

Youkilis is FAR more hated than Pedroia. Always has been. Pedroia backs up anything he says with his play, most of the time. He's also not the demonstrative, whiney guy that Youkilis has always been. I honestly don't care who likes anyone. That said, it's telling when that many people despise the same guy. As I said previously, the larger point for me with Youkilis is that the guy completely disappears after the All-Star Game EVERY season.

In 2004-2007, you're correct. However, in 2008 his numbers were better after the all-star break and his numbers were on the way up last year, too, until he was injured. In 2009, his numbers were pretty even in both halves. This year, his second half numbers were abysmal compared to the first half. That being said, if he'd played a full year this year, he'd probably be at 100+ RBI right now, so he's still produced decent run-producing numbers despite the drop-off in batting average and home runs.

[Seven Wishes2]

This is so fucking distusting. I thought Beckett was the guy who WANTED the ball with the season on the line. Fuck him. Another overpaid choker.

Fire Francona and release every one of these assholes. Every last one.

[Enigma869]

This is so fucking distusting.

I actually think that it's fucking hilarious, and I've been a Red Sox fan as long as I can remember being alive. This always happens with VERY over-hyped teams, and as I recall, the Boston Herald (among others) made claims at the beginning of the season that this was the greatest team ever assembled. A lot of the same things were said about the Eagles this season in the NFL, and I'd bet my last nickel that they have ZERO chance of winning anything this season.

[conversationpc]

This is so fucking distusting. I thought Beckett was the guy who WANTED the ball with the season on the line. Fuck him. Another overpaid choker.

Fire Francona and release every one of these assholes. Every last one.

[Red13JoePa]

Unbelievably bad decision by Francona to start THE WORST STARTING PITCHER in baseball in game two of a double-header when the season is on the line.

That's Tito for you.

Always been a bad manager, but like Uncle Charlie, has enjoyed a massive payroll and team full of all-stars.

The Phillies biggest obstacle will be to overcome Manuel's hunches I mean "managing."

When you start as poorly as Boston did this year, it takes so much energy and work to dig out of the hole it's just tough to get over the final hump and into the playoffs.

[Red13JoePa]

This is so fucking distusting.

I actually think that it's fucking hilarious, and I've been a Red Sox fan as long as I can remember being alive. This always happens with VERY over-hyped teams, and as I recall, the Boston Herald (among others) made claims at the beginning of the season that this was the greatest team ever assembled. A lot of the same things were said about the Eagles this season in the NFL, and I'd bet my last nickel that they have ZERO chance of winning anything this season.

Not to mention the Eagle players who spoke foolishly of "dream teams" and the "Heat" painted a MASSIVE bullseye on the team.

[conversationpc]

Unbelievably bad decision by Francona to start THE WORST STARTING PITCHER in baseball in game two of a double-header when the season is on the line.

That's Tito for you.

Always been a bad manager, but like Uncle Charlie, has enjoyed a massive payroll and team full of all-stars.

The Phillies biggest obstacle will be to overcome Manuel's hunches I mean "managing."

When you start as poorly as Boston did this year, it takes so much energy and work to dig out of the hole it's just tough to get over the final hump and into the playoffs.

Lackey actually ended up pitching fairly well in that game, despite giving up a 3-spot in the first inning. He actually kept the team in the game and gave them a chance to come back and win.