Was Zimbalist in the meetings with team officials? Why is this news?

I smell a conflict of interest here.  If I did not know better I would suspect he is on HWL payroll, and if he is not he should be.

it is obvious that this Zimblist guy is a paid minion who hasn’t even read Fraconas book. This is yet another example with how out of touch Red Sox ownership is with its fans who are sick of the twenty minutes of pre game ceremonies before each game with first pitch, blood donor of the game, tour bus driver, etc. They don’t like when Francona tells his side while they hide behind a whisper campaign in an attempt to damage Franconas reputation after firing or hiring obvious paid minions like this guy in a weak attempt to discredit Franconas book.

“he [Francona] himself personally has a bad year which starts with marital separation, rumors of affairs, probable addiction – certainly serious problems with painkillers,”   It sounds like this guy is a tool of Lucky Lucchino’s smear campaign on Francona.  Where did he get this “rumors of affairs” and “probable addiction” crap?  Where did they find this guy?  This economics professor is now an expert on medicine and addiction?  ”Of course, Francona has spent many more hours on the field than John Henry…” ya think?  When did John Henry ever spend any time on a baseball field?  

Please. This guy is correct for the most part. Anyone remember the ship of fools who were also up to buy this team? Frank McCourt. How did that work out gor the dodgers? Charles Dolan? We as would have Isaih Thomas running the team. The other guy from Boston who did not have the money to begin with? Francona is starting to back off now because he realized he came off as petty and playing the victim card

Lucky Larry strikes again through this surrogate.  I smell a rat and his name is Larry Henry Werner.

Sounds like more spin by the ownership group through yet another mouthpiece. I read Francona’s book, and wasn’t surprised by anything in it. My opinion of the ownership troika is pretty much the same now as before the book came out. The book just confirmed what I had always thought of them. I give Francona credit for being able to work for and with them as long as he did. Let’s hope the next ownership group is more like the current Texas ownership. Committed to winning without all the racing and soccer distractions, and no back stage drama.

Francona is a sympathetic figure with the Boston Fans.  The ownership is at the nadir of public opinion.  This is the time for them to be gracious rather than defensive.  It would serve them best to mend fences rather than starting new rumors and fueling old controversies.

My take on this He is giving his opinion it is interesting but I do not agree with him. I have not read the book only bits an pieces on line.

The guy is a college professor and he elects to open the discussion of  whether somebody “loves or likes” a sport?? Is he twelve years old? It was dumb enough in the book.  Like Mr. Lincoln, I suspect a conflict of interest or at least sucking up, but then maybe the guy is just  a moron.

 Zimbalist is right. Not to give kudos to a now penny pinching operation,Tito needed to go 3 or 4 years earlier. Theo,despite a brilliant start,was a below average GM in the big picture. For a billionaire owner to start acting small market is unacceptable. Hope he will sell the team and move to Liverpool.

What is wrong about management worrying about declining ratings and putting fans into the seats?  Isn’t management’s job to maximize revenues so the team can retain/purchase top level talent.  This whining about “they don’t love the game” is ludicrous. I read and hear complaints all across the media about how the Red Sox of 2013 are a bunch of JAGS with no color or excitement and yet when Werner et al express concern about the lack ot exciting stars to draw fan interest they get slammed.  Folks, professional sports is the entertainment business.  You’d better entertain the fans or they’ll take their business elsewhere.     .    

Then all of a sudden, he has a bad year, there’s a swoon in September, he himself personally has a bad year which starts with marital separation, rumors of affairs, probable addiction – certainly serious problems with painkillers, and stuff going on in the clubhouse. It’s pretty clear that he’s losing control. And it seems to me that he’s just trying to deflect the culpability, to deflect the blame, from himself to the owners. And frankly, I think it’s inappropriate.”>>>>>And the slandering of Terry Francona continues…….Hey Zimbalist? How would YOU like it if your boss slandered YOU in the media???

Why are some so angry at this guy in these comments?The book came out and said some rather(tame)things, and this guy is just offering another point of view.This article and the things said in it more or less amount to a statement saying “The owners care about baseball.” and people refuse to believe it?What’s the problem here? Some fans just hate the owners with zero basis in rationale, I guess I just don’t get being so critical of an onwership group who spend alot of money for a product that has failed to live up to expectations recently. If they really didn’t care they’d slash payroll and be good “businessmen”. These owners don’t play on the field, make out the lineup card, pitch, hit, warm up pitchers, or any other tangible on field work, so blaming them for the underperformance is borderline absurd, and hiding behind an internet board and questioning their passion seems a tad foolish as well. Ownership has not been the problem around here for the past few years period, a rational ananlysis of the the past few seasons will easily prove that…c’mon.

Thanks to the current owners we have many more instances of “lipstick on a pig”  improvements (money generating – ex. Monster Seats) to the worst ballpark in all of sports. The continued references to the “history of the park” is a weak attempt to continue their cash cow and at the expense of fans. Make “new history” like the Pats, Celts and Bruins!

Stay in your professorial role, this is obviously a conflict of interest, John Henry is consumed with his new toy, the Soccer club, his racing team, come in it doesn’t take a genius to figure out why the Red Sox are floundering, get Lucchino out of here, everywhere he’s been he has turned into a very unwanted person, this is no different.  If these owners really had the best interests of the Cub, we wouldn’t have sunk so low so fast, it’s not rocket science, you can blame the terrible 2012 season mostly on Larry Lucchino, he hired Valentine over Bens’ pick Sveum, that in itself sunk the Red Sox, a terrible choice from a man in the “know”?  And that part was funny about getting sexy players, another adriot study!  Hire Don Adams and get smart.

Very well worded post, a one sided story, this guy should stay home and keep him mouth shut.  What a joke the Red Sox ownership has become.

By the comments here,its obvious to me that they haven’t been fans during the real difficult times.This ownership is the best i have seen having been following the Sox for nearly 50 years by far.6 post seasons and two world championships.They have a couple bad years and they blame ownership? I agree with the article,Francona is acting like a scorned woman and the fans can’t see it.

Francona said himself that he used to hoard percaset.Of course he had an addiction who would’nt and i’m not crucifying him,it could happen to anyone.He admitted losing the clubhouse stop making excuses.Ownership is never responsible for the failure of the manager.They spent nearly a half billion dollars to bring another championship to Boston and we should appreciate it.Now they are taking a different route thankfully.No one is perfect. 

You are absolutely correct,one of the few accurate comments on this site.

You must be kidding or Francona is a liar.Tito said himself that it was difficult to manage in Boston because of the media and fans.But he also said that the 8 years managing here were the best of his baseball life.Ya can’t have it both ways.

What are the rumors,please explain.

My feeling is the Indians management is leary of Francona.They won’t say it but you can bet on it.If they were to read the book before they hired Francona he would be out of work right now.

He’s not acting small market if he still pays out one of the highest payrolls in the game.They are doing it right at this point.Short contracts with big talent waiting in the wings.My gut feeling is they have a fair chance and will contend all the way if their pitching comes through.There are no great teams in the east,not anymore.

Exactly right,thats why they hire managers and coaches to take care of things on the field.The FO better worry about ratings and the like it was stupid of Francona to even mention it.He’s obviously not a business man.He says he eats and breaths the game and thats cool,thats all he has ever done,and maybe they don’t love it as much as Tito.But then Tito does’nt have to write out the astronomical checks that Henry has done since they owned the franchise.I suppose its nice writing a book that is totally one sided for a few million.

I was in Franconas corner at one point.But he has been speaking out of both sides of his mouth.If your a big Francona fan then you should agree with him.He said that they were very good owners and i agree with him.

I have no problems with this guy supporting the business decisions the ownership group made.  All sports fans know that when a team crashes the Manager tends to get fired.  What I have a real problem with is this guy dragging out rumors (again) about Tito’s personal life to continue to drag his name through the mud.  

An economist is a trained professional paid to guess wrong about the economy. An econometrician is a trained professional paid to use computers to guess wrong about the economy.
The Red Sox ownership should focus their energy on improving the team on the field, rather than worrying about Francona’s book and how they don’t like how they were portrayed.  They should also cut down on all the pre-game BS which detracts from the enjoyment of those who are there to watch baseball. 

So who is this guy and why does his opinion matter?  He sounds like a fellow democrat buddy of Lucchino and friends.  This ownership snakepit has to go.

Zimpbalist is  typically cited as one of the leading experts on the “business” of baseball…..

To even talk about nesn ratings with the team manager is stupid.

Are you kidding me? This could be a major deal. Blount is a god bruising back and Demps may never play football again.

Can’t complain about this deal. Demps was a goner anyway, so why not get something for him? Blount will give the Pats more depth at running back. He is a smash mouth type of runner, and will give them a good goal line option. Hehas shown that he has the potential to be an effective rusher, and will provide insurance in case Ridley goes down.

Blount replaces Woodhead to back up Ridley, only essentially giving up a late pick to acquire someone who used to be good early on for the Bucs? Good deal Pats! Maybe Belichick can revive his career now.

God point. Why are you on the net telling us about it vs. working?

I agree. I like the trade, because now we have a big back who can pick up the 3rd and short plays that the Pats always try to pass on to get the first down. Now we can run it with a 242 pound back behind blocking from Logan Mankins.

Not you again!!!!

Good pick up…and hopefully much better in Boston than Mark.

It appears one of those low risk, high reward deals, particularly with Demps hoping to return to track for a period of time.

Not sure the negative commentary on Bill Belicheck regarding this trade or the connection to reviving his career. In fact, I didn’t know his career needed reviving.

Trade nothing, get nothing!!!

Kent’s an idiot for saying that.

I meant reviving Blount’s career. Not Belichick’s

Closing out games in the 4th with Blount?? Goal line carries?? Why not!!

Blount > Boldin….Boldin had a bunch of yards running through gaping holes in buffalo that game,,he’s probably a nice #3 and that’s about it…..Ridley,Vereen and blount with Boldin is fine…

Your coworker’s sister-in-law is a harlot.

Go away spammer.

LOL!!

Phew! I was worried there for a second. Now, I see what you’re saying and totally agree.

Thanks for clarifying. I agree…here is hoping that Blount can get back to where he was; or at least close. Sometimes these BB projects work out and other times…well, not so much.

Heard of this guy name Steven Ridley?

Lol you’ll see if he even gets a chance to touch the ball and if he does he’s a fumbling machine great trade for bucs

I’m laughing so hard right now this is Blount u guys are crazy watch some tape on this guy before I get so happy

Tampa Bay team has made the changes necessary to do a good draft this year. http://www.priceperhead.com