Ben Cherington

The former manager retreated to Florida, far from the noise and hostility that followed his abrupt departure. The rock star general manager took his talents to Wrigley Field, leaving an elegant farewell note and two World Series trophies. The pariah pitcher who served as a poster boy for the beer-swillin', chicken-eatin' team that folded so dramatically, scheduled major surgery, and will miss next season. The soft-talking billionaire owner went back underground after a bizarre and spontaneous radio appearance in which he fiercely defended the honor and brand of Boston's fabled American League...

BALTIMORE - You're not supposed to cry over injuries. But cry, Boston, cry. Once Cody Ross officially goes on the disabled list Tuesday with a fractured left foot, there will be six Red Sox outfielders on the shelf. There seems no end in sight to this rash of injuries. Sox players have spent 438 games on the disabled list, the most in baseball. Carl Crawford (wrist, elbow), Jacoby Ellsbury (shoulder), Darnell McDonald (oblique), Jason Repko (shoulder), Ryan Kalish (shoulder)

I GREW up in Brookline just down the road from Fenway Park, living and dying with every pitch, every win or loss, and every Red Sox season that fell painfully short. My whole outlook on life changed at age 12 as my twin brother and I writhed on the living room floor, devastated by Game Six of the '86 Series. Had you told me then that the Red Sox would go on to raise not one but two World Series flags, I wouldn't have believed you. And had you told the 12-year-old me that I would someday walk away from my dream job as general manager of the Red Sox completely of my own volition, I would have thought you were...

BALTIMORE - Cody Ross walked out of Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia Sunday hopeful of playing against the Orioles Monday night. Now he might not be playing until July. Ross was diverted to Boston for an MRI on his injured left foot and it revealed a small, non-displaced fracture of the navicular bone. The general timetable for such injuries is 6-8 weeks and he was placed in a large walking boot to take weight off his foot. Ross will not be placed on the disabled list until Tuesday.

We neglected to mention in our item announcing the marriage of Sox general manager Ben Cherington that his bride is - gasp! - a Yankees fan. We're told Tyler Tumminia, whom Cherington married last Friday at Brooklyn Borough Hall, regularly attends Yankees games, and often sits in GM Brian Cashman's private box. Why? Because Tumminia's boss, Marvin Goldklang, chairman of the Goldklang Group, is a minority owner of the Bronx Bombers. (He's also the guy who helped Sox owner John Henry buy a 1 percent share of the Yankees in 1991.)

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff Ben Cherington took questions from fans on the Red Sox twitter account @RedSox this afternoon. This exchange was a good one: @RedSoxRedShoes: Have you checked the secret compartment under Theo's desk yet? I heard that's where he keeps the emergency whiskey. Cherington: No whiskey but I did find the key to Carmine ... he had kept it hidden from all of us j/k Not bad, Ben. On a serious note, it's good to see Cherington communicating directly to fans and he's been very...

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington just conducted a conference call to discuss the recent moves. He's a recap of the salient questions: On Mark Melancon: "We really like his stuff and have liked his stuff back to his college days at Arizona and we feel like the second half of the season, he really developed a better feel for his cutter. He's always had a good curveball. He's a really aggressive pitcher. Tough, confident and we think he has the intangibles to compete in the American League East.

FORT MYERS, Fla. - There may not yet be answers to the questions the Red Sox faced entering spring training, but more than halfway through camp general manager Ben Cherington feels certain things are becoming clear. In an interview Tuesday, Cherington said 1) his scouts are searching for more pitching that could be obtained in trade; 2) free agents such as Roy Oswalt still could be a possibility; 3) Daniel Bard will have to fall on his face the last few weeks in camp to not be the fourth starter; 4)

By Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff Three hours after the Cubs introduced former Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein as their new team president, the Red Sox today introduced Ben Cherington as the team's 11th general manager in a press conference at Fenway Park. Cherington takes over during a trying time for the Red Sox organization, but he also takes over for one of the most successful executives in team history. "We've let our fans down in some important ways recently," said Cherington, who sat on the podium next to Red Sox president and CEO Larry...

Sorry, but explain to fans the following recent statement by Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington: "If [Kevin Youkilis] returns in a week and is ready to go, he plays third base. He's been here. It's great that Will [Middlebrooks] has come up and done a good job and we like him a lot and he's a big part of our future. But Youk's on the DL and he didn't lose his job because he got hurt. " Middlebrooks was promoted because of need. There are projections when Middlebrooks, shortstop Jose Iglesias, and catcher Ryan Lavarnway should come up, and Middlebrooks was...

Sorry, but explain to fans the following recent statement by Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington: "If [Kevin Youkilis] returns in a week and is ready to go, he plays third base. He's been here. It's great that Will [Middlebrooks] has come up and done a good job and we like him a lot and he's a big part of our future. But Youk's on the DL and he didn't lose his job because he got hurt. " Middlebrooks was promoted because of need. There are projections when Middlebrooks, shortstop Jose Iglesias, and catcher Ryan Lavarnway should come up, and Middlebrooks was probably third on this depth chart.

The Red Sox have won two straight games after Saturday night's 4-1 victory over the Cleveland Indians, and you wonder if they can finally put the nonsense of the past six weeks behind them and be something that resembles a major league baseball team. They'd better. Because the public view of this franchise right now is not very positive. The Red Sox, from top to bottom, have lost sight of what they're supposed to do. The owners (John Henry and Tom Werner) should oversee their assets and trust the people who run things, but butt out. The president (Larry Lucchino)

It's easy to be outraged about Josh Beckett and crack lame jokes about fried chicken, beer, and golf. But the problem isn't Beckett. The problem is that nobody with the Red Sox — from ownership down to his assorted pitching coaches — has required him to be accountable or demanded that he change. Beckett is a money pitcher. He is 7-3 with a 3.07 ERA in 14 postseason games over his career and has two World Series rings. The belief is that once you get to the postseason, he'll deliver.

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff It's easy to be outraged about Josh Beckett and crack lame jokes about fried chicken, beer, and golf. Knock yourself out. But the problem isn't Beckett. The problem is that nobody with the Red Sox — from ownership down to his assorted pitching coaches — has required him to be accountable or demanded that he change. Beckett is a money pitcher. He is 7-3 with a 3.07 ERA in 14 postseason games over his career and has two World Series rings.

Forget about the golf for a moment. Forget about the fact that Red Sox "ace" Josh Beckett got lit up to the tune of seven runs over a measly 2 1/3 innings by the Cleveland Indians last night at Fenway Park. Forget about the fried chicken and beer, Beckett's reported refusal to participate in workout drills, and his public relations firm members who sit high atop home plate at Fenway Park. Those are all reasons Josh Beckett needs to go. But during last night's postgame press conference, Beckett gave everybody -- fans, the front office, media...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Josh Beckett is at the center of another controversy. This one involves playing golf, not eating fried chicken and drinking beer in the clubhouse during games. Beckett played golf last Thursday, according to a report on 98.5 The Sports Hub. That was a day after the Red Sox announced the righthander had a strained latissimus muscle behind his right shoulder and would miss a start as a result. Beckett was not placed on the disabled list or shut down from any physical activities.

He is the face of a franchise with no soul. It's the perfect role for Adrian Gonzalez. You can take the man out of San Diego, but you apparently can't take the laissez-faire SoCal nonchalance out of the player who is quickly becoming the maddening, non-charismatic answer to JD Drew. Just not in God's plan, I guess. Oftentimes, it can be a stretch to criticize a baseball player's fire and desire, the patient game not exactly on par with the passion exhibited in other sports.

The Boston chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of American held its 73d annual dinner last night. With visions of the Super Bowl dancing in our heads, it was a chance to think about baseball on a cold winter night. You remember baseball. That's the six-month, 162-game warm-weather season that is supposed to wind up with the Red Sox in the playoffs. It hasn't happened the last couple of years here, and the offseason of 2011-12 hasn't done much to boost fans' hopes. The Sox are the only folks having a worse winter than New England ski resorts.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Josh Beckett , who missed his start Saturday because of a sore lat muscle, is set to pitch Thursday when the Red Sox return home to face Cleveland. "He threw today and said he felt fine and ready to go," manager Bobby Valentine said Monday. Beckett, who has a 2-3 record with a 4.45 earned run average in five starts, last pitched April 29 in Chicago. Valentine does not expect Beckett to be restricted in terms of pitch count or innings against the Indians.

He is the face of a franchise with no soul. It's the perfect role for Adrian Gonzalez. You can take the man out of San Diego, but you apparently can't take the laissez-faire SoCal nonchalance out of the player who is quickly becoming the maddening, non-charismatic answer to JD Drew. Just not in God's plan, I guess. Oftentimes, it can be a stretch to criticize a baseball player's fire and desire, the patient game not exactly on par with the passion exhibited in other sports.