How Did The Red Sox Get Here?
BOSTON (CBS) - A decade ago John Henry, Tom Werner and Larry Lucchino bought the Boston Red Sox with a singular goal: to be the ownership group who broke the curse.
They hired a young, Boston-bred Ivy League educated general manager who was given one job: bring in players who would change the attitude within the clubhouse and bring a World Series to Boston.
Among Theo Epstein's initial acquisitions were Bill Mueller, David Ortiz, and Kevin Millar. Not exactly box office stars but players who filled roles and understood what it meant to play for the Red Sox.
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When Aaron Boone's walk-off homer landed in left field of Yankee Stadium on a cold October night in 2003, ending the Sox' season, Lucchino did not waste a moment.
He promised Red Sox Nation that ownership and baseball operations would not rest until a championship was brought to their well-deserving fans.
During that offseason Red Sox brass went for it all.
They agreed in principle to trade Nomar Garciaparra and Manny Ramirez for Alex Rodriguez and Magglio Ordonez, which as we now know was thwarted by the MLBPA.
They spent Thanksgiving at Curt Schilling's Arizona home telling him how important the Red Sox were and what it would mean for him to be the pitcher who broke the curse.
Sox ownership had a singular goal with a singular focus: the Red Sox and a championship.
The rest, as we know, is history.
They won in 2004 and three years later won it all again.
But since that time, things have changed.
The ownership group has since purchased 50-percent of a NASCAR team and bought the Liverpool soccer franchise in the English Premiere League.
As for the Red Sox, their offseasons have been based far more on generating buzz than building a team.
Three years ago they needed a bat, but instead signed John Lackey to be an overpriced luxury as their third starter.
Two years ago they needed pitching (because Lackey was an $80 million bust), but instead signed Carl Crawford to a contract $40 million north of the next highest bid.
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Today, a decade later, the ownership group is no longer as intent on filling roles on a championship caliber team.
Rather, they are dead set on occupying seats in an ancient ballpark in order to perpetuate a fraudulent sellout streak.
They plan birthday parties, not championship parades.
It is time the Sox owners cash in on the work and money they have placed into this franchise and sell it to a group that will make the Red Sox their top priority.
Chris Curtis has produced 98.5 The Sports Hub's The DA Show the last three years. Follow him on Twitter @DAShowProducer
