Boston Red Sox: Should Sox Fans Boo Their Own Team at the Home Opener?

The Boston Red Sox have always had a fiercely loyal fan base, but that loyalty has been stretched to breaking point recently.

The way the 2011 season ended, with Boston blowing a nine-game lead in September, is still fresh in fans' minds. The ensuing fallout, with the pitchers accused of drinking beer and eating chicken during games and a general lack of caring about the team's performance, annoyed many. Read blogs or listen to sports talk radio, and the level of dissatisfaction with the team is clear.

One pitcher whose reputation has suffered greatly is Josh Beckett. In 2007 he was a hero; his great pitching in the postseason carried the Sox to their second World Series championship in four years. Last year, he was one of the guys who just didn't care enough about the team.

In the preseason, his reluctance to apologise for events drew more fire. In his first start of the season, he was torched by the Detroit Tigers, tying a career-worst by allowing five home runs. He will get the ball on Friday against the Tampa Bay Rays in the Sox's home opener. So how should fans react?

Had September 2011 not unfolded the way it did, he'd be given a rousing ovation as a fan favourite coming off a Cy Young-calibre season. But the way things ended last year, is there a chance Sox fans will jeer their own starter?

It wouldn't be the first time Red Sox Nation had booed its own. Manny Ramirez heard it towards the end of his tenure in Boston before his 2008 trade to the Los Angeles Dodgers. No doubt some angry fans will voice their displeasure with Beckett as he is announced. Others might be upset with the team's 1-5 start and join in.

Even if they have no problem with Beckett, some fans will be annoyed at the ownership group for the way they have treated former manager Terry Francona.

It was reported in the last few days that Tito would not be taking part in the Red Sox's celebrations marking Fenway Park's 100th birthday. The reason he gave was that he would feel "hypocritical" if he were to go back and hug everyone when he knew the people who told the media he was losing the clubhouse, addicted to prescription drugs and having marital problems, is still in the organisation.

Francona alleges principal owner John Henry did not invite him until February and CEO Larry Lucchino tried to pin blame on him, saying he was being unfair. Whichever way you cut it, this doesn't play well with fans.

At face value, it looks like the ownership is treating one of the most beloved managers in Red Sox history terribly. If Francona went to the centennial celebrations, he would receive the biggest standing ovation of all the guests. The fact that ownership is driving him away from it is just another reason for fans to jeer their team.

So when Josh Beckett walks out to the mound Friday to get the 101st season of Fenway Park baseball underway, how will fans react? Perhaps more importantly, how should they, given the state of their team right now?

Adam MacDonald has been a featured columnist for the Boston Red Sox since October 2010. He also writes about cricket a fair bit. He likes video games and sandwiches. You can follow him on Twitter, or tell him how awesome/terrible this article was, by clicking here.