Heard Dennis & Callahan discussing Rob Bradford's expansive Josh Beckett column on weei.com. They mentioned one specific quote from Beckett that really got this Blog's hair up:
"The snitching [explative], that's [explative]. It's not good."
Immediately in this Blog's mind the ostracism of Jim Bouton, who wrote the definitive inside the baseball clubhouse expose "Ball Four" in 1969/1970. Or Jose Canseco's claim that he was blackballed from baseball, then was seen as a pariah and buffoon when he wrote his book "Juiced", in which he names names in the steroid scandal in baseball and in the end turns out to be right. The word 'snitching' is the thing, it implies protecting unclean secrets. Facts about people and their actions that can become nasty if unveiled to the world. This Blog began thinking Mr. Beckett and Major League Baseball were contributing to a part of society that in this Blog's view needs to be addressed and abolished. The secret keeping within families of any kind, be they familial, club oriented, sports related, religious or any other group, has given rise to repeating generations of violence and neglect. Looking the other way is a way of life for many people who don't even realize how wrong and hurtful it is because they've never known any other way of doing things.
But then, thanks in large part to this space and this Blog's introspection as a result, this Blog decided to read the entire column and came to some conclusions. Beckett shows himself to be thoughtful and sincere, bullheaded for sure, but sincere nonetheless. He doesn't think he owes anyone an apology for how things happened last year, he bristles at anyone taking him to task for caring more about his pregnant wife and unborn child than baseball, and he should. Clearly Francona's comments about how frustrated he was that he could not effectively reach the players, in concert with Beckett's assertion in Bradford's piece that things were difficult with Francona in the end, show a disconnect where Beckett can't see his culpability in a clubhouse Francona lost. Otherwise, however, Beckett seems rational, reasonable and true to himself. In the end this Blog can't brand Beckett a [explative]ing cancer in a society of dirty little secrets. The culture of baseball should change, but that change won't happen with voices like this Blog's freaking out and reacting with visceral proclamations. Measured discussion is needed, the time for that discussion is not when Beckett is discussing and thinking about one of the greatest all time chokes in the history of professional sports. That's emotionally charged enough for a blockhead baseball player.
Until next time,
The SAHD
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