First off, Fenway Fruitgirl was one of the first people I friended here on Sawxheads. I believe it was for our mutual admiration for Jason varitek. I respect her writing and value her opinion.

Rather than post a lengthy response on her blog, I thought I'd ad my proverbial 2 cents on my own. ( A response to anyones post here actually is welcomed like it used to be a few years back, it opened a nice debate or a shared opinion whether in agreement or not. I see many people "view" the post but no one ever leaves a comment anymore.)

Anyway, I agree in some respect that we have created monsters. However, when you get to the major league level, you know the deal and what comes with it, fame and fortune. No more anonymity. From T-Ball, to high school and college, you play with a variety of different players. You may be familiar with someones style of play, but in reality the game stays the same even when a new guy is in that spot. He isn't a trainee, he's a professional baseball player. He will catch and throw, hit and run just like his predecessor did. The dimensions of the field are essentially the same.

I have a job as many of you here do. Everyday we go do our jobs and what is expected of us. We get a paycheck for doing so. Some of us, including myself, also have integrity and do my job to my best ability even if I'm over- tired, not feeling well, etc. Sometimes it's hard and mistakes can be made. It is though not for a lack of trying or caring. My dignity is still in check at the end of the day. What if I came to work and my boss came in and saw me sitting around eating chips and a coke, while customers were waiting for service? I'm pretty sure he or she would say "get off your ass and do your job". My consequences if I don't? Hmmm....perhaps I'll get fired. Now that is incentive enough for me to get my act together and probably any rational thinking individual. Really though, it is integrity that make me good at my job. I was hired to do it and I live up to the expectations.

Some players aren't rational thinkers.  Josh Beckett is one of them. He feels he is above it all, he's a World Series champion after all. I joined the ranks in booing him on Thursday. He stunk it up real bad and if his attitude about the whole thing was different I would have reconsidered. Bad days happen and things can be unpredictable. It's how you handle it afterward shows what kind of player you really are. "my off days are my business", he says. True, you should be able to enjoy some time off relaxing. When you are missing a start due to a physical injury then you don't go out and golf, you perhaps take in a movie so you don't potentially cause further injury. 

This type of attitude is why fans boo, we feel as the payers of the salary by our ticket and merchandise purchases, that we deserve to get a good product for our money. Money that is far more than the average Joe makes in a lifetime of hard work, yet we will sacrifice a bill this month,  skim off the grocery money or put off that oil change, to buy a couple of tickets to the Sox. Players should respect the fans for just this fact alone. Many have ridden this rollercoaster called the Red Sox for years and years and yet we still come back year after year.

Some new fans may think these 2 World Series wins and playoff runs are what is typical. Actually, what is going on now was typical for many years and finally loyal fans were rewarded with those Championships for sticking around. I am no bandwagon or fair weather fan, I have persevered for years and feel I deserve the right to criticize this team when it is warranted.

Pedroia is the only one that truly gives his all and appears to be trying to win games single handedly. In a million years I would never boo Pedie, even if he went into a hitting slump for several games. He cares too much.  Now when I look at Dustin, I CAN imagine his life, reading those negative comments about the team. I CAN also imagine him getting pretty pissed off at the attitude of others about the game when you have given everything you had on the field and others have a "whatever" attitude. I'd probably start chucking bats around the clubhouse asking what their freakin' problem was! 

Beckett had to live down some serious allegations from last season to win back fans, and he has done nothing more than alienate them more. For that, he deserves what he gets, negative press of the booing.

In 2004, that crew featuring the likes of  Kevin Millar and Johnny Damon with his flowing hair and beard,  appeared like a team out there having fun and that they actually liked each other. I don't see that this year,nor did I last year.  I picture a team that quickly showers after a game and then slowly part ways with nothing more than a "see ya later".  I don't have sympathy for a guy who makes more than a small rural towns annual budget when he says I'm not adjusted yet to this ball park, ala Carl Crawford ( who played here numerous times with the Rays... he's acquainted)  or your favorite double play buddy has left. Play the game like the title says, a "professional" baseball player.