Boston Red Sox

Spotlight on Sox

By Gary Dzen

2 minutes to read

Red Sox fans have watched their team go down in flames during their current six-game losing streak, and the local and national media have put the Sox’ struggles in the spotlight. A sampling of the local and national criticism:

  • Locally, the usual panic has set in. Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy got the ball rolling after the Sox lost their third game to the Yankees this weekend, calling the Red Sox a “sinking ship”.
  • When the five-game Yankees sweep was complete, the Globe’s Bob Ryan laid out some painful truths about why these Red Sox were never very good to begin with. It’s hard to read if you’re a diehard Sox fan.
  • On the other side of town, the Herald’s Tony Massarotti blames the Red Sox not only for the deals they did make, but also for one deal they did make (for Javy Lopez) that has been a disaster so far.
  • The news is no more encouraging nationally. SI.com’s Tom Verducci offers a breakdown, in six parts, of where the Red Sox went wrong. Verducci faults the Red Sox for letting go of Johnny Damon, signing Josh Beckett, and trading Bronson Arroyo for Wily Mo Pena, among other things. SI.com’s Jon Heyman blames Boston’s fractured front office for failing to put a team on the field that can compete for a World Series.
  • The New York media is usually hard on the Red Sox, but after a five-game sweep they really know how to pour it on.
  • In the New York Times, Murray Chass plays on the neuroses of Red Sox fans, rubbing it in the way only New Yorkers can.
  • The Times’ George Vecsey has this message for Sox fans: tough. You had injuries? So did the Yankees. Deal with it.
  • The Providence Journal’s Sean McAdam opened up the annual Manny-bashing floodgates with his report that Ramirez sulked about having a hit taken away by the official scorer on Friday and had to be talked into playing on Saturday. Even a player hitting .406 with five home runs and 16 RBIs in August isn’t immune to criticism.
  • Proving that no media outlet is to small to rip the Red Sox, the Berkshire Eagle is getting in on the Sox-bashing bandwagon, as staff writer Tony Dobrowolski cannot believe the team’s lack of effort.

    • To comment, please create a screen name in your profile

    Conversation

    This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com