By Obnoxious Boston Fan





The 2013 season will arrive with boundless optimism – if not relief – for Red Sox fans. The push will be fast-forward, with the wreckage of the past two seasons smoldering in the rear-view mirror, still there to be pulled out at a moment’s notice whenever something goes wrong. This time, Red Sox fans will actually be justified in their pessimism. The “Curse’’ has been replaced with plain old cursing. Now, it’s time for results. Here are 10 traits all fans would like to see in this team that have not necessarily been lingering around Yawkey Way of late.

Performance: It’s all about winning, and more than just 69 times a season. The Red Sox must perform to reasonable expectations. This season, the “experts’’ had them winning anywhere between 85-95 games. That was unrealistic, but 69-93 is shameful. Red Sox fans still have disappointment in their DNA, but that pain has usually come from catastrophic loss and not the team simply choosing not to show up.

Accountability: No one wanted to take responsibility for what happened at the end of 2011. We had the manager fired, the GM walked, and the players were blaming everyone from “God’’ to Satan (i.e. – the media). Nothing changed in 2012. Bobby Valentine was an all-too-convenient scapegoat – even Larry Lucchino (pictured) said as much this week. The Red Sox were simply horrible on the field and completely dysfunctional off of it. Sadly, Lucchino will be back next season. So we’ll start at the top next season in this department, even though it’s ultimately on the players.

Value: Businesses everywhere have lowered prices in recent years. The Red Sox act like they’re doing the world a favor when they hold the line on ticket prices and $9 beers. Achieving value goes toward the roster, too. In 2012, the Red Sox paid Bobby Jenks $6 million, Kevin Youkilis $11.5 million (of his $12.5 million salary), Dice-K $10.3 million and John Lackey $15.9 million – plus the roughly $45 million spent on Josh Beckett, Carl Crawford (pictured) and Adrian Gonzalez before they were dumped in Chavez Ravine. And the Sox had to add $11 million just to close that deal.

Honesty: Stop the phony sellout streaks, brick brigades and Fenway sing-alongs. But this goes beyond the obsessive marketing gimmicks. How about an honest assessment of where the team stands? Fans of all types CAN handle the truth. Don’t sell the “second wild-card’’ when the team is struggling to hold on to the sixth wild-card. If the manager and players are open and honest, fans will respond with sincere support.

Effort: It is hoped much of this public perception exited when Josh Beckett was dealt/dumped on the Dodgers. But it’s more than just his back-fat spasms. The pitching has been consistently suspect and continues to tail off late in the season in large part because so many of the starters lack the basic physical conditioning necessary to perform as well in September and they would in May. John Lackey (pictured) will be a key factor here – if he’s still double-fisting during spring training, that’s the trade signal right there. Perhaps he’ll spend the offseason doing crossfit training every day. Or maybe not.

Passion: One of the rare highlights this past season occurred when the cheerful Cody Ross (pictured) got called out on strikes after taking ball four in a 5-4 loss to the Yankees on Sept. 12 and then nearly went “baby seal’’ on home-plate umpire Alfonso Marquez. The season was already lost, but Ross was still engaged and enraged. Winding up with your bat on the home-plate umpire isn’t usually recommended, but fans of all kinds loved the fact that Ross still cared that much. Dustin Pedroia sets the benchmark in this department.

Unity: The most successful teams aren’t always full of hugs and kisses – see the 1977 Yankees. But even when players don’t get along on good teams, they all play together and understand that winning is the main focus. A good fight in the clubhouse never hurt anyone – unless you got your nose broken. But behind-the-back sniping, or asking one teammate to use his cellphone to send a text message to management? That’s not even worthy of a third-grade kickball team.

Fun: This is a diversion for most fans. It’s called “fun and games’’ for a reason. While the intensity of Red Sox fans certainly varies – they nearly all have lives away from Fenway Park or NESN telecasts. That needs to be reflected on the team. Loosen up, guys. Being professional doesn’t mean being boring. Kevin Millar was a welcomed diversion, especially when he warned: “Don’t let us win today.’’ Manny Ramirez (pictured) was another idiot. But those were our PED-aided home runs and he became the first Red Sox World Series MVP since never. (They started that award in 1955.)

Talent: The Red Sox don’t have to drop $120 million on Josh Hamilton, but they need a bat in the lineup to protect David Ortiz, who only played in 90 games this year. The late-season lineup was pitiful. Where the pitching failed early and often, the hitting collapsed down the stretch. Would-be free-agent catcher/DH/first baseman Mike Napoli (pictured) has a career .306 batting average at Fenway Park with seven homers in just 19 games. Other potential free-agents to consider: Brandon Inge, the evil Nick Swisher and – perhaps Youkilis (who has a team option for 2013).