David Price and the Boston Red Sox Continue to be a Bad Mix

It did not take long before David Price and the Boston Red Sox media had issues. His disagreement with Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley further illustrates how bad of a fit Price is in Boston.

The Boston Red Sox media is amongst the most difficult to handle in the country. While they will idolize those who play hard and perform under the microscope, they can turn on players in a heartbeat. Just ask hall of Famers Ted Williams and Jim Rice, who feuded with the media throughout most of their careers.

Add in the pressure from the fanbase, and Boston can be amongst one of the most difficult cities to play in. If a player does not perform, they will chew them up and spit them out. Plenty of talented players struggled in Boston, only to turn their careers around elsewhere. As of this point, David Price appears destined to be the latest entry to that lengthy list of players who could not handle being a part of the Red Sox.

Those frustrations, from both Price and the Red Sox media, came to the forefront on Thursday. Following his most recent outing, Price and Eckersley got into a verbal confrontation on the team flight, as the pitcher was upset and Eckersley’s commentary during the game. This came after Price announced that he would only speak to the media on days that he pitched, and erupted at a CSNNE.com reporter following a game in New York.

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A relatively thoughtful player, Price is not afraid to voice his opinions. He will engage fans on Twitter, especially those who have been critical of his performances. Price has also made reference to his postseason struggles online, a possible indication that he is inside his own head when it comes to the postseason.

Meanwhile, Eckersley is also known for voicing his opinion. Instead of being one of those analysts who attempt to find the silver lining in every situation, the Hall of Famer will say things as he sees them. If a player on the Red Sox deserves criticism in his eyes, he will bring it.

This is a battle that Price is not going to win, especially in the court of public opinion. Eckersley is a beloved figure in Red Sox Nation, while Price is labelled as a high price bust who has failed to deliver on his contract. An already bad situation is now going to get even worse.

The first major signing by Dave Dombrowski during his stint with the Red Sox, there is a familiarity between Price and the general manager. He had been brought in while Dombrowski was with the Tigers, with the hope that he could bring a World Series title to Detroit. While he pitched well for the Tigers, and even had one of his better postseason appearances, the Tigers still failed to deliver.

When he signed with Boston, the hope was that Price was the missing piece, the ace that the Red Sox needed. Instead, he has shriveled up under the intense pressure, a barely above average pitcher who cannot handle the pressure.

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David Price and the Boston Red Sox have proven to be a bad combination. Now one has to wonder if Price will be sent elsewhere at some point during the remaining five and a half years left on his contract.