KRAUSE: Time is almost up for these five

Tick ...

tick ...

tick ...

the clock is ticking.

Very often, teams get in the bad habit of waiting too long to pull the trigger on struggling players who just havent measured up to previous expectations.

Sometimes, the talent is merely overrated from the get-go; sometimes extenuating circumstances force a teams hand; and sometimes the player has gone into a premature slide to the denouement to his or her career.

There are a few Boston athletes who meet this definition, and lets try to spread the blame around a little.

Kristaps Porzingis, Celtics.

This might seem harsh, since Porzingis dealt with something obviously more perplexing than a pulled hammie this year.

But in three years, hes gone from 60 to 57 to 42 games in the regular season.Porzingis is a definite difference-maker when hes healthy.

In fact, when hes right, and with all other parts in good-working order, the Celtics are unbeatable.

The problem is, the last two postseasons, hes been a part-time player.

Not his fault, perhaps.

But an issue nonetheless.

Celtics General Manager Brad Stevens has proven that hes not stupid nor is he impulsive.

He no doubt swung the deal for Porzingis, which cost them a popular player in Marcus Smart, to reinforce the wide-open window the Celtics had for another championship.

Mission accomplished.

But now that salaries and a shaky ownership situation may mean tearing that roster apart, perhaps the alarm has rung for Porzingis, too.

He did his job.

Now, he may be riding off into the sunset.

JaLynn Polk, Patriots.

It might seem odd to say that after one season, its time to consider pulling the plug on Polk.

But good golly miss Molly, what a poor season it was.

Theres something different about NFL draft choices.

Those who are high enough, as Polk was, are expected to make an impact immediately.

By the last month of an NFL players rookie season, you can tell if he has the goods.Polk does not have the goods.Were not just talking about dropping difficult passes in traffic.

Were talking about gimmes.

His route-running may be decent, but cmon, man, hang onto the ball.The Patriots will probably give him the preseason, and maybe even a few games.

But if it goes beyond four with the same problems, then they have to move him.

Mike Vrabel had nothing to do with drafting him, so itll be an easier decision.

Brayan Bello, Red Sox.

Hes no rookie anymore.

He has to go longer than four innings before running out of pitches.He seems to have good stuff.

He has a live fastball.

He can sail through innings saying good morning, good afternoon and good night to batters.

And then hell have a couple of crazy innings in which he cant get the ball over the plate.

Good pitchers should be able to go at least five innings going through the other teams batting order twice.

Six may be asking a lot some nights, but its doable.

Four for a front-line starter is not cutting it.Managers seem to be reluctant to allow anyone but an elite starter to go through the order a third time, and on the Red Sox, the only one who appears to fit that definition is Garrett Crochet.

Otherwise, youd better not waste too many of your pitches on 3-2 counts and walks.

Trevor Story, Red Sox.

Why is he here? Hes the No.

1 rally killer on the team.

When he came out of the gate early with a couple of homers, it looked as if we were getting the Story the Red Sox signed.

Instead, its been the real Story all along.

Either get him a hitting coach who can straighten him out, or sit him down and give Marcelo Meyer a chance to be the every-day shortstop.

With Alex Bregman out until probably August, it doesnt look as if the Red Sox are going anywhere.

Finally, Don Sweeney, Bruins GM.

I mean, really? A two-year extension? For what?Twice since their 2011 Stanley Cup, the Bruins have made the finals.

The rest of the time, they have been one of the NHLs all-time underachievers.

Last year, after coming off two good seasons with nothing to show for, the Bruins collapsed.

It wasnt Sweeneys finest offseason in that every move he made weakened the team or seemed to.

Finally, he blew it up and the Bruins limped home without even making the playoffs.Some of that stems from a parsimonious ownership, no doubt.

But some of its on him, too.The Bruins have a crucial draft coming up next month.

I wouldnt let him near it.The post KRAUSE: Time is almost up for these five appeared first on Itemlive..

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