Columnists, Sports

Instant Replay: Boston needs to stop playing the blame game

The Boston Red Sox will take on the Houston Astros in the ALDS. PHOTO COURTESY WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

In the wake of a rocky clinch of the American League East by the Boston Red Sox and a disappointing Patriots loss to the Panthers, New Englanders have just about lost their heads. Spoiled by five Super Bowl rings and two straight years of winning the AL East title under John Farrell, a single loss means more than just a disappointed fanbase — it means anarchy.

We see the blame game everywhere. At elections, horse races, backyard games of wiffle ball with the neighbors. No one wants to hold themselves accountable for their own losses, so instead they complain. Take a look at Hillary Clinton’s new book,“What Happened,” or the Clown Goodell rally towels that were handed out at Gillette Week 1. Not one region is louder in the wake of a loss than New England.

The New England Patriots are, besides the Dallas Cowboys, perhaps the most hated sports franchise in the United States. Whether it is because of Tom Brady and Bill Belichick’s arrogance or the fact that they just damn win all the time is unsure. But New England fans love the hate — in fact, they encourage the hate, choosing to egg on opposing teams, fans, and even NFL commissioner Roger Goodell all the same.

Unless, of course, they’re losing.

“Brady didn’t have Edelman, we can’t hold that against him!” the bearded man will resentfully shout while watching a scoreless third quarter against the Panthers.

“This terrible last series wouldn’t have happened if we still had Tito managing,” the John Farrell-hating woman will sneer from across the top of her Bud Light.

With little to no contextual evidence, fans are pointing their fingers northward and westward, trying to catch slip ups from coaches, managers and even the other team so as to account for their team’s poor play.

But it’s time to face the music. No, this loss didn’t happen because Cam Newton is using performance enhancers, the Patriots best wide receiver is injured, or that the league is simply, “out to get them.” It happened because the players didn’t show up and Belichick failed to prepare them properly.

Yes, the players and the coaching staff are at fault for this loss, and no one else. Their defense looked confused and hopeless out on the field, and were constantly getting stormed by Newton’s offense. Carolina’s defense was quicker and more physical than the Patriots offense, and held them to just one touchdown in their first seven drives. And Brady, the leader of the team, failed to spark a fire in his teammates, allowing them to ride on their longstanding history of dominance to grant them their wins.

It is no one’s fault but the team’s, and until they start holding themselves accountable for their shortcomings, their problems will continue to cost them Ws. But It’s the beginning of football season, and there is still plenty of time for betterment so long as the team is ready to admit that they need betterment in the first place.

But the same cannot be said for the Red Sox. October is here, playoffs are here, and the Red Sox need to show up. Already, I am seeing fans tweet about how their postseason bats will be lacking because of David Ortiz’s retirement, or how if they lose, it’s because of a long season with an injured roster and internal conflict (see: the Barnes/Machado/Pedroia incident, or the David Price incident).

In reality, these things may play a small part of the result of Boston’s series against Houston this week. But it is not the sole reason, and nor should fans pretend it is the sole reason.

It takes a whole village. It takes a strong outfield, bullpen, batters and, yes, management, but it takes the players showing up and not getting down on themselves. There is a reason that fans have wanted to see second baseman Dustin Pedroia awarded the title of “captain”: it is because, every season, he never fails to bring heart and hustle to the field. Sports could use more of that, and players that refuse to do so should be sidelined. Period.

It is not just injuries, management and extraneous circumstances that create a loss. It’s the players that let it happen, and it’s the fans that don’t hold them accountable for it. The Patriots are off to a 2-2 start, and the Red Sox will have a tough week against the Astros. Every single player needs to be ready to do their job when the time comes, no excuses, no pointed blame.

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