As anticipated since the Red Sox's departure from the playoffs, Boston announced yesterday they have chosen not to pick up Grady Little's option. The Red Sox will seek a new manager for the 2004 season.

I fully support Boston's decision and only wish they'd realized last season that he didn't fit with their newly adopted organizational outlook. His failure to pull Pedro Martinez in Game 7 of the ALCS was symptomatic of the larger problems the club's success in the standings obscured. The one positive of the Red Sox not making the World Series was that they did not feel obligated to retain Little.