Red Sox GM Ben Cherington yesterday spoke in the visitors’ dugout at Minute Maid Park and "took the blame for things not working out the last two years," according to Nick Cafardo of the BOSTON GLOBE. Cherington said that there has been "some 'self-review' and 'internal analysis' on the moves that were made" and is "aware of the criticism he’s received for his personnel decisions." He said, "When the total results are what they are, criticism is fair, and I’m open to that. ... I’m confident we have a lot of solutions here. I also know we have to find ways to get better.” Cherington believes that the free agent acquisitions of LF Hanley Ramirez and 3B Pablo Sandoval "will be positive" (BOSTON GLOBE, 7/23). In Boston, Christopher Gasper writes the Red Sox "either have the wrong plan or the wrong man implementing it." Either Cherington or the plan "has to change or the Sox are stuck on a carousel of underachievement." What is "most alarming is that while Cherington had answers for the media, he presented no tangible ones to fix his team." He came into the job with a "reputation for being cerebral and circumspect." But there is a "fine line between patience and inaction" (BOSTON GLOBE, 7/23). Also in Boston, Scott Lauber writes Cherington has "put together the worst roster nearly $200 million of owner John Henry's fortune could buy," and each move he makes "seems to backfire more spectacularly than the last." While it is "admirable for Cherington to be so accountable, it’s also easy after Henry publicly assured in June that he’s 'going to be the general manager of this club for a very long time.'" Lauber: "A fan base growing more disillusioned by the day would prefer Cherington fix the Sox’ problems rather than merely taking responsibility for them" (BOSTON HERALD, 7/23).
TIME TO LOOK IN THE MIRROR: The Boston Globe’s Dan Shaughnessy said with the Red Sox on pace for their third last-place finish in the AL East in the last four years, it is "time for a little introspection” by ownership. Shaughnessy: “They need to admit what they are. This notion that they're perennial contenders, that they're in it every year -- again, seven seasons, they've won a playoff game in one of the last seven seasons -- that's not a perennial contender.” WEEI-FM’s Kirk Minihane said Red Sox Chair Tom Werner “is a guy who meddles," and his "philosophy bleeds from the top.” Minihane: “Can he sit in a room with people and have an honest dialogue, and can anybody in that room right now in that organization say, ‘You’re part of the problem.’ Is there somebody who can do that?” Shaughnessy noted ownership "is more involved than ever, flexing muscles more, and there’s no push-back anymore." CSNNE.com’s Gary Tanguay said Henry is “not going to admit that he’s wrong.” Tanguay: “Everybody talks about Cherington has to go. In my opinion, it doesn’t matter who the GM is because you’re going to have to be a puppet for the owner" (“Arbella Early Edition,” CSNNE.com, 7/22).
