For Red Sox fans, yesterday was a litmus test of what the season might amount to. I personally spent game time sequestered in my office, eyes glued to my computer screen as everything unfolded. And while some of you might say that the game was a waste of time, in that the Sox ended up losing 3-2 late to the Tigers, I’d say there were certainly positives to be taken away.

So we’re start with “The Good.”

For one, Jon Lester went toe to toe with baseball’s best pitcher, Justin Verlander, and stood his ground. As much as I hate to compare pitchers in the AL (who never face one another directly), the game really came down to an NL style showdown, where fans waited to see which pitcher would unravel first. To his credit, Lester kept stride as best he could, and pitched a quality game. He looked more like the Cy Young candidate from the first couple months of the year last year, and not the September swoon Lester that seemed to implode with the rest of the team.

I also couldn’t help but notice a surprising upturn in guys that, let’s face it, none of us expected much out of. Take Ryan Sweeney, for example, the Sox best batter yesterday who went 2-4 with a RBI. Sweeney also set up the team for a victory with a sweet triple in the ninth, even though it ended up being all for naught. Sweeney was all set for platoon duty, but with Carl Crawford’s numerous problems, and Cody Ross’s struggles, if he keeps hitting like that he’ll find himself in an everyday role.

And while Mike Aviles may not have lit up the batter’s box (0-3 with a K), keep in mind he was batting against the reigning AL MVP. What Aviles didn’t make happen at the plate, though, he made happen on the diamond. Lester confirmed that his strategy is going to rely heavily on sinking pitches, creating ground ball outs and the need for sharp defensive play. I thought Aviles, who is often critiqued for not being the sharpest in the field, handled his own well, including being in position on pick-off plays. Aviles is clearly the weak link in an infield of gold-glovers, so if he can keep cleaning up messes at short and at least be in position when he has to be, the Sox defense will be in decent shape this year.

Now, on to “The Bad.”

Let’s face it, with the news that Andrew Bailey is going to be out for up to 3 months, the bullpen was already looking shaky. Take away Daniel Bard and Felix Doubront, and add Vincente Padilla instead, and it shouldn’t surprise anyone that they struggled. I don’t blame Alfredo Aceves as much as most, largely because he only found out yesterday he’d be closing games. Still, he and veteran reliever Mark Melancon do need to get their act together because when your offense ends a 51-straight successful save streak, you should probably come away with the win. I say send the overweight and ineffective Padilla packing, and hope that the rest of the bullpen can hold it together under Bailey returns.

And finally, “The Not Quite as Ugly as Last Year.”

0 and 9 was a terrible way to start the season last year, so sitting at 0-1 shouldn’t be thought of as too terrible just yet. Fans need to notice that this Sox team didn’t say die. When Jose Valverde, the most consistent closer in recent years came out of the pen, that could have been lights out, but neither veterans, nor younger guys, decided to give in. Just take Pedroia’s at-bat for example. It was a dogfight wearing Valverde down in the very first game of the year. I think the climate has clearly changed from last year’s team, and that these Sox certainly take a tough loss like that to heart, and don’t seem to be forgetting that abysmal September.

The takeaway of it all is that these Sox seem a more mature team, and hung strong with what could end up being the best team in the AL this year (although my vote still swings to the Angels), despite getting little production from their marquee guys. I look for the production of the younger guys to level out, and for the veterans to step up. It may be a rough season, but there seems to be a lesson learned from the past year and all its bickering. This team seems set for the dog-fight that will be the AL, and Sox fans can only hope that the sentiment holds throughout the year, or else it could be one bumpy ride.

Whitman references aside, I wanted to wait, and give this article a few days to air before I went ahead and wrote it. But don’t worry; it wasn’t because of my opinion of Jason Varitek, who as many readers know has recently decided to step down after a whopping 15 seasons of Major League Baseball, all with the Boston Red Sox. Varitek will always hold a special place in my heart for being the stoic stalwart that helped bring Boston in to the golden age of baseball the team has been experiencing over the past few seasons (last year’s fiasco aside).

Still, I wanted to wait before writing an article saluting the captain because it’s really a lot to take in. The career of Jason Varitek truly was a modern marvel. He not only played for 15 seasons in the big leagues at a position that tears apart a player’s entire body, but he did it with a single team, surprisingly rare in today’s “pay me” industry of baseball. In fact, Tek stepped away from potential offers from other ball clubs, and the wishes of his agent Scott Boras, just to retire as a Red Sox player, marking the end to a long career of baseball that extends over 30 years.

Varitek loved baseball from a young age, and has excelled at every level since, playing in the Little League World Series, the College World Series, the actual World Series, and even representing America in both the Olympics and the World Baseball Classic. Oh, and if that weren’t enough of a winning pedigree, Varitek’s high school baseball team won the Florida State Championship and finished ranked #1 in the country following his senior season. The man won baseball games, pure and simple.

But if the winning doesn’t woo you, if you’re still concerned with the fact that Varitek was only a .256 career hitter, or that he allowed more stolen bases than any other active catcher (a stat in which Tim Wakefield deserves some of the blame as well), keep in mind the era that Varitek has played in. No, I don’t mean the steroid era, I mean an era when catchers were sought for their leadership and on the field defensive presence more than their offensive numbers.

Don’t believe me? Just look at the deal that St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina just signed. Molina, a .274 career hitter, with only 55 home runs…ever, was just given a 5-year, $75 million deal. Why? Because that’s the value in today’s game that is placed on a player who can sit behind the plate, everyday, and lead his pitching staff as well as help them out defensively.

Varitek, then, deserves credit for the resume that he has put together while playing for the Red Sox. Tek’s numbers at the plate aren’t astonishing, sure (though he was a 3-time All Star and 2005 Silver Slugger award winner), but he approached the game from a defensive standpoint that sets him apart from many other catchers, even in an era where they are prized for defensive ability.

Varitek ranks 16^th all-time in career fielding percentage, 11 spots ahead of Molina. Tek also caught 4 no-hitters, an MLB record, including that of Clay Buchholz, who had just turned 23 and was making only his second major league start.

But that’s what Varitek did. He not only held the team together, but led the pitching staff.

Any current pitcher on the Red Sox staff will tell you, and most have over the course of this past week, that Varitek made them better with his pitch calling and catching ability. Tek also didn’t take any guff from any other team, especially the Yankees. His brush with A-Rod alone cements him in the hearts of most Red Sox fans. He was a man who led by example day in, and day out.

Varitek will sorely be missed by a Red Sox team heading into a year of uncertain pitching and distinct lack of depth that he could have made better just by being behind the plate. But while everyone is sad to see him go, it eventually does become time for the captain to call it a day. So after 15 years of having Jason Varitek in the organization, I know it pains me to see him go, and I will definitely miss him, but he will never be forgotten.

Similar to Tim Wakefield, Varitek may not have a sure-fire place in Baseball’s Hall of Fame, but he will always be considered a Red Sox hero, a legacy that will live on through his many off-the-field charitable endeavors in the New England era. And who knows, maybe fans will see more of Varitek around the league, perhaps in a front office position, or maybe even coaching. It’d be a shame for such a well-respected player to walk away from the game entirely at age 39, but even if he doesn’t come back to manage or scout, Varitek will forever hold a place in the hearts of Red Sox faithful. He’ll always be a player, teammate, confidante, role model and leader. He’ll always be…a captain.

It’s about that time again. The time just before the season when grown men, former athletes and regular sports fans alike, become complete nerds huddled around computer screens in living rooms, trying to piece together their own dream teams. I’m referring to the fantasy side of baseball, of course, and though no expert, here’s my opinion on how Red Sox players will rank in the upcoming season fantasy wise. All numbers reflect their 2011 totals.

1.  Adrian Gonzalez – 1B

Taking the most valuable spot here on this list, Gonzalez might be only an incrementally better option than Ellsbury, and it’s a very, very close call. Gonzalez’s numbers outright don’t look as impressive as his outfield teammate, but should improve during his second year in Boston. Though the average might come down from the awe-inspiring .338, look for the homers to jump well into the 30’s (maybe beyond) and the RBIs and runs to spike accordingly. I’m thinking this another banner year for A-Gon, and wouldn’t be surprised to see him up with the likes of Pujols, Cabrera and Fielder atop the fantasy lists. He’s definitely worth a first round pick in any league, even if he is only able to match the numbers he put up this past year.

2.  Jacoby Ellsbury – OF

The decision to place Ellsbury seconed on this list actually pains me. The kid had such a remarkable year this past season that it seems unfair to vote him anything but number one, especially with a 30-30 season. But, unfortunately, I do not see Ellsbury holding up all of these numbers across the board. Depending how Valentine structures the lineup, Ellsbury made be looked to as more of a pure hitter, which could mean less stolen bases, and maybe even a decrease in runs. If anything, though, I think that those power numbers are indicative of what Jacoby is truly capable of, so look for homers in the high 20’s to low 30’s again, a great batting average, and a spike in overall RBIs. A drop in stolen bases could hurt his overall value as an outfielder, sure, but he’s still worth a pick in the first two rounds, and a steal at anything later than that.

3.  Dustin Pedroia – 2B

Second base has long been a truly tough position in fantasy baseball. It seems you either grab them early, or wait for the bitter end and scrub the bottom of the barrel. I’ve tried my best to wait it out, but every year regret not drafting a 2B earlier. Do yourself a favor a pay the high asking price, a cutthroat player, and potential team captain Pedroia will lead by example and get you the numbers you are looking for.

4.  Jon Lester – SP

It should be no surprise to reader that I think Lester can be a big name guy in the fantasy game. His WHIP and walks both remain a little high to keep him out of the elite category, but without the late season Sox woes his wins and strikeouts would have looked a lot better. If healthy and determined, which Bobby V should have him, Lester can push back up into that elite field, flirting again with 20 W’s and 200 K’s.

5.  David Ortiz – DH, 1B

The Sox made a key decision in resigning Big Papi, and with the new-look lineup, they will be expecting him to present power above all else. Look for that average to slide down a little, but expect that the power numbers will remain similar. Oh, and don’t go counting on that 1 stolen base either. Numbers wise he fills a 1B hole only modestly so look for him later on to shore up a utility spot and spend your earlier draft picks on the more consistent big-names first.

6.  Josh Beckett – SP

Beckett presents a tricky situation yearly to fantasy drafters, you either buy into the hype, or you don’t. Last year, many leagues thought that Beckett had lost a step, and it ended up costing those owners that passed on him. I doubt he’ll fall as far as he did in last year’s draft after putting up solid numbers this past season, but in most leagues you will still be able to get him later than he should be going. I mean a 1.03 WHIP?

7.  Kevin Youkilis – 1B, 3B

Please don’t let the numbers fool you. Youkilis is a gamer. His only problem is that most fantasy leagues don’t account for great defense, and none account for attitude. His disadvantage comes from the fact that he plays at positions where fantasy hitters can be a dime a dozen, and his offensive numbers will never approach the elite range. Still, I’d look at him to shore up any 3B position if you can’t afford the bigger name guys.

8.  Carl Crawford – OF

Easily the most intriguing fantasy prospect on the entire roster, Crawford may be older, but he’s not old. This gives me hope. The lefty should have benefitted from playing at Fenway, and call it injuries or whatever, he simply didn’t. I look for a bounce back season from Crawford, one that may not astonish, but will certainly boost his fantasy value tremendously. I especially like his upside in stolen bases and runs, especially since the Sox will be looking for Ellsbury to be more of an all-around threat like he was toward the end of last year, running him less.

9.  Andrew Bailey – RP

Bailey is a tough player to judge. If healthy, and truly back to the form from a year and a half ago, he could make fans, and fantasy owners, forget about the upside to Jonathan Papelbon. But of course, as with so many closers, it’s still a gamble. I’d say bite the bullet if you miss on the sweep of elite closers, and grab him when you can in those middle rounds.

10.  Clay Buchholz – SP

I still can’t buy into to Buchholz completely yet, which is why he isn’t much higher on this list. The upside for the young gun is fantastic, so taking a gamble and grabbing him earlier in a draft could pay off huge. Then again, with his injury woes, a draft pick is risky, and even if he can stay healthy there’s still the looming fact that when he gets into jams, he tends to load the bases up with balls. Buyer beware, but bragging rights could be in hand if he proves consistent.

11.  Jarrod Saltalamacchia – C

Salty isn’t going to win batting titles, but he’s got some pop. Look for him in deeper leagues to add a little power to your rotation. If Varitek doesn’t return, he’s the starter moving forward, which could hopefully mean improvement on his hitting numbers.

12.  Daisuke Matsuzaka – SP

Basically on here just to be optimistic, I don’t think Dice-K is really worth anybody’s fantasy time until he shows that he can be an everyday starter again. But even then, is he really worth the headaches that accompany his weekly ups and downs?

13.  Alfredo Aceves – SP, RP

If…and this is a big if, but if the Sox stay away from picking up any free agent help at the SP spot, Aceves goes from outstanding long reliever to necessity in the rotation. I’m not quite sure how this will bode for the young pitcher, but it could turn into a steal in the late rounds. He could also be helpful in cementing a bullpen if you’d rather go with him (or Bard even) to eat up innings from the RP position.

14.  Mike Aviles – SS, 2B, 3B

A late round gamble, Aviles put up decent numbers in mixed roles last year, but with the market saturated with young talent at SS, he might not even be worth a slot on the bench until injuries start happening.

16.  Ryan Sweeney – OF

Well, he’s a starter for now…but that’s probably a platoon role. He’s not worth a draft pick, especially since you can always pick him up in the free agent market if he’s hot and wins out a starting role.

17.  Jose Iglesias – SS

The future of the ball club’s infield, Iglesias is a gamble no matter how deep your league. But he deserves a spot on this list because he is slotted to be the backup shortstop and pending any roster changes and him making the MLB squad this year, he could also see time around the diamond in other positions as well. He’s worth a look toward the end of the year in deeper keeper leagues.

In case you hadn’t heard, the Red Sox season ended quite miserably last year. No, in fact, it ended in the absolute worst way possible, and the fallout was felt almost immediately as seasoned veterans of Red Sox upper management soon went spiraling off to new careers. In an effort to hastily pull together a fractured team, and possibly repair an image that was tarnished amid rumors of beer-swilling and pork-chowing from the clubhouse during games, Sox management decided that ESPN analyst, and former Mets skipper (don’t worry they were actually good then), Bobby Valentine was the man to replace seasoned leader, Terry Francona.

But unlike Francona, Valentine does not have the reputation of being a players’ manager. The hard-nosed Valentine, rather, has a reputation for being strict when he has to, and not giving an inch even to star players. In his world, he can be judge, jury…and even executioner in the media. That’s a huge transition from Francona, the friendly leader of the “idiots” teams of the past, who racked up great success sometimes because of an unconventionally over-hospitable system. But while this year marks the inaugural season of Bobby-ball, the Sox newest major acquisition seems to be keeping his plans on the down low.

After Valentine quickly did away with alcohol in the clubhouse, dispelling any theories of letting the beer-drinking behavior slide, he has largely remained out of media circles. This, then, is quite a different manager than people are used to seeing, and so far seems to be working toward Valentine’s favor in the early going.

Altogether, though, Valentine has a reputation for not only speaking out publicly often, but also ripping players in the public eye, something that former Red Sox pitcher Dick Drago criticized openly after his hire. “Whether it’s deserved or not, Valentine has a reputation for being publicly critical of his players. If that does not change, he will not succeed in Boston,” Drago said in a recent interview, which initially did not look good for Valentine. The new manager has, however, managed so far to stay far away from criticizing anyone openly, preferring even to speak with most of his players in private without revealing much to the media afterward, often over dinner.

So perhaps the reign of Valentine will be a just one. Perhaps the media is simply blowing potential problems with Carl Crawford and Josh Beckett up too much. Perhaps fans might even learn to love the hard-nosed style of Valentine, so long as it stays secluded, between him and the players where it should belong. Perhaps, even, Valentine can cement his place in Boston by being unconventional for him while still giving the Red Sox organization what they were looking for when they hired him.

If Valentine can keep his own voice out of the media circus that surrounds this team, especially in regard to his star players, and deal with issues internally before they really become issues, then maybe this team can begin to repair their tarnished image from last season, and win some games in the process. Still, whatever happens later this year, Valentine’s brief Red Sox managerial career is off to a nice, albeit uncharacteristic start. Though, if I were you Bobby, I might lay off the talk of not having a Sox captain, and throw a vote in for “the Laser Show” for the job (pending Varitek actually retires, of course).

Ok, I’ll admit it; I had high hopes for Josh Reddick heading into this season. I wanted the guy to come out, make people forget about fellow Georgian J.D. Drew, and revitalize a down Red Sox team by making our outfield shine (a little help would of course be needed here from Crawford). Then, after meeting the guy in person (his grandmother cuts my hair), I hear that he’s been traded, and was furious until I found out who he was dealt for.

In what could have been his most key off-season move since announcing that fans wouldn’t have to endure another season of John Lackey’s incompetent pitching, new Sox General Manager Ben Cherington plugged Boston’s biggest hole in acquiring All-Star closer Andrew Bailey. Sure, the Sox lose a reasonably nice guy and solid baseball player to Oakland, but by gaining Bailey new manager Bobby Valentine (still mixed feelings here) will have at least one question answered heading into spring training. That being of course: Who will replace Jonathan Papelbon?

For those of you who don’t know his history, Bailey’s been pretty good pitching in a division that’s got some pretty established hitters, and has done well to keep his numbers solid in recent years. But the assurances Bailey brings with him are more important than any stats. While it pains this writer to say it, Daniel Bard has yet to prove that he has the fortitude to handle the closing role. Born with a cannon, his stuff’s electrifying, but he’s let the pressure get to him on numerous occasions. With Bailey’s acquisition, Bard can stay in his primary role as set-up man, a role in which at some points last year he proved to be the best in the league. Better still is that now with Bailey the Sox can play around with other options for the bullpen and thus other options for starters.

Don’t let the outrageous media attention behind the Mark Buehrle signing fool you, there are plenty of veteran arms out there that Cherington could sign. Hopefully he will do this soon, but that will still only shore up the fourth starter spot. For the fifth, I believe the Sox could look inward instead. There are a plethora of young bullpen arms teeming with ability, and the acquisition of Bailey might give them a chance. I’m not for tinkering with Bard and attempting to make him a starter as some suggest, especially with better options available.

The front-runner in this situation would be Alfredo Aceves, who pitched over 100 innings last year anyway, and brings a background of capable spot-starting experience with him. Another possibility of course, is the recently re-signed Andrew Miller, who at one time had stuff enough to be drafted early in the first round, ahead of his college teammate Daniel Bard. There is also a dark horse here on the team in Felix Doubront. When healthy, Doubront’s stuff can be nasty as any, and while I prefer him in an area where his limited skill set of fire-balling works best (the bullpen), I could also see him transitioning to become a capable starter in the event that no other serious option presents itself.

Ultimately, Cherington needs to sign a new starter, and soon. Rather than picking through a bargain bin of has-beens, the Sox need to pull the trigger on a reliable arm, hopefully for even longer than a year. When’s the last time you found out that two starters from last year’s rotation would be gone and you were excited knowing that nearly anything could be better?

So now, while they have the excuse, Sox management should look into signing (or trading for) a reliable arm for a couple of years instead of just 2012 and let the cards fall where they will on Lackey and Daisuke when next season rolls around (even if that means they’re released or delegated to mop-up/bullpen duty). After all, with someone reliable at the back end of the rotation, the Sox could right the shifting swoons of consecutive losses that killed them last season. I’m not saying any starting pitcher is going to outperform Lackey’s 2011 if signed…just that I’d prefer having them instead.

Simply put, Jacoby Ellsbury did not disappoint this past year. The young outfielder posted huge numbers, not just in steals (39) but career highs in every major hitting category. Ellsbury even amazed fans by belting an impressive 32 homers to go along with his 212 hits. He even nearly laid claim to an AL batting title with his .321 average despite hitting leadoff for a team that didn’t seem to be making good contact for the whole last half of the season. Fortunately for Ellsbury, though, it’s not just Sox fans taking notice.

Not only did the Sox centerfielder take home the MLB’s 2011 “Comeback Player of the Year Award,” last month, but he was just named a “Silver Slugger,” and even managed to grab his first Rawling’s “Gold Glove” for his amazing play in the field. In any other year a player showcasing such supreme skills from both sides of the field would be in strict contention for the American League MVP Award. Unfortunately for Ellsbury, though, that’s not how the league will see it this season.

Marred by their late season collapse, I’m shocked that so many awards are heading the Red Sox’s way this offseason. Adrian Gonzalez picked himself up a “Gold Glove” and “Silver Slugger” award, David Ortiz proved he’s still not over-the-hill by claiming a “Silver Slugger” award himself, and Dustin Pedroia claimed his second “Gold Glove,” proving that he’s good for more than just “the laser show” on the baseball diamond. And while I’m glad that these players are getting the recognition that they deserve, it comes with a heavy heart.

Ellsbury will not be a free agent outright this year, but if his agent Scott Boras’s track record with the Red Sox  is indicative of anything, its that he’s out for the most money for his clients. In fairness, that is what they pay him the big bucks for, however if you’re a Sox fan, you can reserve the right to hate the man that ultimately may cost us Ellsbury…let me explain.

Ellsbury isn’t able to test the free agent market yet, but Boras will be leaning heavily on Red Sox management to get a new deal pushed through this off-season so that there’s nothing to worry about moving on in the future. No player likes to play without guaranteed money, and if Ellsbury puts himself out  next season and gets hurt, teams will be far less likely to fork over  big money, not wanting to invest in someone who is coming off an injury with his injury record. Because of this, Boras will want to lock up Ellsbury to a new deal, but won’t be so loyal as to do it with the Sox.

Reminiscent of the Johnny Damon situation of days gone by, if Boras feels his client won’t get the long-term deal he seeks in Boston, he’ll simply attempt move him elsewhere, which worries me. I’m not blaming Boras for the Johnny Damon situation, as Red Sox management (sans Theo Epstein) was just as responsible. But what I am saying here is that Boras is a “take-no-prisoners” style of agent. Because of this, I think it behooves the Red Sox to seriously look at spending their money internally this off-season and locking up a player who would have been in contention for the MVP award, provided the Sox at least limped into the playoffs this season.

Whatever the future holds for Ellsbury, I certainly wish him the best. The former Tampa Bay prospect went to  has worked hard when other teams initially wrote him off, and has battled injuries to get where he’s at. He seems a good fit for any community, and a player who succeeds both on, and off the field. I would love, however, for the Sox to lock him up long term so all of his attributes stay in Boston, where he could continue to grow and produce in a park that he seems to play exceptionally well in.

So Scott Boras if you’re reading this, I know you’re already prepping for an off-season of moving and shaking, but please lean on the Sox to help keep our boy Ellsbury in Boston, as a long term deal works for both sides. Oh, and if you’d like to get me a Christmas present, please keep Albert Pujols from somehow signing in New York…thanks.

The slide just keep’s continuing for this year’s Red Sox team, now parting ways with both its manager and general manager at the end of the 2011 season. But while Terry Francona’s departure may be shrouded in mystery (or at least controversy) general manager Theo Epstein’s is not.

As most of you might already know, Theo has left Boston for a position that appears to be more lucrative, at $20 million over the next five years, but could also yield Epstein more power. But instead of criticizing him for the leap. I say it’s more productive to look at his time here, as the Sox GM, and decide what we need of our next GM.

Theo was a boon for the Red Sox, and for you anti-literary types that means he was pretty good. There’s the obvious, the World Series titles under his watch that hadn’t happened in….well, awhile, but then there are the little details that you might be overlooking.

During his tenure as Red Sox GM, Epstein brought in some tremendous talent with some of the best trades in baseball, and key early acquisitions. Who can forget swapping out an injury-plagued and bitter-against-Boston-media Nomar Garciaparra with Orlando Cabrera? Or in his adding of Dave Roberts for a mere minor leaguer? Esptein put the pieces together to win the 2004 World Series, including the decision of not-renewing Grady Little’s contract and bringing in former Phillies manager, Terry Francona.

Hanley Ramirez may have proved to be a star shortstop after all, but in landing Beckett and Lowell from a floundering Marlins organization Epstein again provided the pieces exactly necessary for what the Sox needed to propel themselves to another championship in 2007 (look up Becket’s performance in those playoffs if you doubt me).

Epstein also landed Schilling and his bloody socks the year before, after Schilling had racked up 194 K’s in only 168 innings. Schilling might not have turned out to be a Cy Young winner in Boston, but he was very valuable down the stretch, even offering to restructure his contract, and Epstein gave up only prospects for him. And let’s not forget his clutch signings of David Ortiz, Kevin Millar, and even Adrian Beltre and Jason Bay, both of whom played exceedingly well during their short stays in Red Sox uniforms.

Still, Theo’s legacy will ultimately have to focus on his mismanagement of free agent talent. Though he had his early promise, over the recent years Epstein hasn’t been such a keen observer of talent, allowing John Henry’s bankroll to ultimately decide to go after the biggest, and not the best names.

As touched on the in the last article, we can possibly forgive him on Dice-K because we didn’t know what we were getting and he had been uber-dominant, but ultimately nearly every other recent free agent signing on his watch has ended in disaster. The list is long, and looms largest around the signings of J.D. Drew and Carl Crawford, but ends with a cataclysmic exclamation point surrounding John Lackey, who raked in a massive deal despite never having a 200 K, or sub 3.00 ERA season to his credit.

I will, however, defend them, both Theo Epstein and Terry Francona, for being great additions to the Red Sox organization, and for having combined to help us win two World Series championships which probably wouldn’t have happened under anyone else. Francona deserves much more sympathy because he could ultimately only work with the players that he was given.

Let’s face it, Francona’s a player’s manager. This is why guys like him. They feel relaxed playing under him, and in turn produce even if left to some unorthodox results. Now that times are tough, we can’t condemn him for this season’s collapse, not if you’re willing to ignore the World Series title in ’04. Those self-proclaimed “idiots” may have cared much more than the present players, but their actions were similar (drinking in the clubhouse especially highlighted here). So the issue shouldn’t be solely hefted on Francona’s shoulders, who I applaud for leaving his way by making it clear that it wasn’t entirely his own decision. Instead, we should be blaming Red Sox management for trying to play Yankee-ball and inking the biggest names regardless of clubhouse karma. A player’s manager can’t manage guys who don’t have the discipline to take their jobs seriously after inking enormous deals.

Hold your head high, though, T & T, because no matter what the Boston media says about you both, you did great things for the Red Sox. Let’s hope the next guys can clean up the mess we have going now, though. And for the love of Fenway, can we please get someone smart enough to tell John Lackey to put the ribs down and finally get to work?

I’m not going to waste your time recapping anything because if you’re reading this you probably already know: The Sox lost.

It’s been quite awhile since a Red Sox team, or any team, pulled a regular season collapse as appalling as this year’s team, and there’s really no excuse for it. No amount of analysis or condemnation is going to make up for the fact that this Sox team found a way to squander a perfectly healthy 9 game lead heading into September. Nothing will atone for the fact that Crawford and Lackey were a complete waste of money this year. Nothing will account for the reason that Francona decided to stick with players playing terribly simply because of their salaries. And worst of all, nothing will make up for the fact that we put the burden on the players we have the most faith in, and they let us down.

For most Sox fans, it’s just a trip back in time, back before 2004 when this was commonplace. When every year we watched the “evil empire” move on, while we hoped that our guys could do it next year. But this isn’t like all those times because we lost to the Yankees at their game. We paid for our talent and got shafted, and the most depressing part is that in doing so, somewhere along the line, we created an atmosphere that’s going to cost us players.

My biggest disappointment in this season is that it cost us what could have been our greatest prospect since Teddy Ballgame. When Jacoby Ellsbury looks back on this year, on Lackey becoming a clubhouse cancer, on Crawford whining about how hard it is to play here in his online diary, on the local media absolutely hounding the team for a lackluster start, what kind of decision do you think he’ll be leaning toward? Can you really blame if he decides to pack his bags and head back to the West where he spent his childhood and starred for Oregon State?

Simply put, Ellsbury put together an MVP-caliber season, and quite possibly the greatest achievement by a Native American athlete since Jim Thorpe’s accomplishments in the early 20th century. He proved that his 5-tool repertoire was for real, and that he’s a much more complete player than any of the bigger-named (and much higher paid) athletes on the Red Sox roster. Even despite that costly dropped ball from a few days ago, Ellsbury’s season was a breakthrough in every possible way, and he deserves some top-notch accolades for his play on the field. Unfortunately, though, while Ellsbury put up monster numbers this season, he also gave Sox management a taste of what they should have been holding out for, where the real money should be going.

Just look at how the Sox have spent money on big-name prospects in the past few years.

Carl Crawford and Lackey might have been extreme disappointments, but they are only the latest in a long list. Bobby Jenks, Marco Scutaro, Mike Cameron, J.D. Drew, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Julio Lugo, Edgar Renteria, and Matt Clement are just a few of the horrible names that Red Sox management has spent millions on, and to what end?

Now look at the players who have come out of our system and been re-signed: Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis, Jon Lester, Jonathan Papelbon, Daniel Bard, Clay Buchholz, Jason Varitek, and Josh Reddick.

Okay, maybe Reddick still hasn’t proven he can be consistent for a full season, and you may not like Daniel Bard for his end of season dive. But everyone else on this latter list has not only contributed to a Red Sox championship but been an integral part. And while you may think Reddick and Bard are unproven, they still put up far better numbers than Cameron and Jenks, two veteran guys who collectively cost the Sox over $13 million this year alone.

So when Ellsbury calls up his agent (the dreaded money-hungry Scott Boras) its likely the two aren’t going to be talking about staying with the Red Sox. And because of this season I can’t say I blame him for trying to head closer to home (so long as he doesn’t sign with the Yankees).

After all, the Sox have so much money invested in Carl Crawford, its unlikely they’ll foot the bill for Ellsbury, even if he is only coming into his prime and shows the promise of being a perennial all-star. Nor would I expect him to  stay in a clubhouse where people are always questioning team heroes like David Ortiz, while John Lackey, Carl Crawford and J.D. Drew get a lion’s share of the money for doing a lamb’s share of the work.

Disgraceful showing all around.

Tensions are running high heading into this weekend series with the New York Yankees. So high, in fact, that no clubhouse has been under such pressure to win a series than these players are this weekend. And while you may think that’s quite the exaggeration, remember that these Red Sox, multiple times in sole possession of the American League East lead, not only saw their division title lost to the hands of the hated Yankees, but also have allowed a wild card lead of 9 games at the start of the month dwindle to only 2 games. To put this into perspective, no team in the league’s history has ever (EVER!) blew a bigger league so late into the season. So when I say the pressure is on, I mean it.

It’s gotten so bad that die hard Sox fans were actually hoping for a Yanks series sweep against the Tampa Bay Rays earlier in the week, and so bad that when the games come on it’s hard to stomach watching them. So bad, even, that when Russell Martin, a first year Yankee with no history with the Red Sox states that he “hates the Red Sox” and will do anything to keep them from making the playoffs, the truth is that at this point he could probably go 50 for 50 in this series and still not do as much damage to the Sox as they’ll end up finding a way to do to themselves.

It wouldn’t surprise me to know that Sportscenter’s New England ratings have tanked in the last week, with most fans afraid to even catch the replays. And while there’s plenty of blame to spread around, for the pathetic display of September, its mostly been the pitching.

The entirety of the Red Sox starting rotation has an ERA above 6.00 for the entire month of September, the entire month! It’s gotten to the point that even as I was writing about the one saving grace of the past month, Jonathan Papelbon’s stellar performances, he up and blows a lead to the Orioles, costing the Sox the game. It’s gotten to so bad that John Lackey will officially go down as the worst Red Sox starter in history. And that’s not just my disappointment in him talking.

No Red Sox pitcher has ever had an ERA above 6.00 to finish a season pitching over 150 innings, so congratulations at being a colossal waste of money, Mr. Lackey, well done. But of course, he’s not the only one to blame, he’s simply following the remarkable example set by all of the other makeshift starters that the Sox have been throwing out there over the last month.

Over the course of the past month it’s been made quite clear that these Red Sox might want to get into the playoffs, they may even be losing sleep over the fact that they can’t seem to get a string of wins together, losing 16 or the last 21. They may be tearing their own hair out in stress for all we know, but the results will speak for themselves. If the Sox can’t find a way to salvage this season, it won’t only go down as the worst season in Sox history, but the worst collapse in league history.

So get it together guys! Sox fans don’t want you tanking what was a once-promising season because once we’re in the playoffs, all bets are off! The slate’s wiped clean and everybody starts over, some with a huge chip on their shoulder looking to get back at punks like Russell Martin. So just be sure to get there and make everybody remember that 100 win team that was supposed to be.

Tim Wakefield probably knows he’s not going to be a hall-of-famer. He probably knows that his 19 year career is going to end fairly soon, and certainly knows that the Sox have recently moved on from him being a focal point in the starting rotation. And yet despite all of this, and a performance in which he gave up five earned runs in six innings, last night was all about Tim Wakefield, and why he will go down as a true Red Sox legend.

Wakefield’s performance had little to do with what he actually did on the mound last night, but what he’s been doing with the Red Sox for nearly 17 complete seasons. Quietly, Wakefield has compiled a Sox career in which the stats don’t tell the whole story. Sure, he’s closing in on the all-time Red Sox wins record (he only needs 6 more W’s) and he’s a surprising second in total strikeouts only to Roger Clemens. But in reality, it’s the intangible aspects of Tim Wakefield’s career that will define him when we look back on him in the future.

Wakefield was a sort of middle-infielder for any pitching staff he was a member of simply because he could do it all. And the analogy fits especially well because Wakefield wasn’t even a pitcher when he was drafted, but played second base (he currently still holds Florida Institute of Technology’s home run record). The accidental discovery of a top-notch knuckleball then sent him on the career path that has left managers  wondering where exactly he fits in the rotation. Wakefield didn’t need a defined role, however, to produce, and has been the consistency in Red Sox pitching staffs that have spanned some of the worst times (including his league leading 15 losses in 1997) and the best times (2 World Series titles and his first All-Star selection at age 42).

Tim Wakefield will go down as a Boston legend because of these things. Because of the fact that he was could be heavily relied upon down the stretch of games (he has 22 saves to show for it). Because his teammates knew that even if he might not have his best stuff, he’d still give them quality innings (he’s the Sox all-time leader with a breath short of 3,000). And because of the fact that through it all, he’s done his job with a smile on his face, knowing that he’s living out a dream in the city that he respects, with fans that love him.

Wakefield’s a Boston kind of guy. He’s a blue-collar workhorse that just happened to know how to throw a knuckleball, and was successful at it for 19 professional seasons. So while he tipped his hat to Sox fans in a teary-eyed speech last night, it’s we who should be tipping our hats to you Timmy. Congratulations on the 200th win, a career great in a Red Sox uniform, and, above all else, the ability to still be humbled in the modern age of athletics.