Source: Red Sox let go first-base coach

[joeybee12]

BOSTON -- The Boston Red Sox have relieved Ron Johnson of his duties as first-base coach, according to a team source.

Johnson, 55, spent 12 years in the Red Sox organization and served the last two seasons on former manager Terry Francona's staff.

Johnson joined the Red Sox in 2000 as a manager of Class A Sarasota before moving on to Double-A Portland. He also served as manager of Triple-A Pawtucket from 2005 to 2009 before being named first-base coach for the Red Sox prior to the 2010 season.

Johnson is the first member of Francona's staff to be fired from the team.

http://espn.go.com/boston/mlb/story/_/id/7063697/boston-red-sox-let-go-first-base-coach-ron-johnson-source-says

The blood-letting continues.....

[hughee99]

1. In reality, aren't they all gone?

A new coach (and possibly a new GM) are coming in. They're going to want their own people in there.

This poor guy worked for a decade in the organization, he's "low man" on the totem pole in the coaching staff, and I don't recall anyone blaming a loss on the 1st base coach all year. This is actually rather remarkable since I live in MA and listen to Boston sports talk radio. I've heard losses blamed on weathermen, travel agents, girlfriends, and a lazy dog.

Hell, Johnson left the team in August (when they were still playing very well) and missed all of September when his daughter almost died in a car accident.

The pitching coach they haven't decided on yet, though... :wtf:

[wilt the stilt]

2. the insane are running the asylum

in reality the players didn't show up. They should take the heat. All this does is undermine the next manger as the players get a pass.

[hughee99]

3. Yes, I'm just as disturbed to see how they appear to be handling this

as I was about the issues that have come up. It's tough for ownership to call out the players in public though, because you're sort of stuck with them. And if you want to trade them, pointing them out as one possible reason for your collapse isn't going to help their trade value. I hate to say this, but they players are the issue. Some just didn't play well (like Lackey and Crawford), some didn't seem to be putting in the work (Beckett, for example) and some weren't doing what was necessary to keep those player in line (Varitek).

Lackey's untradable, Beckett needs to have someone light a fire under his ass, and Varitek (and Pedroia and Ortiz) need to keep the players in line.

I'm not sure what to do about Crawford.

[joeybee12]

4. But the tone comes from the top down, obviously Francona and perhaps others

couldn't control things...his attitude was that things take care of themselves...they don't. He's gotta be a Democrat, sort of like, "Well, if we hope really really hard (instead of actually doing anything) we MIGHT get what we want."

[Onceuponalife]

5. ...and thus the latest chapter

in the story of America's Chokers.:nopity: