Bobby Valentine (C) manager of the Boston Red Sox talks to Franklin Morales (L) and Kelly Shoppach #10 during the third inning of game against the Chicago Cubs on June 17, 2012 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois.
(June 16, 2012 – Source: David Banks/Getty Images North America)

(PhatzRadio / ESPN) — CHICAGO — Anybody who has had a 30th birthday has witnessed troubled marriages. The frustration and exasperation of those involved is deeply felt, and because of the requirements of the union, there is little respite. They have to deal with each other every day.

And because everything that is said and done is viewed through the prism of that frustration and exasperation, the whole situation is refueled constantly. Stuff that really shouldn’t be a big deal becomes a big deal, because of what happened before.

Which brings us to the 2012 Boston Red Sox.

The unhappiness that exists among the Boston players and staff is multilayered and deep. Calls and texts and complaints about daily events and exchanges are being sprayed all over the baseball landscape as some involved share their frustration with friends and family and agents. Some already are talking about looking for work elsewhere down the road.

There is frustration about how individual situations have been handled, about communication. For those aware of the problems, there is bad body language on display during games, as the anger manifests.

“Did you see that?” an official texted during the weekend here after some particularly egregious posturing.

Nobody has really gone on the record — yet — but it’s clear that if the Red Sox are to win this year, it’ll have to be in spite of the bad feelings. This team won’t turn into Happy Town any time soon. There are too many irreconcilable differences in place.