Sam Kennedy would not say if Red Sox fans would see ticket prices increaseGETTY IMAGES
The pandemic "cratered the last-place Red Sox' bottom line, inflicting more than $100 million in losses," and in looking ahead to this offseason, team President & CEO Sam Kennedy could not "say that the bleeding will stop and that the team will be able to spend what it needs to field a competitive team" in '21, according to Michael Silverman of the BOSTON GLOBE. Kennedy "could not say for certain that Fenway Park will be able to host fans in any capacity next season." He also "couldn't guarantee any potential ticket-buying fans that they would not face a ticket price increase." Kennedy said Red Sox Owner John Henry and Chair Tom Werner "will take a long-term view with respect to the COVID era." Kennedy yesterday "offered no specifics on payroll spending for a club that managed to re-set its luxury-tax status by shedding salaries in a season that thudded to an end." The "uncertainty of whether fans will be allowed back into ballparks at even reduced capacity is the No. 1 concern of the Red Sox and the 29 other teams." If Massachusetts allowed it, Kennedy said that the club "had a plan ready for September for close to 7,000 fans, or just a bit more than 18 percent capacity, to view games at the ballpark." Kennedy said that the plan "remains ready to be implemented" (BOSTON GLOBE, 9/30).
LEADING THE CHARGE: Kennedy said that Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom "will ultimately decide who the club hires as its new manager," but that the front office "will present the preferred candidate to the club's owners before a final decision is made." In Massachusetts, Chris Cotillo notes Kennedy, Henry and Werner "plan to let Bloom and his staff come up with a list of candidates and hold interviews, much like they did in January" before Ron Roenicke was promoted to replace Alex Cora. Kennedy "was asked directly" if Cora is "under consideration." Like Bloom on Sunday, Kennedy "deflected the question but didn't rule out the possibility." The group also has a "history with meddling in managerial searches" (Springfield REPUBLICAN, 9/30).
FINDING CONSISTENCY: In Boston, Julian McWilliams writes despite the Red Sox winning four World Series titles since '04, this year "marked the fourth time in nine seasons that the club finished last" in the AL East. The Red Sox "have hammered on the idea that they are trying to build a roster that creates sustainable success," not just a "World Series title winner one year followed by missing out on the playoffs the next." When the club brought Bloom in, that "was the start of it." The question "now becomes how do the Sox build on that on the field" (BOSTON GLOBE, 9/30).
FAILED EXPERIMENT: In Boston, Steve Hewitt writes things "will be back to normal for the Red Sox" for home games in '21, as there will be "no more" 7:30pm ET start times. Kennedy said that the club "will no longer start home games in that time slot starting next season." The Red Sox "scheduled 22 of their 30 home games this season at 7:30 in an effort they hoped would maximize a television audience, but it quickly became unpopular with a poor product on the field and games typically lasting" until 11:00pm or later. Kennedy said, "Start times will be earlier than [7:30], 7:05 or 7:10, our traditional start time" (BOSTON HERALD, 9/30).
KEEPING A LOW PROFILE: In Boston, Dan Shaughnessy writes Henry, Werner and Bloom "did the impossible this summer" and "made the Red Sox disappear -- not an easy trick." The Red Sox "were allowed to tank in almost total anonymity." They were the "falling tree in the proverbial forest." The '20 Red Sox season in actuality "ended in February when the Sox announced their salary-dump deal to the Dodgers, sending Mookie Betts and David Price" to L.A. All the hardships endured this year "makes it wildly amazing that, given an opportunity to make a show of thanks and good faith to their fans, the tone-deaf Red Sox on Tuesday would not guarantee that they won't raise ticket prices in 2021" (BOSTON GLOBE, 9/30).
