Junk food, booze, video games, and porn... is it too late to learn to thow a curveball?

The reasons behind the Boston Red Sox's historic September collapse are becoming clearer as the Boston Globe published an article describing a clubhouse devoid of leadership, motivation, or accountability. The most egregious offenders appear to be starting pitchers Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, and John Lackey, who as the days and losses and pounds piled on, appeared more like they were rushing a fraternity than pitching for an AL pennant:

Instead, Boston’s three elite starters went soft, their pitching as anemic as their work ethic. The indifference of Beckett, Lester, and Lackey in a time of crisis can be seen in what team sources say became their habit of drinking beer, eating fast-food fried chicken, and playing video games in the clubhouse during games while their teammates tried to salvage a once-promising season.

Sources said Beckett, Lester, and Lackey, who were joined at times by Buchholz, began the practice late in 2010. The pitchers not only continued the routine this year, sources said, but they joined a number of teammates in cutting back on their exercise regimens despite appeals from the team’s strength and conditioning coach Dave Page.

Now I'm no expert, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express once, and I'm guessing it's pretty tough to strikeout a major league hitter if all you can think about are miniature hamburgers when your catcher is calling for a slider.

Whatever someone wants to do in their free time is their own business, but if you're getting paid $17 million a year to play once every five days, you probably should be present in the dugout and cheering for your teammates during the game. Last time I checked it's kind of hard to clap when you've got an XBOX 360 controller in one hand, and a piece of the colonel's extra tasty crispy in the other. Then again, if the Red Sox are playing the Yankees, and Papelbon is pitching, the game is likely to last 5 days until your next start, so I guess there are exceptions to every rule.

Not to be outdone, former major league pitcher and current MLB Network analyst Al Leiter appeared on the Dan Patrick show today, and practically admitted to the existence of a dedicated porn room at the Mets' old Shea Stadium:

Gives new meaning to the saying, "If you build it, they will come."