The Red Sox inexplicably think the media has treated them badly
This is rich. You know the Boston Red Sox? The team that employed George Mitchell of the Mitchell Report? The team that was apparently the only one that had had no steroids users during the steroid era? The team that ESPN commentators describe as "we" or "us" during the three-times-a-week Red Sox game on ESPN? The team that has been treated better by the media than any other team, benefiting from a constant stream of rosy articles and high praise?
Well, they think the media is being too hard on them, and they want it to stop.
David Ortiz vented in Texas on the last road trip about how the media never gave him the benefit of the doubt when his name was leaked from the “List of 104,” and that reporters he always gave lots of access to were turning on him.
You mean you gave them access so you could tell them lies about how you weren't doing steroids and the 40 pounds of muscle you put on upon arriving in Boston was because of eating a lot of beans? Why in the world would the media ever turn on you after discovering that you'd been disingenuous at best in all of your dealings with them?
Before reiterating the theme yesterday, Kevin Youkilis said last week in Toronto there was too much negative media coverage of the team: “When are you guys going to have our backs?” he asked.
True, Youkilis. The media should have your back more. I mean, all the national coverage of your team is couched in terms of "the Red Sox are basically the perfect franchise," and "the Red Sox have always been winners," and "oh my oh my we won again!" If only they weren't constantly attacking you, life would finally be fair!
Then, after Jonathan Papelbon responded openly and honestly with concerns and doubts to a perfectly appropriate line of questioning about the possibility of Billy Wagner joining the bullpen, he spoke of how his quotes were taken out of context.
"I was taken out of context" is an awesome defense. But regardless of what context you thought you were talking about, you were complaining about a talented reliever coming in to help your team in the push to the playoffs. And you didn't like it. Could it be because your talent is dwindling? Yes, blaming the media is clearly the right thing to do.
Manager Terry Francona was not happy about some “atrocious” coverage of the Wagner trade Tuesday, saying, “If I managed like some of you guys report, I’d be fired.”
I don't know exactly what that means, but it's refreshing to see that even Heinrich Himmler himself isn't above the petty whinings of the Youkilis/Papelbon douche-opoly. And anyway, what does a manager have to do when all his players are good? "Hey Ortiz! Hit a home run! ... I told him to do that!" Great job, Heinrich.
For a team that prides itself on its ability to overcome adversity and stand up and perform in pressure situations, they sure haven't handled this unsuccessful season very well.
Posted by Sean Schulte at 2009-08-29 18:33:48
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