Major League Baseball

Chicken & beer out, cots & naps in

Published Sep. 19, 2013 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

In October 2011, the Boston front office cleaned house after a season out of control, players reportedly spending games drinking beer and eating fried chicken in the clubhouse.

Less than two years later, the Red Sox Nation is rejoicing in a return to the postseason, its beloved "Idiots" replaced by a groups of guys who owe their success to . . . nap time?

Indeed, some of the Red Sox are attributing at least a measure of the team's success (the Red Sox clinched a playoff berth with Thursday's 3-1 win over the Orioles) to the installation of a sleep room in the offseason.

"It is nice," catcher David Ross said Thursday on Boston radio show Mut & Merloni. "With the travel schedule you have here and this market and all the Sunday night games, getaway day-night games, everybody wants to put us on TV and have a big draw. You know we do have some times every once in a while where it’s nice to go in there and get a little hour or so rest — a little nap."

Team president and CEO Larry Lucchino told a different Boston radio show that the room was installed after a recommendation by the team's sleep specialist.

“I think the players have made terrific use of it,” Lucchino said. “It’s a soundproof room where guys can come in and get some rest — take a nap.”

No word if skipper John Farrell uses the Magic Mirror to take roll call: