The Red Sox could learn a thing or two from about how to handle the media during tough situations.
Patriots coach Bill BelichickThe Boston Red Sox have taken a couple of black eyes in the court of public opinion the last few weeks.
First, Josh Beckett took a “what happens in the clubhouse, stays in the clubhouse” approach when asked about his dietary habits during the team’s September collapse, and first baseman Adrian Gonzalez toured ESPN to echo those sentiments less than a week later.
While it’s this writer’s opinion that the Sox’ problems last year were much larger than a plate of fried chicken, acting as if how the pitchers conducting themselves during the collapse was no big deal isn't wise given the current climate.
Jon Lester took a strong first step towards making amends for the starting pitchers’ behavior during his Sunday press conference, but we reached out to The Bill Belichick Public Relations Firm for some tips on how to handle the media just in case the Red Sox need help navigating their way through future interviews.
Here is what happened when we hit Belichick with some sample questions:
Q: Are the starting pitchers sorry for their part in the September collapse?
A: Yeah, that’s in the past and right now we’re just focused on getting ready for the upcoming season and our next opponent, the Northeastern Huskies.
Q: Sure, quality opponent there. So, what do you think the team learned from last season’s collapse and do you think they will be motivated by it moving forward?
A: We’re a different team than we were last year, and the year before that, and we’ll be different three weeks from now. We’re facing different challenges and our team is evolving. Whatever you have to deal with, whatever challenges there are, you look at them and then collectively as a team you manage them.
Q: I'm not entirely sure that answered the question, but onto the important stuff: Has the team decided if beer will be banned from the clubhouse and will pitchers be allowed to hang out in there during their off days when the games are going on?
A: We’ll try to comply with the rules and if we don’t, I’m sure we’ll be penalized for it.
Q: Penalized? By who? You’re saying no beer, then?
A: We’ll look at all of our options and what we think is in the best interest of the team relative to what the situation dictates. Whatever that is, then that’s what we’re going to do.
Q: Uhh, OK… we’ll just move on. The pitchers kind of faltered down the stretch there and some of them ended the season out of shape. Do you feel like you’ll need to stay on top of them or have they learned from those experiences?
A: We’re a little bit of a team in transition. There are a number of transitory things going on or that have gone on that have put things in a little bit of a state of flux here. They weren’t what they were last year. Some of them aren’t what they were two weeks ago. Some of them are going to be different in two more weeks.
Q: Ummm …
A: We’ll do the injury report Wednesday, just like we do every week. Until then, we’ll check in with the trainers and see what those guys can do when we go out there and practice.
Q: Who said anything about an injury report? There’s an injury report in baseball? Whatever, doesn't matter. Anyways, one of the big question marks entering the season appears to be shortstop. Will Jose Iglesias have a chance to compete for that job or is his bat still too far behind to even be considered?
A: We’ll just try to use the spring to help evaluate the mix. Not just individually, but collectively, the groups working together and kind of what looks like the best combination and that type of thing. That goes for everybody.
Q: So, he will get a look?
A: I think all the players in the organization understand that they are going to be called on to do certain things, and for us to win and be successful, they need to do it, whatever it is.
Q: Oh, forget it …