The Boston Red Sox

Have you heard Major League Baseball is considering banning drinking in the clubhouse and dugout because of the bad behavior of the Boston Red Sox?

Reports of two pitchers (both, not scheduled to pitch that evening) left the dugout during a game, filled their cups with Bud Light in the clubhouse and returned to the dugout to watch the game drinking beer. One Sox employee told the media that the pitchers were “bored” on off nights and this is how they entertained themselves.

Can you believe they were drinking during a game…and in the dugout of all places?!

If it’s true – and it has been denied – I’m perplexed on so many levels…

1)      The Players – You may have not been scheduled to pitch, but you were at work. If Terry Francona (the manager) needed them, they would be expected to do their job! Based what we know about the effects of alcohol, I think even a glass or two of beer might slightly diminish the sharpness of their skills. Oh yeah, last I heard, you’re not supposed to drink on the job!

2)      Francona, the Manager – what the Hell was he thinking? Reports say he knew what was going on. He should have put a stop to it. I don’t care if it’s your best pitcher…if he drinks on the job, he’s out of the lineup! That’s right, suspend him.

3)      The owners – Did they accept the “tradition?” Look, I’ve been to Fenway Park, seated in a box next to the owners, in fact. They certainly have a clear picture of what’s going on. How do you own a team and allow this type of childish behavior?

I really try to avoid being judgmental, but in this case, sorry, there’s fault all around the Red Sox organization. “Boys will be boys,” but these men are professional athletes, not college frat boys! Someone should’ve been watching and stopped the nonsense.

Look, I manage a multi-million dollar company (from Hawaii for most of the year). I have an incredibly qualified management team including my own son, but trust me – I know exactly what is going on at UndercoverWear every day.   As the owner, it’s my responsibility to stay in touch with the corporate team and I do so with a “hands on” approach. As my son will tell you, when I don’t like what’s going on, he’s the first to hear about it. 

So, in my opinion the Red Sox made 5 fatal business mistakes:

1)     A losing season. When you win in business, you can often overlook mistakes. The Sox entered into September with the best record in the American League, but they lost 20 out of 27 games that month. They were still one out away from the playoffs and blew that one too! The worst Red Sox season since WWII. So, Francona is gone – the drinking was just the head on the beer!

2)     The owners and front office forgot an important lesson – everyone on a team must stay focused on winning…any diversions bring you one step closer to failure.

3)     No member of a team is bigger or better than the whole. To allow the “ stars” special privileges, is absolutely absurd. They should be leaders, not renegades. Remember, “When you give them an inch, they take a yard?!” Oops!

4)     The Owners didn’t have the right people in the right places. Where was the pitching staff, Francona, the other coaches or even the teammates?

5)     They forgot the basics of functioning in a work environment. The players lost respect and saw themselves as mere athletes, not employees with a job to do. Dumb.

So, now the Red Sox may have ruined it for the rest of the League. All Clubhouse drinking could be banned – including the “celebration” drinking when you achieve a milestone – as a well functioning TEAM. Instead of simply solving the misconduct of the Red Sox hi-jinks, MLB is going to take this to the extreme.

The problem is very simple – most major league team owners/managers are men. Now, let me finish – men are great. Many are fabulous dads who like to play sports and encourage their children. But let’s face it, on a day-to-day basis, it’s we moms that keep the team together. MOMS set the boundaries and enforce the rules – we set the standards and hold the team accountable. MOMS make sure the children behave properly and take action when they don’t.

So, Boston Red Sox, you need MORE MOMS! Better yet, what you need is ME – I am a mom and a pretty successful businesswoman.  Plus, I love baseball. 

So gentlemen, while you may think of me as that “Charming lingerie lady,” UndercoverWear is a big business and it looks like you need a lady leading your team. Those boys would be drinking milk and eating chocolate chip cookies.  Give me a call, I’d be happy to consult.