Kennedy is a liar. Not a shockBased on the quote below, I think Kennedy is implying that ownership is willing to put profits back into the team and break even, but that finances aren't better and they won't put additional money into the Sox from other sources.
Yea, Kennedy is not a honest broker. Nothing he says publicly should taken at face value. Kennedy doesn't need to legally tell fans if the team is making and has every incentive to lie about their investment into the team to try to drive fans to the stadium. FSG had a chance earlier in the offseason to properly set expectations but they as a group decided to lie to drive interest into the team. This was a business decision that Sam Kennedy has made over and over again. It is what bad ownership does.Long time lurker here, but had to respond to this insane quote. John Henry bought the Sox for $660,000,000 million in 2001. 23 years later, it's worth roughly $5 BILLION DOLLARS. That is a 657.58% increase in value.
Can we get ownership a better communications team?
Maybe he waits until they're on a winning streak? It could happen, you know. Even happened last year, lest we forget.I don't remember, has John Henry already stopped going to games? Not going to be pleasant for him if he tries to this year.
Hot stuff, @YTF! And thanks for clarifying.While I'm not well versed in these sorts of relationships, I'm not seeking divorce here. I'm thinking more in terms that perhaps I start seeing other teams as a way to satisfy certain needs while hoping to salvage what we have left together. A polyamorous relationship if you will where MLB.TV will assist in my getting back into the dating scene.
I always root for them to beat NYY, Houston, and Toronto. Not sure that's enough for fan club prez.There is plenty of room for you on the TB bandwagon. I can offer you cheap tix and all you can eat cuban sandwiches. You can be president of the fan club, too, if you want.
Are you nuts? Of course he goes to games. The narrative pushed by those who over-react to Kennedy’s statements does not play out at the park. We watch the game.I don't remember, has John Henry already stopped going to games? Not going to be pleasant for him if he tries to this year.
You are free to create new threads and discuss whatever you want. That's the SoSH way!Quick and honest question: Why is all of this ownership/PR nightmare drama being discussed ad nauseum over and over again in the Off Season Rumors thread? And why don't many of the actual baseball fans on here care to talk about, you know, baseball? Isn't that why most of us joined SOSH in the first place?
I mean, it is the offseason thread and there is a Spring Training thread right there if you'd like to add current baseball content.Quick and honest question: Why is all of this ownership/PR nightmare drama being discussed ad nauseum over and over again in the Off Season Rumors thread? And why don't many of the actual baseball fans on here care to talk about, you know, baseball? Isn't that why most of us joined SOSH in the first place?
Because directly affects the offseason rumors spoke about in the thread. If you don't care about the business of baseball don't come in the rumor thread. There are other threads just discussing baseball.Quick and honest question: Why is all of this ownership/PR nightmare drama being discussed ad nauseum over and over again in the Off Season Rumors thread? And why don't many of the actual baseball fans on here care to talk about, you know, baseball? Isn't that why most of us joined SOSH in the first place?
I never said that I don't care about the business of baseball, please don't put words in my mouth. In fact I have and do comment on the business side and the tone deaf messaging this off season, feel free to go back and look. I just choose to not beat a dead horse.The snark on here is sometimes unbearable. And in fact i did make a baseball comment on the Spring Training thread about Roman Anthony almost 4 hours ago that nobody has added to because they are too consumed with yet another ill advised and stupid Sam Kennedy quote.Because directly affects the offseason rumors spoke about in the thread. If you don't care about the business of baseball don't come in the rumor thread. There are other threads just discussing baseball.
So you are mad no one is playing with you on the soccer field so you came over to the tennis courts and asked why everyone has rackets in their hands?I never said that I don't care about the business of baseball, please don't put words in my mouth. In fact I have and do comment on the business side and the tone deaf messaging this off season, feel free to go back and look. I just choose to not beat a dead horse.The snark on here is sometimes unbearable. And in fact i did make a baseball comment on the Spring Training thread about Roman Anthony almost 4 hours ago that nobody has added to because they are too consumed with yet another ill advised and stupid Sam Kennedy quote.
Ich bin ein Bostoner.Article this morning
"This is not a profit-oriented business, the baseball business. This is a responsibility, a stewardship by John [Henry], Tom [Werner] and Mike [Gordon] to do everything they can to put a winning, great product on the field, and that will continue in 2024 and beyond.” - Kennedy
Quick and honest question: Why is all of this drama being discussed in the Off Season Rumors thread? And why don't many of the actual baseball fans on here care to talk about, you know, baseball? Isn't that why you joined SOSH in the first place?Thanks for validating my comment about the snarkiness. Does anyone else think this guy is kind of a d*@k?
All available evidence has the Sox being profitable on a FCF/OM basis even without the financials of NESN included. Could it be wrong? I guess so, but there really isnt any evidence that that is the case. Given the lack of inclusion of NESN, its likely public estimates are conservative if anything. The reasonable conclusion is that they could easily spend $250-$260M in player salaries a year and still have a positive margin.
If you took that as snark, I apologize. I thought prefacing it with "honest question" would've made it clear. I do sincerely wonder why so many get hung up on the owners and the pr statements and rehash what has already been said when there is a season about to get underway, thats all.Quick and honest question: Why is all of this drama being discussed in the Off Season Rumors thread? And why don't many of the actual baseball fans on here care to talk about, you know, baseball? Isn't that why you joined SOSH in the first place?
There is a combination of impatience for the season to begin and anxiety over the team's not doing more to improve the roster. That has made a lot of us cranky. Everyone take a deep breath. You do you, I'll do me, and the others will do themselves. Tolerance is an underrated virtue.If you took that as snark, I apologize. I thought prefacing it with "honest question" would've made it clear. I do sincerely wonder why so many get hung up on the owners and the pr statements and rehash what has already been said when there is a season about to get underway, thats all.
Don't worry about it, I am just teasing you.If you took that as snark, I apologize. I thought prefacing it with "honest question" would've made it clear. I do sincerely wonder why so many get hung up on the owners and the pr statements and rehash what has already been said when there is a season about to get underway, thats all.
Like, ITP says, take a deep breath. We all are getting pissed Montgomery hasn't signed yet either.If you took that as snark, I apologize. I thought prefacing it with "honest question" would've made it clear. I do sincerely wonder why so many get hung up on the owners and the pr statements and rehash what has already been said when there is a season about to get underway, thats all.
Scott Boras. He's ruining our Spring.Quick and honest question: Why is all of this ownership/PR nightmare drama being discussed ad nauseum over and over again in the Off Season Rumors thread? And why don't many of the actual baseball fans on here care to talk about, you know, baseball? Isn't that why most of us joined SOSH in the first place?
It’s actually quite simple, you can follow my policy of the past 57 years. My favorite two teams are the Red Sox and whoever is playing the Yankees.Maybe he waits until they're on a winning streak? It could happen, you know. Even happened last year, lest we forget.
Hot stuff, @YTF! And thanks for clarifying.
I always root for them to beat NYY, Houston, and Toronto. Not sure that's enough for fan club prez.
John Henry is no longer the majority shareholder of FSG. He is the largest share holder but not the majority. FSG has a large partnership, with Werner being the chairman and Mike Gordon running the day to day of FSG as well as Liverpool. Sam Kennedy is FSG's appointed Governor for the Red Sox. He answers to Mike Gordon and then to the Partners as a group run by Werner but is for all accounts the guy running the Red Sox (he is also a partner but has less voting rights than LeBron James). John Henry as the principal owner of the Red Sox and earlier incarnations of the FSG had more to do with the every day administration of the team.Well John Henry has been a mute for almost 4 years, Tom Werner is a doofus cheerleader type that rarely says anything pertinent, and now Sam Kennedy is the latest punching bag who should seriously stick to the business end of FSG. They really need someone with some credibility with an extremely educated and in tune fan base to be more transparent with what is actually going on with the Red Sox, but apparently Theo is spending his time looking for Liverpool FC's next manager. Too bad really because he would be the guy that people like us on here would trust a bit more.
My brain forced itself to read that word like 5 times before I could process. Very well done!While I'm not well versed in these sorts of relationships, I'm not seeking divorce here. I'm thinking more in terms that perhaps I start seeing other teams as a way to satisfy certain needs while hoping to salvage what we have left together. A polyteamorous relationship if you will where MLB.TV will assist in my getting back into the dating scene.
I agree - Is it possible he’s not referring to the Red Sox? Like if we can’t see RS revenue being diverted to PGA/etc right now then our eyes are closed.“Well, finances are not better,” Kennedy said. “But again, I'm not going to talk about specific financial parameters or our budget.
This is the quote that matters. Why aren't finances better? I mean, seriously, what the hell happened?
The national media revenue that MLB distributes to each team is growing. Despite cord-cutting, NESN is generating more revenue due to rate increases. Sponsorship revenue is growing. Despite some marginal attendance declines I suspect ticket revenue is up due to higher prices.
So what gives? Why are finances not better? Until they answer that question I'm not giving ownership any benefit of the doubt.
I’ve discussed it with the Board of Directors and we’re prepared to offer you the role of Vice President.I always root for them to beat NYY, Houston, and Toronto. Not sure that's enough for fan club prez.
Yeah, drop the Red Sox because they have cheap owners and start cheering for the Devil Rays! Makes so much sense.I’ve discussed it with the Board of Directors and we’re prepared to offer you the role of Vice President.
I didn't miss your sarcasm, but the Rays seem to know how to run a low-budget team. I expect the FSG thought they might be getting that knowledge by hiring Bloom. But that didn't work, exactly, did it?Yeah, drop the Red Sox because they have cheap owners and start cheering for the Devil Rays! Makes so much sense.
Back in the day I always did have a soft spot for the Montreal Expos. After all New England does touch Quebec. Sigh.OK, but what BASEBALL teams do we abandon the Sox for? I really like Tampa Bay. The Orioles and the Dbacks are fun. But my heart is in Massachusetts.
I'd like to subject some folks here to the current Marlins ownership. It'd straighten 'em right out.Yeah, drop the Red Sox because they have cheap owners and start cheering for the Devil Rays! Makes so much sense.
Or the Oakland A's.I'd like to subject some folks here to the current Marlins ownership. It'd straighten 'em right out.
Not me. Give me a deeper wallet owner with a massive ego and a burning desire not to lose. It may not translate into wins but we would likely get to see some of the best players in the league playing for Boston.Or the Oakland A's.
I get the frustrations with FSG as things stand. But whenever I hear calls for Henry et al to sell the team, all I can think is "be careful what you wish for".
That's really funny since John Henry used to own the Marlins.Also, the type of folks who own all the sad sack franchises aren't going to buy the Sox. The Sox are Boardwalk and Park Place. The As and Marlins are Jail.
Point is that saying we fans could do worse with ownership by citing John Fisher et al is silly.That's really funny since John Henry used to own the Marlins.
Did not expect to get on SoSH and see a Bujold reference!"Koudelka puzzled over this attempted readjustment of his point-of-view, then let it bounce harmlessly off his impermeable habits of thought."
I agree with this. Others being cheap doesn't mean FSG isn't being cheap, but if people think they can start rooting for some other team as a form of protest, they're going to find that these owners are all just varying degrees of cheap.That other there’re examples of others behaving worse doesn’t excuse the merely bad. That other owners are cheaper doesn’t mean that FSG isn’t being cheap.
I think some of it is the absence of baseball to talk about. I think some of it is that Kennedy and Co. can't seem to take a step out of doors without planting their feet firmly in their mouths. From a messaging standpoint, they've been a disaster that keeps feeding grist to the mill.Quick and honest question: Why is all of this ownership/PR nightmare drama being discussed ad nauseum over and over again in the Off Season Rumors thread? And why don't many of the actual baseball fans on here care to talk about, you know, baseball? Isn't that why most of us joined SOSH in the first place?
I sincerely hope a lot of this dies down once some combination of the following happens:I think some of it is the absence of baseball to talk about. I think some of it is that Kennedy and Co. can't seem to take a step out of doors without planting their feet firmly in their mouths. From a messaging standpoint, they've been a disaster that keeps feeding grist to the mill.
I sincerely hope a lot of this dies down once some combination of the following happens:
-Grissom shows promise at 2B and flashes that bat.
-Duran shows last year wasn't a mirage.
-C-Note shows an ability to hit major league pitching.
-Yoshida shows last season's first half to be his true talent level.
-Houck and/or Whitlock show they can stick in a rotation.
-Crawford and Bello show advancement in their burgeoning development.
-Devers shows an ability not to throw the ball into the stands.
-Story shows a return to form in the batter's box and continuing excellent in the field.
-O'Neill shows the ability to stay healthy.
-Giolito shows a little of that ol' Bailey/Breslow magic.
-Casas keeps being the dude.
-They sign Montgomery (I know, I know, I know)
The owner you describe is only slightly less mythical than the unicorn.Not me. Give me a deeper wallet owner with a massive ego and a burning desire not to lose. It may not translate into wins but we would likely get to see some of the best players in the league playing for Boston.
That's much better than what we are likely to get now.
Is this what you want for the future of the Red Sox? Do people think that a faceless VC firm or an Arab oil sheik is going to be more responsive and transparent than FSG? But, hey, maybe using the Red Sox brand to sportswash a regime's questionable human rights record is a worthwhile trade if we can go after those big-time free agents, amirite?RedBird is partners with International Media Investments, a state-funded enterprise of the United Arab Emirates and its Sheik Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in RedBird IMI.[8] The partnership, which includes former media executive Jeff Zucker as an executive, allows IMI to invest in RedBird's sports and entertainment properties.