1995 Red Sox Dynasty: Kennedy's Fate?

[Moriarty9]

In his 18 years as manager of the Boston Red Sox, Kevin Kennedy's team has missed the playoffs just once. That was 1999, when the team went 86-76, good enough for second place in the AL East but not quite good enough for a playoff spot.
This year, 2012, Kennedy and the Red Sox are on the verge of missing the playoffs for the first time in 12 years.
To this end, we wonder what will the fate of Kevin Kennedy be with Boston? Will he get the Bobby Cox treatment of perennial division pennants equalling the right to stay in the manager's office as long as he wants? Will he get the Mike Hargrove treatment where making the playoffs annually without a World Series means its time to find someone new to take the helm?

The Background Information
It is 2012 and Kennedy has managed the Red Sox since 1995, winning 14 division titles, two Wild Card titles, seven American League pennants and three World Series.
The Red Sox won the World Series in 1995, 2003 and 2006. Since last winning the Fall Classic in 2006, Boston has seen a slow but steady decline in success. In 2007, the team went 114-48. In 2008, 111-51. In 2009, 106-56. In 2010, the team went 98-64. Last season, in 2011, the team went 95-67. This year, the team is on pace to finish at 87-75.
Kennedy's Red Sox teams have eclipsed the 100-win mark 11 times in his 18 seasons and has only twice finished with fewer than 91 wins.

Kennedy is signed as Boston's manager through the 2013 season.

[CRTsports.com]

I say keep him around. He has earned it!

[CatKnight]

I say your league has balance issues if the Sox are that good for THAT long.

Anyway, is K your field manager or GM? Also, how old is he? Just as a wild guess, the steady decline looks like a lower talent level in the BoSox organization, which points to the GM.

[AirmenSmith]

lol Right now i'm the only one that says fire him. I'm a harsh owner, he would have been gone awhile ago.

[Moriarty9]

Originally Posted by CatKnight

I say your league has balance issues if the Sox are that good for THAT long.

Anyway, is K your field manager or GM? Also, how old is he? Just as a wild guess, the steady decline looks like a lower talent level in the BoSox organization, which points to the GM.

Kennedy is 58, so he's certainly not old enough to put into the managerial retirement home.

The greatest reason for decline is more or less the contracts that have come to maturation and have become bloated. As a result, a number of guys have had to be dealt away or walk as free agents because the Red Sox simply can't re-sign them. One fine example is Ryan Howard.
Howard hit .330 with 51 HR and 152 RBI in 2008 and .313 with 58 HR and 149 RBI in 2009 with Boston, becoming a free agent that off-season. The Red Sox didn't have enough room in the budget to match the $22.89 million annual salary offered by the Braves.

The same scenario presents itself now as there is no room in the budget to re-sign any potential free agents. This means Erik Bedard (16-11, 3.83 ERA this year and an All Star the last two seasons) will be hitting the free agent market.