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| John Farrell and Ben Cherington have overseen Boston's disastrous first half of the season. (Barry Chin/Boston Globe) |
Owner John Henry
Henry was the leading force behind the signings of Hanley Ramirez (4 years, $88 million) and Pablo Sandoval (5 years, $95 million) this offseason, and right now both deals look like duds for the Boston Red Sox. Henry pushed for the two free agent splashes in an effort to increase ticket sales and TV ratings. The Red Sox may be selling more tickets than last year's last-place catastrophe but the team is back in the basement in the AL East thanks to the less-than-stellar performances by their lucrative free agent expenditures. Sandoval is batting just .265 with limited power (7 HRs and 30 RBIs) and has the second-worst fielding percentage among starting third basemen in the American League. And lets not forget he was caught liking a photo on Instagram mid-game. Ramirez, meanwhile, has looked awful in the outfield, runs the bases like a Little League player and managed just one RBI in the month of July. Ramirez has cranked 16 home runs and has been strong at the plate of late, but signing him was a huge risk because of his limitations in the field. He should be a full-time designated hitter—a slot that won't open up until after David Ortiz (who refuses to play first base on a regular basis) retires.
Henry was the leading force behind the signings of Hanley Ramirez (4 years, $88 million) and Pablo Sandoval (5 years, $95 million) this offseason, and right now both deals look like duds for the Boston Red Sox. Henry pushed for the two free agent splashes in an effort to increase ticket sales and TV ratings. The Red Sox may be selling more tickets than last year's last-place catastrophe but the team is back in the basement in the AL East thanks to the less-than-stellar performances by their lucrative free agent expenditures. Sandoval is batting just .265 with limited power (7 HRs and 30 RBIs) and has the second-worst fielding percentage among starting third basemen in the American League. And lets not forget he was caught liking a photo on Instagram mid-game. Ramirez, meanwhile, has looked awful in the outfield, runs the bases like a Little League player and managed just one RBI in the month of July. Ramirez has cranked 16 home runs and has been strong at the plate of late, but signing him was a huge risk because of his limitations in the field. He should be a full-time designated hitter—a slot that won't open up until after David Ortiz (who refuses to play first base on a regular basis) retires.
Grade: D-
GM Ben Cherington
As noted above, it was Henry who wanted to bring Ramirez and Sandoval to town. Nonetheless, Cherington is responsible for the trade that netted Joe Kelly and Allen Craig, both players that have been subjected to the minor leagues . Rusney Castillo, the so-called Cuban sensation who received a seven-year, $72.5 million contract this winter, was sent back to the minors after posting an awful slash line of .233/.263/.288. Castillo's woes fall on Cherington, who expected the Cuban outfielder to jumpstart a Red Sox offense that was horrific in 2014. But Cherington's most inexcusable mistake? Signing Rick Porcello to a four year, $82.5 million contract extension that runs through the 2019 season before the right-hander threw a single pitch for Boston (and yet the team refused to give Jon Lester the money he deserved during contract negotiations last regular season). The mid-season pickup of Alejandro De Aza has been a gem and the development of youngsters Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts, Eduardo Rodriguez has been encouraging, but too many of Cherington's moves have backfired for the Red Sox.
GM Ben Cherington
As noted above, it was Henry who wanted to bring Ramirez and Sandoval to town. Nonetheless, Cherington is responsible for the trade that netted Joe Kelly and Allen Craig, both players that have been subjected to the minor leagues . Rusney Castillo, the so-called Cuban sensation who received a seven-year, $72.5 million contract this winter, was sent back to the minors after posting an awful slash line of .233/.263/.288. Castillo's woes fall on Cherington, who expected the Cuban outfielder to jumpstart a Red Sox offense that was horrific in 2014. But Cherington's most inexcusable mistake? Signing Rick Porcello to a four year, $82.5 million contract extension that runs through the 2019 season before the right-hander threw a single pitch for Boston (and yet the team refused to give Jon Lester the money he deserved during contract negotiations last regular season). The mid-season pickup of Alejandro De Aza has been a gem and the development of youngsters Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts, Eduardo Rodriguez has been encouraging, but too many of Cherington's moves have backfired for the Red Sox.
Grade: C-
Manager John Farrell
The Red Sox players have lost track of outs, Sandoval used his bathroom break to go on Instagram and the team shows no willpower against adversity. All of the aforementioned issues fall on Farrell. He also said he "respected" Wade Miley for throwing a tantrum on the mound in a game the disappointing left-hander crapped the bed in a loss against the Baltimore Orioles. From afar, it appears Farrell has lost complete control of the locker room.
The Red Sox players have lost track of outs, Sandoval used his bathroom break to go on Instagram and the team shows no willpower against adversity. All of the aforementioned issues fall on Farrell. He also said he "respected" Wade Miley for throwing a tantrum on the mound in a game the disappointing left-hander crapped the bed in a loss against the Baltimore Orioles. From afar, it appears Farrell has lost complete control of the locker room.
Grade: D
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