BIG DOG BITES

Date: Friday, August 31, 2001
From: Big Dog
Subject:  By and Large, Duped by The Duke

Smarmy, smug, elitist… words I jokingly used to describe Tony Massarotti of the Boston Herald a few weeks ago should truly be reserved for our not-much-maligned General Manager who’s been insulting our intelligence for far too long.  And did I mention grifter, fraud, phony?  As Seattle GM Pat Gillick, a real General Manager, correctly said “they fired the wrong guy.”

We have a $110 million payroll, but we can’t get a runner home, are running ourselves out of every game, and don’t even go down swinging when the game’s on the line in the 9^th.  Nice team you put together with that monopoly money Duke.

Everyone thought he was a hero when he signed Monney Ramirez. 

Puleeze.  Harrington just opened up the vault for you, we know the deal Dan.  And what does Monney do for us?  Sure, he takes his at-bats and puts up his personal numbers.  Cashes the check.  Goes back to the Ritz.  But was he taping up his hamstring like Jason Giambi a week ago?  Was he on the top step of the dugout in Texas shouting encouragement to his team while his boys were dying out there?  Did he demand that he be available to pinch hit in one of those late extra innings (he could have walked to first if he had to; one more hit would have won that Texas game, which essentially killed this team)?  No, your $13 million-a-year prize was getting a makeover in Ft. Myers.  Big deal Duke.  Not exactly a rocket science signing Duke.  Speaking of Rocket science, how long can you avoid looking him in eye after your thoughtless ‘twilight’ comment (yes, I still hate the Texas Con Man, but no need to take foolish parting shots when he’s out the door anyway)? 

Hey Duke, where’s the next Manny Ramirez?  Dernell Stenson? Wilton Veras? Rontrez Johnson?  Sucker born every minute eh Duke?

Can anyone believe we’re on the hook for Offerman for another year with an $8.5 million buyout? Wonderful.  And how much more would it have been, brainiac, to sign Roberto Alomar… another couple of million (could have taken it out of your golden parachute for when the new owners fire your not-so-wise ass)?  I only went to UMass Amherst, Amherst boy, but guess what:  you ain’t so smart.

And as ESPN’s Peter Gammons noted this week, during the entire Duquette regime, he has not developed a single pitcher who has won more than nine games in Major League Baseball. Eight years, not one.  And where are the next generation of Red Sox pitchers we were promised?  Jin Ho Cho?  Carlos Castillo?  Ken “I hate Boston” Over-The-Hill?!?

Trenton, Sarasota, Augusta, Lowell, Gulf Coast… all at or near the bottom of their respective leagues.  Barely a prospect in the bunch.  Where's our C. C. Sabathia?  See you later Danny boy, and don't let the door hit you on the way out.

Moyer for Bragg?  Genius.

When he took over for Lou Gorman he promised to build this organization through the farm system.  We’ll Duke, the horses have left the barn (Hi Jimy… stop laughing for a minute… you’ll spill your Pina Colada all over the USA Today baseball page that now keeps you so amused every day) and there’s not a thoroughbred in the bunch.  Izzy?  Joe 'Castaway' Oliver?  Where are the prospects you promised to groom eight years ago?  Oh yes, David Eckstein is a pretty good player… for the Angels.

Lou “the sun will go up, the sun will go down, and I’ll have lunch” Gorman would be welcomed back with open arms at this point.  So would Haywood Sullivan for that matter.

Hey Duke, why don’t you get on the T yourself (is there a worse ad in the history of advertising) and take it all the way to China.  The free ride is over.  And you’re in the twilight of your career.  We've had enough of your crap in Red Sox Nation. ٱ