Apparently $150 million doesn't buy what it used to.
In the Red Sox case, it buys you the worst winning percentage in Major League Baseball over the last 40 games (.250) dating back to August of last year.
Say what you want about the "chicken and beer scandal of 2011," but when all was said and done, the Red Sox lost their manager with the highest winning percentage in franchise history, and the general manager who helped bring two world series titles to Boston.
Bobby Valentine took over as manager - much to the chagrin of the entire team and most of the fan base - and so far hasn't been the "spark" that was desperately needed.
I vehemently hated the hiring of Bobby V, and still don't think he belongs in Boston. Sure he hasn't been perfect, calling out Kevin Youkilis' effort was just plain stupid. But the struggles of the Sox can't be put on his shoulders.
On Saturday, the Red Sox bullpen, which is nothing short of talentless, helped blow a 9-0 lead to the Yankees.
Valentine wasn't the one who let Jonathan Papelbon walk at the end of last season, and he wasn't the one who fished off the scrap heap to bring in a bunch of spare parts.
Boston threw Justin Thomas in a one-run game against its biggest rival Saturday. Don't be alarmed if you've never heard of him. Pittsburgh deemed him replaceable and sent him to AAA at the end of last season
That's the Pittsburgh "haven't made the playoffs in 19 years" Pirates.
If a team who hasn't made the playoffs in two decades doesn't want him on its roster, why would a team that considers itself a perennial contender?
If you have one of the top payrolls in the league, surely you can find someone at least serviceable to pitch with a nine run lead.
Blame Valentine all you want, but the major problem is that they aren't that good.
The infield is one of the best in the majors, and Jacoby Ellsbury and Carl Crawford are both out with injuries. But it doesn't matter how many runs you score if you can't stop the other team.
Outside of the top three starters (Josh Becket, Jon Lester, and Clay Buchholz) pitchers four through 12 on the roster are no-names.
I want to see Terry Francona back at the helm as much as anyone, but it isn't going to happen.
So if we're going to play the blame game, don't put it on the guy who walked into the tough situation (Bobby Valentine), blame Ben Cherrington. He's the guy who thought a bullpen of guys you've never heard of would shut down the Yankees.
Email: tyler.cady@ubspectrum.com
