You didn’t really think the Red Sox players would make a major life change and quit drinking altogether just because they collapsed last September, did you? Before the season, Bobby Valentine announced that alcohol was no longer permitted in the Red Sox clubhouse. Terry Francona said what we were all thinking when he categorized the rule change as nothing but a PR move, and in reality that’s probably accurate. No alcohol allowed in the clubhouse simply means you’re going to be in big trouble if you let the media see you. Apparently the policy only applies to Fenway Park.
According to Joe Haggerty of CSNNE.com, John Lackey was spotted carrying a couple beers through the visitor’s clubhouse in Cleveland following Boston’s most recent loss on Thursday.
Lackey was so busted up after the latest defeat that he was strutting around the clubhouse with a can of Bud Light in each hand, or what is known as “double-fisting” on every college campus in the history of mankind.
We all know how Lackey felt about the “retarded overreaction” from the media last season. Haggerty also mentioned that the alcohol ban did indeed only apply to the Fenway clubhouse. Is it possible Lackey had one beer for himself and was bringing the other to a teammate? Yes. Is Lackey pitching this season? No. Were the two Bud Lights the right-hander was carrying the reason the Red Sox are currently 55-58 and 11 games out of first place in the AL East? No.
The point is you would think the players would have learned their lesson. Unless they enjoyed the firestorm of backlash they got from the media throughout the entire offseason, you would think they’d save the drinking until after the reporters have cleared out.
H/T Hardball Talk
Photo Credit: Bob DeChiara-US PRESSWIRE
