Oh sure, everything is fine now, the Red Sox are winning, but let’s not forget the hysterical scapegoating that happened when the Red Sox were 2-10 to start the season. Because when the going got tough, these guys were thrown under the bus awfully quick by the Boston sports media and certain meanspirited fans. #1 Scapegoat, Dice-K. #2 Scapegoat, Saltalamacchia. #3 Scapegoat, Jacoby Ellsbury. #4 Scapegoat, Marco Scutaro. #5 Scapegoat, Carl Crawford. If and when the Sox start losing again, these five will be the first to go under the scrutiny knife…

The Red Sox run a buttoned up, disciplined and family friendly organization. Pretty much every major decision fits logically, and very carefully, into their overall scheme of baseball-think. And then there is the Carl Crawford deal, and before that John Lackey’s $82.5 million. Adrian Gonzalez makes sense, as he’s their kind of player. Josh Beckett too (the $68 million extension). But no one saw the Crawford/Lackey deals coming. They smack of a desperation and illogic kept otherwise under wraps at Fenway. Lackey is a cheap knock off of Beckett-a Texas hothead-and at a higher price. Why? For the same money Boston could have instead chosen to sign and keep Jonathan Papelbon, an extremely popular, iconic player that helped deliver a WS and is second best only to the great Mariono Rivera, over the past four years. Meanwhile, there is no real place for Crawford on the team. They don’t need another speedy outfielder w/ no power, they already have one in Jacoby Ellsbury! Ellsbury was illogically moved to left field last year to make room for Mike Cameron, then an accident occured for him running down a fly ball in unfamiliar turf, then the Red Sox tried to scapegoat him over his incurred injuries–and now they are moving him out of leadoff (after a great Spring Training) to hamfist Crawford somewhere, anywhere in the lineup.

Maybe the Red Sox haven’t lost their lovable, underdog, and dramatic ways. A start of the season six game losing streak is JUST WHAT THEY NEEDED to get their historic mojo back. They need to play with a paranoid chip on their shoulder. Okay calm down, we don’t need to go another 86 years without a WS victory, but maybe this greatly expected season had to be knocked down a few pegs by an all too willing Red Sox Nation.

Topic: Awful advertising and bad promotions are driving away the NESN tv audience. Why do you need to endlessly promote the Red Sox in-between innings, we’re already watching the game at that point! It looks and feels like state-run tv. Viewers have clickers, and we’re not dumb in spite of what your promotions and advertising department are assaulting us with. “We’re All In”, groans weird beard Youk (and enough with the Youk close-ups everywhere, that chin needs a wide shot at best). “Order restored”, “We won’t rest until….”, it’s more likely we will all need rest after being lulled to sleep by the ceasless black and white funereal imagery also know as a NESN promotional campaign. Are they styled to run in conjunction with a Veteran’s Day sale? Then, a seamless transition to bad advertising–can Ace Tickets make another commercial? Ever? How about one where the green screen doesn’t bleed through behind Remy! How about a radio show on tv? D&C on tv is bad enough, but promotions directed by who? Or more likely, what? Interns? Mrs Clay Bucholtz? Linda Pizzutti’s friends? Tom Werner–time to parachute in!