Beckett (17MM), Lester (5.75MM), and Lackey (15.9MM): ~$38MM in 2011.

The 2011 Redsox sported a $162MM payroll and a 90-72 record.  They held a nine game lead over the Rays for the wildcard on September 3.  Then they went 7-20 in September missing the playoffs, one of the worst collapses in baseball history.  Their manager was fired.

What happened?

Since this occurred in Boston and since Bob Hohler holds a role as investigative reporter for the Boston Globe, we have a pretty good idea.

“… Terry Francona lost his ability to prevent some of the lax behavior that characterized the collapse. Team sources said Francona, who has acknowledged losing influence with some former team leaders, appeared distracted during the season by issues related to his troubled marriage and to his health.”

“Drinking beer in the Sox clubhouse is permissible. So is ordering take-out chicken and biscuits. Playing video games on one of the clubhouse’s flat-screen televisions is OK, too. But for the Sox pitching trio to do all three during games, rather than show solidarity with their teammates in the dugout, violated an unwritten rule that players support each other, especially in times of crisis.

I could keep excerpting but Hohler’s story covers:

• Francona personal problems (divorce, pain-killer use)*;
• Starting pitchers hanging out in clubhouse instead of dugout during games;
• Players carping about having to play a double-header (due to Hurricane Irene);
• Lack of conditioning;
• Personal record pursuits;
• Public sniping between teammates;
• Complaints about late ‘getaway’ games.

It’s a comprehensive and well-written and interesting documentation of the ugly side of the professional athletics.  Exhibit A for: ‘The Entitled Ballplayer.’

In an era where all games are on TV and all games’ statistics are online and pool reports provide the same set of bland post-game interviews for everyone… the Hohler article is a shining example that sports reporting can still be relevant.

____
Compare the above to another interesting time and place:  the 2009 Browns.

Let’s see how another sports market reported on a uniquely peculiar story.

True cle-dot-com caption: “Will the back story of the Great Kokinis-Mangini Blowup ever be fully told? Tony Grossi tends to doubt it.”

The 2009 Browns are under new management with Eric Mangini as head coach and George Kokinis as GM.  The BQ/DA tandem at QB managed to crack 200 passing yards once in eight games leading to a 1-7 record at the bye week.  The last two games before the bye were 3-31 and 6-30 losses to Packers and Bears.  For these two games passing yardage was under 90 yards.

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