Give Thanks and Pass the Checkbook

Conversation at my Thankgiving Day table evetually turned to the Red Sox. Like all multi-generational New England families, we were thankful for the bounty of joy the hometown team had brought us this season.

And we were especially thankful that we were able to share it with every member of the family that had come to this country since 1955, (since they are all still with us), and have suffered alongside the native faithful. And like every year before, we said a prayer for the boys of summer, Why not us ... again?

Conversation turned to next year, and what the "bunch of idiots" would have to do to repeat. There was talk of dynasty from the younger crowd. But the elders, tempered by years of drought, and a heritage that dares not temp the gods, warned about the hubris 0f success.

So back and forth we went alternating between the entitlement of winning and and fatalism of losing, when I asked, so who's going to be the team leader next year. Everyone (else) was stumped for minute, then the argument started anew, with the youngers advocating for no team leader, just a team, like the bunch of idiots who got us here this year. They'll get us there again.

The olders heralded back to Ted Williams '46, Carl Yastremski '67, and Carlton Fisk '75, Roger Clemens '86. All were necessary ingredients for a winning team. But not necessarily a World Series Champion, the youngsters responded.

Come to think of it, look at today's roster and who jumps out as the team's leader? Only one in my book, Jason Veritek.

The Red Sox need a leader. Sure they have great players, Ramirez, Martinez, Shilling and Ortiz. They lead, but by example. The Red Sox now need a take charge guy on the field every game. Veritek is a man of quite strength. Except of course when he's bashing Alex Rodriquez's face in, which not coincidently, was the turning point of this season.

The Red Sox management should recognize this and bestow the mantle on Veritiek as the team leader, for their own sake. For in years past, these self professed bunch of idiots have disintergrated into, well ... a bunch of idiots.

The man wants $50m for 5 years. Give it to him. Infact, if the head office is so hung up on length of contracts, (no five year deals, no no-trade clauses) then give him $50m over 4 years. Make him the most valuable, if not the highest paid, catcher in baseball.

Now that our crusaders have brought home the holy grail, it's time to re-create the mystique forged over the last 86 years. Start by giving the next generation of Red Sox nation a leader.