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Focus, John, Focus  

Maybe it's time for everybody involved with the Red Sox to be involved with the Red Sox. It seems to me (and of course, I could be wrong because I have no "inside information") as if all the powers that be have too many outside interests and are neglecting what should be the focal point of their being right now: the Boston Red Sox.

John Henry, the principal owner of the Red Sox, appears to be more interested in his Liverpool, England soccer team than he does in the organization that brought him here to Boston back in 2001. (Fenway Sports Group was created in 2001 according to Roush-Fenway Racing bio.) His time devoted to the Red Sox certainly has to be lacking, as Henry not only divides his time with soccer and the Red Sox but also is part owner of Roush-Fenway Racing, a NASCAR team, and also has the ownership responsibilities of NESN, the New England Sports Network which broadcasts the Red Sox and Boston Bruins Hockey. I'm sure he has a large staff that takes care of the myriad day-to-day responsibilities that he must incur, what with owning so many sports franchises, because one person obviously can't do it all by themselves. Perhaps that's what the real problem is: because Henry's interests have been spread around the globe, I think he has lost touch with the Red Sox.

When he purchased the Red Sox, all he owned as far as sports teams were concerned were the Red Sox and NESN, which isn't a team but came with the Sox as sort of a package deal. He could concentrate solely on bringing a World Series win and ridding the Nation of "The Curse" that had loomed over the Fens for 86 years.

But I have a feeling that once those World Series wins in '04 and '07 were accomplished, Henry, being the driven man that he is, decided it was time for new challenges and that's where NASCAR and eventually Liverpool came into the picture. Now, it's his money and of course he has the right to do anything he wants with it. He earned it, it's his, so if he wants to spend like a drunken sailor- go for it. But here's the rub: if Henry is not giving the Red Sox the attention they deserve then it's time for him to rethink his priorities, and as far as Red Sox Nation is concerned, the only thing that should be on Henry's mind right now is baseball.

But just for the sake of argument, let's say that Henry is devoting all the time he can to the Sox. However, even if he ignores the NESN operations and just devotes his time among the three sports enterprises in his stable, that means he can only pay 1/3 of his attention to the Red Sox and right now that is not enough time. Right now Henry needs to give his undivided attention to the team that got him where he is today. Like the old saying goes, "You dance with the one who brought ya."

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To John Lester,

We love you to death....but how about stopping the tantrums on the mound or at the end of the inning when things don't go your way. It's very evident what you are saying and my kids joke "look Dad, Lester is swearing again!" You look very unprofessional and do not set a good example by your actions.

John * Nashua

Mark - You make a very compelling argument. This team certainly needs a major change, or series of changes. The more I watch them the greater my questions - what or who is out of step and multiple answers keep coming.

We can't just blame it on pitching, defense, hitting, conditioning, coaching, attitude. This is the second half of the season and this team is just barely out of the basement. And what can we all do except sit and complain and shout suggestions and boo?

Marty S

Josh, the most accurate statement you made was in your first paragraph - you have no "inside information". Nor do I for that matter. Your contempt for Henry is quite obvious. But you overlook the fact that he alone does not make decisions. We have no idea what goes on in the corporate board room or at Dunkin Donuts, or at Remy's or wherever they make decisions. The business of business has quite complex goings on. Often there are covert dealings which obviously cannot be publicized. Some for the good of the business, and some for the good of the owners. There are many decisions made much further down the chain than at his perch. By the way - what does Ben Cherington really do?

We are bothered by all that we see and understand, some of which we witness on the field and in interviews, and some is brought to us by inciteful dingbat writers like Gordon Edes and Buster Olney who make statements, but never produce facts to support them.

Player, and even management frustration can often be mistaken for dissension. Watching Pedrioa lately and reading his lips, one would think he is angry at the world, but it is frustration, We, as fans, are feeling the same, but at a much more helpless level. All we can do is Boo (sorry - bad joke). But seriously, we must do, what true Red Sox fans did for 86 years - sit and wait - Loyally and in Hope.

Merrimack Valley Fredd

Mark, I do not know if John Henry is spending too much time in his other ventures. I am surprised that you did not mention JWH. That most likely takes up quite a bit of his time.

Robin, Most of what you learn in LL is corrected when you play high school ball. Bunting is not as easy as it looks. A lot of time is spent in the batting cage practicing. There are many different types of bunting. The situation and the batter have to be aligned in order for a bunt to be successful.

Tony * Ashland

Kudos to the astute Mark Sox Fan7 from the Empire state. He echoed what I have said for months now John Henry got Cash fat after 04 and 07 and he diversified to make more money with English football and racing instead of concentrating on what brought him the capital to buy these other franchises. But,Mark hit it the nail right on the head "You have to dance with the one who brought you!"

As for the snitch or rat in the clubhouse well there is no doubt there is but it's not a rat because there is no chicken to feast on anymore,but you can bet your mortgage that several are talking to the media and family and word spreads so things are not great and after each loss i wait for John Henry to tell Larry ,Bobby has to go and the end is nigh I sense.

I remember clubhouses full of fun and smiles, win or lose, but this team showers and heads for Newbury St and Strega,and you don't see the manager partying with them. Once one of the key players exits he will tell it all. Me, right now I'm ready for chicken and beers in the clubhouse,bringing back Hazel Mae to the Nesn team,rehiring Tito,Damon,Lowe,getting a regular radio color man to work with Joe Castiglione,one who lives and dies the Boston Red Sox,like The Remdawg and Don,and fire the umpire who threw out the organ player at a game for playing Three blind mice.

Have a great weekend RSN and remember the words your bosses told you, "Things could be worse, and they have."

Dave from RI

Lester pitched a great game last night (Thursday) but where were the runs, why wasn't Salty in there for the DH? I smell more than ONE RAT in that clubhouse. At least the fans didn't boo Lester and while I'm at it why do they think it's okay to boo a pitcher when they're hurt? Boston has some of the best fans but at the same time they have some of the worst too. I almost dread the fact that Dice K will be back on that mound again. Go Red Sox!

Sylvia * Deerfield

What is going on with our team? Nothing has changed since last year. If my memory serves me correctly, last August Tito saw something that disturbed him while they were in Toronto and had a team meeting. He tried to get backing from the organization but instead, John Henry took the team on his yacht and bought them I pods or something and called it a day. Tito managed this team for eight years and this incident in Toronto had to be pretty serious for him to call a team meeting and contact the organization. I did not hear that any one of the members of the team backed him up on this matter. 

So, were they all guilty? Did they all want him out of town? They got their wish. Now, they are not happy with new manager, Bobby V. and he has already has been told, "we don't do it this way in Boston". So why did they (Larry L.) hire him knowing how he manages? Dustin Pedroia has really become one of my not so favorite players on this team. We all know he dislikes his manager and I'm not so sure if he likes many teammates. He should put his bat where his mouth is, because he has left many a base-runners on base, but is always stating, we've got to hit better, play better in after the game interviews. I think he's the rat in the Middlebooks issue that just happened, went like a school boy to management. I think he wants to be the player-manager. I'm ashamed of all these grown men acting like they are "all that" with their egos and attitudes and millions of dollars. Does anyone have the answer as to why all the NESN broadcasters have to say "the opposing pitcher kept the Red Sox off balance or baffled them" when they lose the game (all 53 of them) instead of why can't they adjust and why doesn't the hitting coach have a game plan for the opposing pitcher?

Linda C. in CT