Thursday, October 04, 2012

Goodbye, Bobby V

It's official. Bobby Valentine is no longer the Manager of the Red Sox. There's no word if he'll stay with the team in the other roles he took upon himself: psychologist, motivational speaker, media manipulator, philosopher, food inventor. We know he won't be filling out any lineups, showing up late to the clubhouse, or forgetting which hand the opposing pitcher pitches with.

Bobby Valentine deserves blame for this 69 win season. Not all of it, not most of it, but a piece of the blame pie sits on his plate. More importantly, any future success will not be likely, and might not even be possible with him as the Manager. He's too distracting and too intrusive. He's a bad Manager. Maybe that's why the Red Sox were the only MLB team willing to hire him since 2002.

Valentine got fired not because 2012 was his fault, but because he's an obstacle to success in 2013.

I don't remember him doing anything smart. He called out Kevin Youkilis, then retreated. He didn't call out players like Josh Beckett. He made game decisions with pitchers, particularly Jon Lester, based on their self-esteem. He brought up subjects (such as Youkilis) with the media, then complained that media was talking about said subjects. It was as if he wanted to make his statement, convince everyone he was right, and move on without any further discussion.

The players didn't respect him from the start and why should they? I didn't respect him. The owners were wrong to give the players an audience for their grievances, but that doesn't change the fact that Valentine is not a respectable leader.

He's a clown. A buffoon. A quack. On a serious note I think he has some deep psychological issues. He has no actual confidence, just a mask of arrogance.

I wonder if he'll show up to Red Sox Spring Training next year wearing a fake mustache.

Red Sox Season Mercifully Ends


After six months of gruesome torture, Red Sox fans are finally free. This embarrassment of a season is over, officially in the books, and let us hope we someday are able to cope with this tragic experience, and move on with our lives.

This was the 14th worse season in Red Sox history. It's their 3rd worst since 1933, and their worst since 1965. 5th place, 24 games under .500, 26 games behind the Yankees, 24 games out of a playoff spot, 4 games behind the 4th place Blue Jays, 3 games behind the Royals, the 3rd worst record in the AL, 7th worst record in all of baseball.

At least that Sellout Streak is intact.

Game #162 was the type of pitiful game that the Red Sox frequently had all year long. Daisuke pitched 2.1 innings, allowed 5 runs off 6 hits and 2 homers. He ends the season with a 1-7 record, and an 8.28 ERA.


I am so full of harmonious joy that this was Matsuzaka's last start in a Red Sox uniform. Sayonara, Dice-K.

I am pleased that next year I won't have to cheer for Josh Beckett. I felt vile when I was happy to see Josh Beckett succeed.

I am thrilled that Bobby Valentine managed his last game in Boston. It's a wrap, Bobby.

So there are some things to be happy about.

Then again, Larry Lucchino's job seems far too safe. I really don't think Ben Cherington is a good GM (Josh Reddick for Andrew Bailey?). Who will be the new manager? Who will be the Opening Day starter? Who will be the closer? How much influence will Lucchino have in answering these questions?

On the bright side, tickets will be even easier to acquire next year. And I really doubt that the Sox will raise prices.

Photo Credit:
AP Photo