Red Sox Owner John Henry Is Trying To Defend The Fact He's Not Talked To The Media In Over 2300 Days And It's Pure Bullshit

Friday will mark *checks notes* 2,342 days since Red Sox owner John Henry last spoke to the media in a normal, press conference setting. Cal Ripken would be impressed with this streak. 

And based on some email comments from the Red Sox owner, the streak won't be coming to an end anytime soon. 

Jason Schwartz posted a very good story about Henry, his ownership of the Red Sox, and of the Boston Globe, over at FanGraphs. In it, Schwartz revealed that he had actually emailed Henry to ask why he no longer spoke to the media. And more specifically, why didn't he address the media after the firing of longtime manager Alex Cora? 

And guess what? Henry responded to his email. He wrote back to Schwartz, in part: 

To your question, I stopped speaking with local media about sports more than a decade ago with few exceptions. As you put it, I saw it as unproductive. Why? Because the Sox have a baseball chief, a CEO, a manager and a chairman speaking. There are plenty of front office voices every day.

I know that local media are frustrated that once again I’m not taking questions from them, but I had a long, close relationship with Alex. I’m not going to discuss why these changes were made. It would be a disservice to Alex and others. This is a very emotional time for my family who loves Alex and his family.

This is a tough business for families, and the Red Sox are a family. I made a statement thanking Alex for what he brought to the organization over the years.

"As you put it, I saw it as unproductive. Why? Because the Sox have a baseball chief, a CEO, a manager and a chairman speaking. There are plenty of front office voices every day."

Giphy Images.

BUT THEY'RE NOT THE FUCKING OWNER, JOHN! 

They don't set the team budget. 

They don't have the final say (I don't think) on decisions like the hiring of Craig Breslow. Or bringing back Theo Epstein.

Sam Kennedy's name is not on the checks that pay Trevor Story or Jarren Duran. 

When fans show up at Fenway in these beautiful T-shirts, and they're screaming "SELL THE TEAM," they're not talking to the CEO - they're talking to Henry.

And Henry can say the local media is upset, which might be true. 

But you know who is more upset? 

Parker S. Freedman. Getty Images.

The FANS, John. The fucking fans. 

They want to know why you're not spending as you used to, among about 1000 other pertinent questions that the owner of the team might be asked in a Q and A with the media. Henry has emailed a few reporters over the years, at least two of whom work for his newspaper. He seems to like email. He was also on a Fan Fest panel with handpicked questions from select fans. I don't count any of this as talking to the media. 

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The Red Sox have finished last in three of the six seasons since Henry last spoke. How convenient for him. What's going to be truly gross is when the Sox win again, and he finally takes the podium for that victory lap. 

At least he makes videos for Liverpool fans - Sox fans don't even get that! 

As the owner of the team, it should be a rule that you hold one press conference a year. New sports rule, says this bald blogger. 

Schwartz also points out the irony that Henry owns a newspaper yet doesn't seem to grasp the importance of speaking to the press. Which is really speaking to the fans, of course. 

It's all bullshit. And maybe it would be unproductive in Henry's mind, but he owes it to his paying customers to get in front of the media - especially when there is big team news. Like firing a manager. Or finishing in last place, again. Based on his email, it doesn't sound like he'll be talking anytime soon. 

Cal Ripken's Iron Man streak was impressive. John Henry's media silence streak is just embarrassing.