Recent Alan Greenwood Columns

Wakefield a reminder of how give-and-take should work

Alan Greenwood | Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Before diving into the deep end of the cynical pool, let it be stated that there was nothing wrong with the way the Red Sox …

’12 Sox a lost cause

Alan Greenwood | Sunday, May 13, 2012

They say it takes some time for a ballclub to develop its persona, but the 2012 Red Sox might have stumbled upon theirs in just …

Crux of the matter: poor communication

Alan Greenwood | Sunday, May 6, 2012

Call this a hunch; or, as Bill James might sneer, a concept completely unfounded by any quantitative analysis: The 2012 Red Sox season now quivers …

Red Sox are MLB’s hot mess of 2012

Alan Greenwood | Monday, April 23, 2012

As meltdowns go, the one suffered by the Red Sox bullpen Saturday sets the bar in a different solar system – or, to paraphrase Bobby …

Red Sox celebrate mix of old, new at Fenway Park

Alan Greenwood | Saturday, April 21, 2012

Their pitching is a mess, the lineup is a daily mystery and the new manager is already being booed. But one thing remains constant: The …

Tito’s change of heart adds drama to Fenway Park’s birthday bash

Alan Greenwood | Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Terry Francona had a change of heart and will be at Fenway Park on Friday afternoon for what may go down as the happiest occasion …

Youkilis, Valentine put spat in past

Alan Greenwood | Wednesday, April 18, 2012

BOSTON – Both leading characters in the Sunday/Monday spat said Tuesday that they have put it behind them. Or, at least, they hope they have. …

Belichick’s running things at Fenway?

Alan Greenwood | Sunday, April 15, 2012

Since Bill Belichick became a genius (with some measure of help from his championship rosters), he has revolutionized the art of speaking without actually saying …

Surprise start just fine for Shoppach

Alan Greenwood | Saturday, April 14, 2012

Jerrod Saltalamacchia is not going to be cast as a 21st century Wally Pipp. Kelly Shoppach is certainly not going to make up the 2,129 …

1 opener down, 2 to go for Red Sox

Alan Greenwood | Friday, April 6, 2012

Thursday marked Opening Day I for the Red Sox. Particularly rabid purists would make the completely legitimate case that it was the one and only …

Sox no threat to rival Patriots after Oct. 1

Alan Greenwood | Thursday, April 5, 2012

Cynically speaking, Bud Selig may have to add a third wild-card playoff spot in each league to make sure he can count on the Boston …

Valentine may be leading man in Sox’ soap opera

Alan Greenwood | Monday, April 2, 2012

Every Major League Baseball team plays out a not-so-private soap opera during the course of a season. Hell, any business in which a relatively small …

Varitek leaves fans lasting memories

Alan Greenwood | Friday, March 2, 2012

In Red Sox lore, it is almost unanimously considered the seminal moment of the 2004 season – Jason Varitek dogging a mouthy Alex Rodriguez up …

Wakefield never knuckled under during 200-win career

Alan Greenwood | Saturday, February 18, 2012

Of all the pieces that morph into a performer’s legacy, knowing when to leave is one of the most significant. Comedians want to leave ’em …

Nothing but love for Bobby V at Fenway

Alan Greenwood | Friday, December 2, 2011

Since their thunder was stolen Tuesday, the only possible surprise the Red Sox could’ve sprung Thursday afternoon would’ve involved Gene Lamont stepping up to the …

Cherington’s mission: ‘restore accountability’

Alan Greenwood | Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Ben Cherington, who can now identify himself as general manager of the Boston Red Sox without seeking anyone’s permission, had little chance to bask in …

Sox need culture shock, not numbers

Alan Greenwood | Thursday, October 13, 2011

The best solution to the Red Sox’ deep-seated problems would, as is often the case, be the most difficult – clearing the clubhouse of the …

Don’t mince words: Tito was fired

Alan Greenwood | Sunday, October 2, 2011

You have to admire all sides for their ability to avoid the words “fired” and “quit” during Friday’s all-day soap opera at the corner of …

Rains came late to test erratic Sox’ drive

Alan Greenwood | Thursday, September 29, 2011

Smarmy lawyers should’ve hit the local bars Wednesday night. Between cheering for the Yankees, bemoaning the Red Sox’ September foibles and having rain throw the …

Starting pitching: Momentum killer

Alan Greenwood | Thursday, September 22, 2011

There are two easy ways to separate the baseball fans from the pink hats: After seeing the Red Sox blow a lead, against the Baltimore …

Schilling fires up clubhouse

Alan Greenwood | Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Last week, before Tampa Bay reaffirmed its determination to not only tailgate but to blow by the Red Sox and into the playoffs, Kevin Youkilis …

Statistics speak volumes

Alan Greenwood | Sunday, September 18, 2011

For better or worse, statistics are baseball’s shining guideposts. Anecdotal evidence of a player’s worth – for example, instinct, an umbrella term for any number …

Bard working hard at blowing leads

Alan Greenwood | Thursday, September 15, 2011

During the course of one week Daniel Bard has turned into a living, breathing, throwing Rubik’s Cube. Any civilian who can peel away the enigma …

Red Sox clubhouse now in panic mode

Alan Greenwood | Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Never one to engage in self-editing, David Ortiz has gone on record proclaiming that the time has arrived for Panic to Grip Hub. He said …

Security stepped up when MLB resumed play after 9/11 attacks

Alan Greenwood | Sunday, September 11, 2011

On Sept. 18, 2001, seven days after this century’s day of infamy, Major League Baseball resumed its season. Teams took great care to show that …

Playoffs not for Miller

Alan Greenwood | Sunday, September 4, 2011

In baseball the euphemism for a player’s case of the jitters is “the game speeds up on him.” In other words, the jittery man gets …

Jackson living a dream

Alan Greenwood | Friday, September 2, 2011

When little kids dream of big-league glory they do not lie awake in bed conjuring visions of the dreary cement slab known as the Oakland …

Speeding up game priority

Alan Greenwood | Thursday, September 1, 2011

Like many of us, Terry Francona tends to get lost in his work. During a Red Sox game he does not know, or much care, …

Punchless series gets underway

Alan Greenwood | Wednesday, August 31, 2011

PGA champ Keegan Bradley threw the second first pitch of the evening, with Dustin Pedroia serving as the catcher. (The comparatively anonymous thrower of the …

Offense needs help once again

Alan Greenwood | Thursday, August 18, 2011

As the bottom of the sixth inning wheezed to its sadly predictable close Wednesday afternoon, all the 37,747 witnesses needed was a little nudge to …

Ellsbury making noise in current Most Valuable Player discussions

Alan Greenwood | Sunday, August 7, 2011

Not long ago there was zero doubt about the Red Sox most valuable player for 2011. Unless the ballots were counted by the Florida board …

A series of blahs, not oohs, ahhs

Alan Greenwood | Saturday, August 6, 2011

At the risk of sounding like a summer Scrooge (I have drawn nastier responses to these essays), this weekend’s Red Sox-Yankees series at Fenway Park …

First impression so-so for Bedard

Alan Greenwood | Friday, August 5, 2011

As introductions go, Erik Bedard’s was OK. Thursday night he made his first start for the Red Sox at Fenway Park, lasting five innings against …

It’s just another trading deadline

Alan Greenwood | Thursday, July 28, 2011

For hardcore conspiracy buffs the week leading into Major League Baseball’s July 31 trade deadline is truly the most wonderful time of the year. Before …

Even cynics struggling to find fault with Sox success

Alan Greenwood | Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Take a trip in the way-back machine to April 15 (unless hiding from the IRS is more important than revisiting the Red Sox’ fairly incredible …

Sometimes there is no reason

Alan Greenwood | Saturday, July 9, 2011

There’s a parking lot on Lansdowne Street, parallel to The Wall, that doubles as the landing area for particularly crushed home run balls. You’ve probably …

One Lackey enough for any rotation

Alan Greenwood | Thursday, July 7, 2011

As these words are being hunted-and-pecked, there are 25 days, five hours and 55 minutes until the Major League trade deadline. For those who are …

For Boston fans, it’s all about that bottom line

Alan Greenwood | Sunday, June 19, 2011

A now unknown baseball sage once offered the following sliver of wisdom: A team is never as good as it seems during a hot streak …

Hill a bigger loss than Dice-K

Alan Greenwood | Sunday, June 5, 2011

Today’s completely open-ended hypothetical question: What did pitchers do before Tommy John underwent Tommy John surgery? Dr. Frank Jobe performed the operation on John in …

Fenway Faithful focused on B’s

Alan Greenwood | Thursday, June 2, 2011

Cup Fever’s Grip on Hub even includes Fenway Park, where New England’s team has gone so far as to change the start time for Saturday’s …