This is just a theory, and one very untested.  But as I was thinking about the collapse of the Red Sox and the loss of Terry Francona’s influence, I realized that other things have changed between this season and last.  One, pitching coach John Farrell went to Toronto to manage the Blue Jays, and Farrell [...]

With the Phillies being eliminated last night, and now all the powerhouses out of the playoffs, I took a look back at my predictions from the beginning of the year.  They weren’t very good.  I got the NL West very wrong- as did many- and was way off on the AL Central.  I did pick [...]

Terry Francona is not the manager of the Boston Red Sox any longer.  Whether he was fired or resigned, that is a matter for debate. (Dan Shaughnessey writes that he was fired.) This time it is less clear than say when Joe Torre left the Yankees.  In Torre’s case he was offered another contract, one [...]

The Red Sox arent out of trouble yet.  The Baltimore Orioles have shown that they can beat them, and the Sox only have one win under their belt as they head into their last series.  Should the Rays manage two wins in the next couple of days and the Sox lose two, well they will [...]

In Boston, the fans are booing the Red Sox and the press has turned against them. This well-written piece by Dan Shaughnessey suggests that “in the best interests of baseball” Bud Selig should not allow the Red Sox to play in the post-season, if they hold off the Rays and Angels through these last couple [...]