Hohler’s column was then used as a matter-of-fact reference by Boston.com blogger Eric Wilbur when he wrote:

“The 2011 Red Sox were doomed in part thanks to a pill-popping manager going through a divorce . . .”

http://www.boston.com/sports/columnists/wilbur/2011/10/red_sox_exit_st.html

Deplorable on Wilbur’s part to say the least.

And today we have Peter Abraham whipping up every excuse he can surmise (which is very few) over why trading Beckett is a mistake – even as caller after caller to Mutt and Merloni on WEEI today were emphatic that Beckett MUST go.

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/

Abraham goes on to the lay the blame of Beckett’s behavior as inspired and led by Lackey. The latter part of that isn’t hard to believe, yet just yesterday Abraham reported that Beckett’s clubhouse retreats are nothing new as Jack McKeon had “literally chase BecketT out of the clubhouse with a bat”.

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2011/10/13/becketts_behavior_not_new/

Boston media has become as random in its opinions and pronouncements as the direction of the wind. There is an overabundance of writers and bloggers because the name of the game is to write every possible opinion and scenario – no matter how misleading or incorrect – in an effort to identify with as many readers and attract as many website hits as possible.

I’m sure if you go back far enough, you’ll find stories quoting anonymous sources that Tris Speaker was a drunk or Carl Mays was hitting the laudanum too hard when they left too.

Journalism 101: sources are given anonymity when exposing them could cause personal or professional harm to said sources. Anonymity is not to be used as a tool for self-aggrandizement or career advancement, and fact-checking is NOT optional merely because the source is to be anon.

That point made, it’s the single most violated principle of journalism in the media today. Take a look through today’s newspaper and count the stories — all of them, politics, world affairs, Washington, all the way through the gossip and sports pages — that are based on anon sources. If it’s 60% or less, that’s a good day for journalistic ethics. It’s usually more.

Airing the kind of dirty laundry they air is great for us as readers and fans, but it’s a pretty low rent thing to do for the organization

Yeah, you should keep it quiet and then write a book about it. Then later you can join the MLB organization itself.

-Joe Torre

Saying pitchers drink beer and play video games is one thing, but blaming the team problems on the managers drug addition when it is clear that was NOT the issue crosses a line.

From what I can remember it’s the press + old management that was notorious for this. Now management has changed and it’s far less egregious than what used to occur. A lot of this stuff coming out is the players themselves.

Funny how things work out. Ownership didn’t want Francona any more and they’re letting Epstein go as well. The Red Sox win one more game and Francona’s option has to get picked up and Theo’s probably as well.

Now, it’s a bitter, ugly divorce. Think anyone is fighting over custody of Lackey?

Michael Lewis should write a book about them that gets made into a movie, starring Donald Pleasance as Tito (the resemblance is uncanny).

Jon Heyman
i have no problem with francona’s personal issues coming out. it’s the big leagues. that said, a lot of folks have marital/pill issues

When there’s any evidence beyond an anonymous backbiting quote that he had “pill issues,” then you can rip him for it. What a jackass.