Were Sox too arrogant about themselves entering the season? YEA: They built a Hall of Delusions

The Red Sox must have spent the entire winter (and their off-hours in spring training too) reading about how great they were going to be. And apparently enough of them decided to mail it in and wow the opposition with their tremendous talent alone.How else do you explain this? True, they signed two of the game’s best players (Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford). But did anyone notice that they came into the season without a real catcher? And with a pitching rotation that, outside of Jon Lester and maybe Clay Buchholz, had more question marks than the Mysterians (look it up)?Did they forget that the game is broken down into three components: hitting, fielding and pitching? And that of the three, pitching is still No. 1?Last year, with a depleted lineup thanks to season-ending injuries to Kevin Youkilis and Dustin Pedroia, the Red Sox still scored runs. But for an organization that stressed run prevention, they sure didn’t prevent many ? not with the likes of John Lackey and the ever-infuriating Daisuke ? or with a bullpen that had more holes in it than a piece of Swiss cheese.The one constant from April to September was Adrian Beltre ? so, naturally, they didn’t re-sign him. Another was Victor Martinez, a bona fide catcher. Nope. Not him either.Instead, they got Gonzalez and Crawford, which, on paper, made them look pretty formidable. But all I can recall in my youth are teams loaded with guys who hit home runs ? and with pitchers who gave up just as many. Are we seeing this again?I fear that for all the good the Red Sox front office did, it left the team with a staff full of pitchers bound to fatten anyone’s batting average.Lester is holding up his end. Buchholz and Josh Beckett – you have to hope – will come around. Otherwise, forget it. Lackey and Daisuke? Why is anyone even disappointed? Haven’t they both clearly demonstrated a mediocrity that belies their hefty salaries?The arrogance was institutional. And it’s quite likely that it’ll be fatal.Steve Krause is sports editor of The Item.