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To Trish, et al: I think you made a great point today about the booing issue and how it's the only way we fans have to show our displeasure at the "product" which is the Red Sox. You definitely made me see things in a slightly different light with that post. However, I still must disagree. When I hear fans boo other teams' players - A-Rod, Jeter, etc, it just sounds so tasteless and really leaves me with a bad feeling. When I hear fans boo our OWN players, it's even worse. There are about a million blogs, articles and other forums out there with plenty of voiced displeasure right now about the "State of the Sox" and I'm sure the owners, etc have people reporting to them just what the mood in Red Sox Nation is if they are, in fact, blind to it themselves. Players know when they're not performing to expectations, I don't think they need a symphony of 35,000+ boos to drive that point home. Everyone keeps saying "they're better than this" - apparently they are not. They are what they are, and we can either be with them and hope for the best or stop watching and listening and spending our hard earned money to go to the Park until they put forth a better "product".

Jeneen * Beverly, MA

As long as we're discussing Red Sox fans at the game - I was fortunate enough to attend two Sox/Cubs games at Wrigley (put my baseball trip money there rather than spring training) and was appalled at the fan behavior, cheering bad plays by the Red Sox, shouting "Red Sox Suck" in cadence with "Let's Go Red Sox" chanting. During one of the Tampa Bay games, I clearly heard someone shouting "Red Sox Suck". We all know what happened in Kansas City to the well-respected Robinson Cano. Now, I've never been to a Red Sox/Yankee game at Fenway, but I've also not ever experienced this level of poor sportsmanship from Red Sox fans. Sox fans know the game and take it seriously, and management and players should take booing seriously.

Robin * Concord, NH

Hi Trish - You are really nailing it! It's great to hear you joining in. After last night's throwaway my Boo impulse keeps growing. Our Team is a mess and getting hard to watch.

Welcome Phil Jr.! Hope you'll continue to join in.

Marty S

Trisha...you have arrived. Welcome to the best place in the world to talk Red Sox baseball. We are fanatics, and we are legion in our devotion and passion for the Red Sox. Some of us have the luxury of attending games at Fenway park, where a family of 7 can easily spend $550 on tickets and another $100 on food an beer for 4 hours of baseball. Yes, we could protest by not buying tickets, but somehow the sellout streak will continue...unless the downward spiral continues.

Fenway Park is 100 years old and once inside, we can relish the good old days of baseball when pitchers got boo'ed and players either hit a "can o' corn" or a homah over the Green Monstah. We can't win them all, but it would be nice to feel like we had a shot at the start. So can someone explain to me why Will Middlebrooks and Carl Crawford did not start on Sunday? I like Daniel Nava, but he's obviously been slumping a bit lately. Maybe we just miss our Papi? Maybe John Farrell knows our pitchers so well that he can coach/manage accordingly? We definitely had a changing of the guard with the departure of Tek and Wake and the arrival of Cody Ross, Will Middlebrooks, Nava, Ciriaco and Sweeney. So, what's next?

Thanks to all my fellow RemDawgers for opinions on who can stay and who needs to go. Lets see what the "brains" of the operation do and hope it works!

Holly C * CT

Another Phil from Idaho? Just what we need. Let's see, we already have two grouchy Muppetts: Phil Sr. who is "Waldorf" and Merrimac Valley Fred who is "Statler". So this begs the question: Which Muppett will Phil Jr. be? Maybe "Animal" or "Fozzy Bear" depending on his writings. We'll just have to wait and see.

Red Sox Ralph

Trish, I agree whole heartedly with Al * Holliston, you should guide us more...

Ed * Morro Bay, CA

Why aren't the Sox looking at the pitching coaches ?? Maybe that's where changes need to be made.. Is there anyone watching these pitchers to see exactly what they are doing or not doing ?? They seem to be hanging them out there to fend for themselves. Do any of these pitchers (like some of the better hitters did) go back to their old coaches, who brought them up to where they are in the leagues, and ask for any help they can offer ?? Why did the Sox not offer Tek a pitching assistants position ?? He knows them better than anyone.

September was horrendous.. we are now into almost four months of baseball .. and have only two months left.. Are the owners and general manager just letting the manager handle everything ?? I know they like to let the manager handle things, but not when things get so out of control.. they did that in September and look what happened.. They were the laughing stock of all of baseball.

KF * Las Vegas

To Louise in Attleboro - I stand corrected on the Anthem and God Bless America! However, I still believe in any sport when this is being sung the players should acknowledge this song w/the hand on the heart while it is being sung. Walk through a military graveyard and you'll see why. Let us all hope our team will soon start winning again, the games are getting depressing to watch. I'll still watch them because I love our team and RSN.

Sylvia in Deerfield

Wow...from all the responses today, I'm kind of getting the impression that it's all about the money. We are having a bad year and that does happen from time to time on most teams. I realize that the Red Sox spend big bucks on their players and they charge big bucks to their fans for tickets, food, and merchandise. Fans expect winning results because of this. However, am I to understand that, if we don't get into the playoffs, we should be booing our team off of the field when they play poorly or lose? Have we become so spoiled since 2004 that we cannot follow them anymore without booing if they aren't a contender?

Aren't true fans supposed to root and support their team in good times and bad? Will booing Jon Lester help him get any better? For me, booing is what we do when A-Rod or Luke Scott step up to the plate. I just can't justify ever booing your team but, that is just me. Obviously, I'm in the minority.

Does anyone really believe that management listens to the boos and/or even care? I guess the only way that we could get back at them is to stop going to Fenway and stop supporting the Red Sox. If we hit them where it counts-in their pockets-maybe that would eventually make a difference? However, is everyone ready to stop supporting our beloved team? And, how long would it take for them to notice a loss in profit? Longer than we have, I'm afraid.

Perhaps I'm missing the point. I understand that booing and cheering are part of the game. However, my comments on Sunday were geared towards Jon Lester. He seems like he cares and just can't seem to get it together this season. Players on your team, who try hard, give it their all, but aren't able to perform up to high standards, do not deserve to get booed do they?

Guess this is a topic where we all need to just agree to disagree. No matter what, it's been a very stressful and strange season for the team and for us fans, alike. I think that we can all agree that we hope it gets better soon!

Cathy * Wesley Chapel, FL

Nicely said Trish but boy oh boy, we really suck now! This team has fallen apart and probably will finish the year were we are at, last. I forget who said it (there was a lot of input in today's OYM) but the management and manager and coaches have failed this team. How can players concentrate when every thing around them is so negative? However, their play on the field absolutely sucks, except for a couple of them. The entire starting pitchers need to be shown the door and let them go find other teams (good luck with that!). Monday's game was very hard to watch but thanks Salty for trying; almost two home runs for him. I have a female friend who is a great Yankee fan and is having a nice time of reminding how bad the Sox are; I hate it! By the way, what players could be brought in to help us now? Would it be a waste of time and money?

Greg * Henderson, NV.

Phil. You have to have the World Series "talk" with your son.

Tony * Ashland

Been reading the fodder re Jon Lester and am having trouble with those who boo players and still call themselves fans.

If unhappy with what it costs to go to a game and all that goes with it, don't go. If unhappy with the team, blame and then boo the management (via media such as this) who chose the players and agreed to pay these ridiculous salaries, but don't boo the player. Does anyone think Carl and Adrian wanted to go hitless in last night's game? Do you think Jon wanted to pitch poorly - especially with a contract looming? Obviously these are mechanical issues that need to be worked out. And I'm not sure the Red Sox have the personnel available to figure this out. I think everyone of our pitchers would love to have John Farrell in the dugout for help and guidance and not what currently is there.

I think the team needs a wake up call - stabilize the position players, get rid of non-performers, hire a manager who has the ability and is given the authority to manage a high profile team and then get down to the business of winning. Our strength lies in the farm system - our pitching is waiting to be hired.

Walt, PC '68

Trish, let me ask you this.....do YOU perform at 100% EVERY day??? I think NOT!!! There are days I don't even read the column because it is NOT good! Do I boo you or tell you that you suck?? NO!! Have you ever had bad days? I think YES! Do we give you a chance to redeem yourself? YES!!!

Yes, we fans are passionate about the game, but GROW UP and realize that NO ONE is perfect, every single dam day! If you think you are, you are sadly mistaken!!

Terri B * Franklin, MA

Terri ... first off, I am not perfect - nor did I ever say that any player or person had to be.  Please show me where I said that and I will offer an apology.  If you believe the Red Sox are putting the best team out on the field for the money OVERALL - then we are watching two different teams.  

Second, not buying your analogy with Today In Sports as there is one very important difference ... YOU DON'T PAY FOR THIS!  It is FREE!  We help pay for the team through our ticket purchases, buying merchandise, and even through supporting products the players endorse.  Oh - and if the column is bad - remember that except for the last few days, I have not done any of the writing!  It is YOU and the other regulars who send in the emails that appear in the column.   :-)

Lastly, not sure that my disappointment in the team and not being bothered by booing has anything to do with my passion for the game.  Not sure what it has to do with "growing up" either.  I think I am right where I should be in that department.  But if you would like to explain to me what one has to do with the other (growing up and perfection - which again, I never claimed to be), then perhaps I will understand better what you mean.  Looking forward to your explanations!  

Trish

I hardly agree with your two posting over the last few days, Trish. This is the only way the fans can let these pampered players know how dissatisfied they are with their performances. If I had been there, I probably would have been booing after the first pitch from Lester. These players have been pampered way too long and need to learn to face the music from the people who pay their salaries and its not the owners who do that. With the pay they receive the fans should expect and receive the very best from them. The old players played through all kinds of injuries. They weren't put on the DL because they had a blister, a stubbed toe or a hang nail. They played through the pain and for a hell of a lot less money.

I expect the attitude thing from Beckett because he seems to feel he is entitled to the pay he gets; but am very surprised at this year's performance by Lester. I don't know what turned Buchholtz around but Beckett and Lester could take a page from his book.

I have said this to many people this year, it's not just the pitchers but the pitching coach that should take a big part of the blame. Since Bobby wasn't able to hire his own pitching coach the blame goes to the ownership for putting McClure on the payroll. As far as I can see, he has done ABSOLUTELY nothing to help these pitchers through their problems. I think he needs to be let go and let the assistant pitching coach have a go at these lackluster performers. Also, Magaden doesn't seem to be doing much to helping the hitters with their offense. Maybe it is time to clean house and include the coaches with the house cleaning.

RedSoxNoni