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Crazy train
Every spring, Red Sox fans climb on board the bandwagon. Destination: heartbreak.

BY CHRISTOPHER T. YOUNG

So here we are. Opening day in 2001 kicks off the Red Sox baseball club’s centennial year in business. As always, this could be the year.

But the jubilation Red Sox fans harbored just over a month ago has given way to pessimism amid dire signs of hard reality — feelings usually kept under wraps until August at the earliest. In a month’s time, the visions of sugarplums that danced in the heads of New Englanders desperate for a championship have taken on prune-like qualities, and there are already many reasons to believe that Santa won’t be coming to Fenway Park this October.

Don’t get me wrong. There are many things to like about this year’s squad, and in many ways it has improved on paper over the disappointing cast that underachieved its way to a 85-77 record. Following the uplifting 1999 campaign, when the Sox advanced to the American League Championship Series before bowing to the inevitable Yankees, last year’s season had to be termed a step backward for a team that had qualified for the playoffs in three of the previous five seasons. Despite having the top pitching stats and arguably the toughest out in all of Major League Baseball, the game’s premier pitcher, and a payroll that ranked in MLB’s top five, the Red Sox were lacking something all season long — even though they went far enough in the pennant race to tug at the heartstrings of Sox fans everywhere.

To rectify the situation, the Sox brass decided in the off-season to break the bank even further. After throwing tons of cash at free-agent pitcher Mike Mussina only to see him opt for the higher bucks in the Bronx, the Sox hierarchy figured there were bigger fish to fry, and landed the greatly coveted Manny Ramirez — a slugging outfielder known for his ability to drive in runs (he collected more than 400 RBIs over the past three seasons). In addition, the Sox stockpiled middle-of-the-road and above-average pitchers who should provide significant staff depth as the season progresses and injuries mount. Infielder Chris Stynes was picked up to bolster the third-base void created when veteran John Valentin went down with a knee injury last year, and overall the core of the line-up looks strong. The veritable Murderers’ Row of Nomar Garciaparra, Carl Everett, Ramirez, and Dante Bichette should pack a substantial punch in the heart of the order.

Yes, a month ago, expectations were high. Hope, per usual, sprang eternal. Then spring training hit, and everything went straight to hell.

It was supposed to be just a month of stretching, workouts, and a few exhibition games designed to prepare players for the 162-game regular season. So what could possibly have gone so wrong so quickly?

February 26 — a day that will live in infamy — was the first sign of trouble. Garciaparra, two-time American League hitting champion, shortstop extraordinaire, Sports Illustrated cover boy, and all-around stud, complained of swelling in his wrist. Hindsight is always 20-20, but what a difference it would have made if Nomar had had the wrist surgery back then, which might have enabled him to return by Memorial Day. Instead, soap opera #1 played out all through the month of March, with casts put on, removed, and put back on, and the wrist tested and examined by more doctors than one could shake a stickball at. Now it appears that Nomar probably won’t be back before the All-Star break. The significance of his absence cannot be overstated, because his leadership (by example) is pretty much the only leadership the club has right now — and even that couldn’t prevent the Carl Everett fiasco of a year ago. Obviously, the Sox will also miss Nomar’s defensive and offensive capabilities, but the absence of his duende and stability will create a profound deficit on a team that for the most part lacks both.

Shortly after Nomar’s wrist became an issue, the medical ward began to take on even more patients. Free-agent pitcher David Cone, he of the 38-year-old structurally repaired arm and the five {chk} World Series rings, shut it down early because of shoulder pain, and the $160 million savior-in-waiting Ramirez has suffered hamstring problems throughout the spring. Right-hander Hipolito Pichardo, expected to perform key set-up in the bullpen, has experienced arm problems and now faces a murky future. Veteran Bret Saberhagen, a former Cy Young Award winner but nearly 37 years old himself, has seen his progress slow to a snail’s pace because of recurring shoulder problems. Reliever Bryce Florie, who was hit in the eye by a batted ball in a horrific incident last September, has ongoing vision problems and is a long-shot to return to the staff. Valentin, fresh from months of rehabilitation for last spring’s collapsed knee, has had a setback and won’t be ready for opening day. Infielder and supposed speedster Jose Offerman, coming off a disappointing 2000 season that saw him go 0 for 8 in base-stealing attempts, has knee problems that hamper his ability to generate any velocity on the base paths, placing his leadoff spot in jeopardy.

These injuries have been but one subplot in the story of the Sox’ spring-training odyssey in Fort Myers, but lordy, have there been more.

Hope for this year’s ball club centers on Manny Ramirez, and the Sox shelled out serious cash to acquire his services. He is by all accounts a friendly, quiet player who will shoulder enormous responsibility in the Red Sox line-up, but it was his role on defense that took center stage early in spring training. After telling everyone who would listen that he would play wherever Jimy Williams wanted to put him, the career right-fielder then balked at being switched to left field. I don’t know about you, but if in my job interview I say I’ll do whatever the boss says, then take the job that’ll pay me nearly $55,000 per day for eight years (including off-days and the off-season), I don’t think I’ll raise a ruckus. Ramirez’s about-face notwithstanding, the problem exists because the Sox have a damn good right fielder, Trot Nixon, and a somewhat expendable left fielder, Troy O’Leary, and Nixon might be bumped from the starting line-up if Ramirez plays right. Manny will patrol the right-field confines of Fenway for only 81 of the 162 games, and while his “comfort” level out there may be significantly greater playing right, defensively he could be a liability. Right field in Fenway Park is considered one of the most difficult positions to play in all of baseball because of the large amount of real estate, the glare of the sun peeking over the 600 Club, and the confounding angles of the walls. Sox fans who have slept well at night knowing that Nixon has right field covered will not have much patience if Ramirez struggles out there, particularly if it’s at Nixon’s expense in the line-up.

Is this a real issue? Perhaps not, but Nixon needs to play if the Sox are to have a legitimate shot at the title this year, and having him platoon in left or right field will appease neither him nor his loyal fans. With Ramirez on the shelf to start the season, Jimy Williams may not have to address this unfolding soap opera #2 until later this month, when trades or injuries may make the decision for him.

Sox fans generally love their players, but they expect certain things in return. They expect their heroes always to try their hardest, to treat the fans with respect, to be team players, and to behave on and off the field. In essence, they root for the good players, but they will embrace a player even more if he is, basically, a good guy. In the old days, the media often didn’t report it if Ted Williams acted like a boor or Jim Rice slighted them in the locker room. Now, the media will report (and broadcast) nearly everything, including locker-room tantrums and off-field shenanigans. When Wil Cordero played for the Sox back in the mid ’90s, he was cheered here until he was arrested for a domestic-violence incident. Red Sox fans never viewed him the same way again, and even booed him in his home park before the team ultimately released him. This supports the conjecture that diehard fans would never, ever have taken back Roberto Alomar if he had been a Sox player when he spit in the face of umpire John Hirschbeck during an on-field argument, much less given their undying love to a jerk like Albert Belle.

That’s why the travails of Carl Everett have been so difficult to accept. Although he can be a dynamic player, his character flaws go against the grain of everything fans believe their players should be. It was bad enough that he lost it during a game last June and got himself a 10-game suspension for bumping an umpire. It got worse when he started bad-mouthing teammates and manager alike, and he clinched his role of villain through his antics during a critical series against Cleveland last September. Now he has nearly cemented his place in the Red Sox Hall of Shame by his behavior during this year’s spring training, which has culminated in a suspension and a nearly $100,000 fine (pending appeal). The man has become a cancer in the clubhouse, and has significantly threatened the already fragile karma surrounding this team. It’s no surprise that he has already played for four teams in his nearly eight-year career. It may cost Williams his managing job if he allows Everett’s selfishness to continue bringing down the team.

Mo Vaughn’s leadership skills might have quelled this nonsense from the outset. But Mo’s gone, no other real leaders are apparent in the Sox clubhouse, and the men in authority — Williams and general manager Dan Duquette — have taken conflicting positions.

Something’s bound to happen as a result of spring-training soap opera #3, and undoubtedly somebody will have to go.

Despite all the Red Sox’ misfortunes, it still comes down to this. In the American League, four playoff spots are up for grabs, and there are probably only six legitimate contenders. The Sox’ division, the AL East, will most likely be dominated by the Yankees, the Sox, and perhaps the pitching-poor Blue Jays. The White Sox and the Indians will go at it all summer long in the AL Central; Oakland will probably win the AL West, with Seattle bidding for a wild card. Therefore, it’s not unreasonable for Sox fans to start the scoreboard-watching now. New Englanders are old hands at rooting against the Bronx Bombers, but Red Sox fans should start wishing ill of the Indians, White Sox, and Mariners as well, so that their evil-spell skills are well honed for the stretch drive in September. The perennial-favorite Bombers may lead the division and the league and win their fourth straight (#?!) Series title, but anything can happen — that’s why they play the games. Missing Nomar for two or three months will undoubtedly hurt the Sox, and Ramirez’s susceptibility to injury will be a topic throughout the summer, but nonetheless lots of good things have emerged from Fort Myers.

Pedro Martinez again anchors a pitching staff that has led the majors in ERA the past two seasons, but the rotation’s key to success may lie with the two kids, Toma Ohka and Paxton Crawford. The youngsters have paid their dues moving up through the minor-league system, and are ready for prime time. Both showed brief signs of brilliance last season, and their development could go a long way in determining the Sox’ success. Hideo Nomo, Frank Castillo, and the possibly returning Saberhagen should be upgrades from last year’s non-Pedro starters. The middle relievers will miss the presence of lefty Rheal Cormier, who left via free agency, but Rich “El Guapo” Garces, a newly trimmed-down Rod Beck, and closer Derek Lowe should continue to seal victories, as long as they’re not overworked. Knuckleballer Tim Wakefield can eat up innings in a relief or starting role, if he doesn’t pout too much. Overall, the pitching staff remains vastly superior to 80 percent of the teams’ in the majors.

The Sox also have two terrific catchers. Jason Varitek comes off a disappointing season at the plate but has emerged as a dominant handler of pitchers. His off-season wrist surgery should help him rebound from his .248 average of last season, and he is ably backed up by Scott Hatteberg, who had a terrific spring training and may get some work playing first base as well. Either way, Hatteberg needs to get more playing time, because he is a great left-handed bat who has not been able to develop in recent years in his sub role.

Late-blossoming Brian Daubach, who toiled in the minors for most of his 20s before reaching The Show two years ago, has ably taken over first base. His late-game heroics the past two years have served as the stuff of legend, but unfortunately so have his late-season slumps. Last year his downfall began with a bench-clearing brawl in Tampa, when he injured his elbow during the fisticuffs but played through the pain the rest of the way. But the injury made him more of a liability, and his average dropped to .248 by season’s end. But now that he’s fully recovered, the first baseman’s job is his to lose, with Hatteberg, Offerman, and pre-season phenom Shea Hillenbrand waiting in the wings to replace him if he struggles.

Offerman, Mike Lansing, Lou Merloni, Craig Grebeck, and Stynes may have to engage in some serious musical chairs with the remaining infield positions, at least until Garciaparra (and possibly Valentin) return. By then, they’ll have completed the auditions and more or less set the infield. The key to it all could be Stynes, who hit well for the Reds last season and might emerge as the kind of leadoff hitter who can set the table for the bashers behind him.

The outfield situation, as mentioned earlier, remains somewhat chaotic. Still, they’ve got O’Leary, Nixon, Everett, and Ramirez — a quartet who can do the job defensively and also hit .300 if things fall into place. Late-season pick-up Dante Bichette can expect to fill the designated-hitter role, although the left-handed Hatteberg may also see duty in this spot.

What the Sox lack in defense and speed on the base paths, the team makes up in overall depth of talent. A bit of shuffling and/or wheelin’ and dealin’ could overcome some of their inherent deficiencies.

WHEN THE Sox surprised people in 1999 and won the American League wild card, then took three straight from the Indians and played New York for the AL pennant, everyone marveled at their desire and heart. Those qualities seemed to be in short supply last year when the team failed to make the playoffs. A particularly gruesome stretch in June put the Sox in a catch-up role for the balance of the season, and their heart was questioned when they lost a home series to league doormats Tampa Bay, Kansas City, and Minnesota and got swept on the road by the woeful Phillies. After dropping three at home to the Yankees in early September, the season came down to a do-or-die home series with Cleveland in late September: the Sox proceeded to drop three out of five (highlighted by an Everett locker-room tantrum). And even while the Yankees were losing 15 of their last 18 games to finish off the season, the Sox were essentially mailing it in, dropping four of their final six to the lowly Birds and Devil Rays. It is not out of the realm of possibility that if the Sox had continued to fight the good fight instead of going 7-9 down the stretch, they might have overtaken the Yankees in a stirring finish, rather than finishing a mere two and a half games back.

So if droughts in leadership, karma, and heart brought the Sox down last season, revivals in those areas could bring about the needed turnaround. The injuries coming out of spring training will force the Sox to play shorthanded, and a slow start could cost Jimy Williams his job, but the fact is that you just never know. If the Minnesota Twins can win two world championships in four years, and even the Florida bleepin’ Marlins can win one, maybe it all comes down to a few breaks here and there.

The aura surrounding this team coming out of camp certainly leaves something to be desired, but the “Bronx Zoo” Yankee teams of the late ’70s never lacked for soap-opera drama either. And that organization has tallied 26 world championships while Boston waits for its first since 1918, lest we forget.

The park will be packed, the beer will be cold, Pedro will mow ’em down, and perhaps some glory awaits on the horizon as the season of 2001 plays out. Friends or foes, heroes or goats? What’s the worst that can happen?

Well, we’ve all ridden that ride a few times before.

But let’s wait and see.

Christopher T. Young can be reached at cyoung[a]phx.com.

Issue Date: April 5-12, 2001