Must Have Been An Open Bar

Shank attended the 73rd Baseball Writers Association of America annual meeting (Boston chapter). Shank's had a few months to calm down about the Red Sox and writes with far less venom, at least for now. He's also insistent that more money spent by the Red Sox is a good thing:

After spending like Charlie Sheen on a weekend bender, the Sox suddenly are fiscally responsible in this bad-news winter? They got burned when they signed John Lackey and Crawford, and now they’re worried about going over the dreaded $178 million luxury tax threshold (they were taxed at a rate of 30 percent last year, and that goes to 40 percent if they exceed the limit again this year)?

Just a thought - maybe Lackey and Crawford are why they're worried about these things now?

The Sox charge fans a ton of money for tickets. NESN makes a bundle. John Henry and friends have demonstrated a willingness to spend in commensurate fashion during their 10-year stewardship. But now it feels like they are pulling back, holding the line, worrying about luxury tax, and (gulp) monies spent on Liverpool soccer.

So, these guys are rich / make a ton of money, have spent a ton of money in the past and should continue to do so, just not on that shitty foreign soccer club? I don't quite see the logic with that, and I still think it takes a special kind of asshole to tell someone else what to do with their money.