Dombrowski: Managers Shouldn't Publicly Criticize Players 'Unless They Deserve It'
By Matt Dolloff, CBS Boston
BOSTON (CBS) -- Much has been said and written about the Red Sox's two most maligned players, first baseman Hanley Ramirez and third baseman Pablo Sandoval - mostly in the negative direction. While I personally believe the negativity has gotten out of control in recent weeks, some of it is warranted.
However, pretty much all of the public criticism for Ramirez and Sandoval ("HanDoval," if you will) has come from us, as the Boston sports media has relentlessly eviscerated both in typically voracious fashion. Virtually no criticism has come from the team itself, namely manager John Farrell or president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski.
Dan Shaughnessy, Boston's most notorious pot-stirring Red Sox writer, asked Dombrowski if the Red Sox are actively "protecting" or shielding Ramirez and Sandoval from criticism - essentially, he asked why the team hasn't thrown them under the bus.
Dombrowski patently rejected the idea of publicly criticizing or singling out his own player - with one crucial caveat.
"I'm not going to sit here from the media perspective, and you're going to shoot down guys that are your own players," said Dombrowski. "I don't think that's something that you generally do, unless they deserve it.
"I think [criticism comes] when people don't work. As long as guys' efforts are there, we're in a spot where we support them and we'll continue to do that as long as everybody continues to work and do what they need to do."
That could be seen as a veiled call for HanDoval to continue to put in the work necessary to get better every day and help the team win games throughout the season, rather than only making good first impressions. But Dombrowski said he thinks Ramirez is "going to be fine over there" at first base and Sandoval has "worked hard thus far."
"I've watched him out there. I think he's moving along well," said Dombrowski of Sandoval, shortly after shooting down yet another question about his weight. "He's swinging the bat fine. He's committed. I know he worked hard in the wintertime."
Dombrowski also reflected on his time working with Tony La Russa, whom he doesn't recall ever criticizing his players publicly.
"Good managers do things behind the scenes," he said.
However the Red Sox approach HanDoval, if they falter in terms of work ethic, commitment or focus - particularly in the case of Ramirez - Dombrowski and manager John Farrell had better be ready to issue those much-deserved public criticisms.
But for now, the team is just going to keep working with them and make sure both guys remain focused and keep working hard, and let the media be the ones to rip them apart 24/7 before they play a single inning. It's OK Dave, leave the public criticism to us. We're used to it around here.
Matt Dolloff is a writer for CBSBostonSports.com. His opinions do not necessarily reflect that of CBS or 98.5 The Sports Hub. Have a news tip or comment for Matt? Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff and email him at mdolloff@985thesportshub.com.