V for Valentine

Although no deal has been officially announced, media outlets are reporting that the Red Sox have hired Bobby Valentine as their new manager. While some may consider this a gamble, especially as Valentine has not managed in the US since leaving the Mets in 2002 under acrimonious terms, I think it’s a genius move. I don’t care if he was team president Larry Lucchino’s first choice rather than new GM Ben Cherington’s, the bottom line is that the Red Sox disintegrated down the stretch and therefore need a strong personality to right the ship. And with Valentine, they got someone who once came back to the dugout wearing a mustache after being kicked out by an umpire, earning a 3 game suspension in the process. Classic!

While with the Mets, Valentine clashed not only with then-GM Steve Phillips but also with players like Bobby Bonilla (justifiably) and the media on occasion (a given in New York). Yet, he also managed to take the Mets all the way to the World Series in 2000, a feat I’m still amazed by over 10 years later as that was an overachieving team with only one legit offensive star in Mike Piazza and Al Leiter as the ace of their rotation. So we know he can handle the pressure which is good because the Red Sox will be under an intense spotlight once the season begins, if only to check whether beer and chicken wings are being consumed in the clubhouse. Plus, MLB fans tend to view everything baseball-related that happens outside the U.S  as insignificant but in Japan, where baseball is enormous, Valentine is a cult hero. Always a bright mind, Valentine probably benefited alot from that experience and, at the very least, maybe he can get Dice K moving in the right direction again.   

Who knows how this will pan out in the end but in my opinion the Red Sox gave themselves the best chance of remaining competitive with Valentine’s hire. However, if they want to win the division, the front office has to contribute by shoring up their pitching staff and replacing closer Jonathan Papelbon.  Otherwise, they may be in for a long season which is music to this Yankees fan’s ears

Bizuayehu Tesfaye/ AP Photo

Boston Red Sox smear campaign

In the interest of full disclosure, I’ll state right off the bat that I’m a Yankees fan so the Red Sox’s inability to close out the wild card made me extremely happy. However, what’s happening now is absolutely disgraceful, especially regarding former manager Terry Francona. I won’t reiterate all the mud being slung – just read the Boston Globe article or the myriad summaries on other news outlets like SI – but the bottom line is that Francona is being blamed for the 7-20 record down the stretch. I don’t care what pain killers he was taking (if I was a player, I’d never trust the medical team again after someone clearly tipped the media to this “issue”) or the extent of his marital problems, poor pitching is ultimately to blame for their lost season as an ERA of 7.08 in September won’t win alot of games! Honestly, would any of this come out if the Red Sox had managed to eek into the playoffs? Probably not. Francona won two World Series with that team yet when management refused to pick up his option, nobody came forward in his defense. How’s that for loyalty? Theo Epstein, who also has to take some flak for this season with bad, costly signings that will hinder Boston’s ability to rebuild from within the organization, has managed to bail for the tune of $20 million. I guess from his perspective, the Cubs clubhouse couldn’t be anymore dysfunctional! Ultimately, the Red Sox players who remain must take a good look in the mirror and “cowboy up” as they used to say in the good old days. I only hope Francona gets a second chance to prove his managerial skills and erase memories of what must have been a miserable season all around.

Former Red Sox manager Terry Francona

Yankees vs Red Sox Game 2

I had a spare few hours to watch today’s Yankees-Red Sox game and here are my observations:

1) After 7 games, the Yankees have scored 41 runs, 14 of which were homers, the highest percentage in MLB so far. With 4 in today’s game alone, that number should increase even more. While clearly living up to the nickname “Bronx Bombers”, the Yankees shouldn’t expect to maintain that production all season. Hopefully, when the inevitable slumps occur, they’ll remember how to play small ball! The good news is that the bottom part of the line-up has been great, especially Russell Martin who contributed 2 homers against the Red Sox and has impressed me in this young season.

2) Apparently, the showers in the Yankees locker room weren’t working after yesterday’s game which was the Red Sox’s home opener. Come on, I know Fenway is old (99 years) but that is suspicious timing to say the least!! Did they forget to renovate that part of the ballpark?

The ancient Fenway Park

3) Whenever these two teams play eachother, the games seem to last forever and a day, or at the very least 3 1/2 hours! I remember when umpire Joe West complained about the length of these games last season and was roundly criticized by Mariano Rivera among others; however, he definitely has a point. By the 6th inning the game starts to drag, especially when the pitching starts to falter which is not good for baseball viewers. Umpires should make every effort to ensure the game moves along which means, for example, the pitchers shouldn’t be allowed to take so long between pitches.

4) Fox Sports showed Theo Epstein watching the game from a box and it occurred to me that I’m about his age and I went to college (Wesleyan) with Jed Hoyer, the Padres’ GM; the combination is depressing given that I’m sitting here on my couch typing this blog! Oh well.

5) Does Ken Rosenthal think his bowtie is sexy? Seriously, does he look in the mirror before he comes to the ballpark? I don’t mean  to be nasty – I just have a problem with sideline reporters in any sport. Their commentary is just fluff and certainly nothing that couldn’t be said by the regular announcers.

6) This doesn’t specifically pertain to today’s game but former Red Sox player Manny Ramirez’s sudden retirement warrants a mention. He is undoubtedly one of the best hitters I’ve ever seen with 555 career homers and 12 All-Star appearances plus the 2004 World Series MVP. However, his career was marred by off-field issues including steroids use (his retirement came after MLB notified Ramirez that he faced a 100 game suspension for failing yet another drug test) and a seriously bad attitude. As you may have guessed, I’m not a Red Sox fans but what he did to that franchise towards the end of his tenure is unforgivable (pretending to be injured etc).  Instead of ending his playing days under his own terms on the way to a sure Hall of Fame nod, Ramirez instead leaves under a cloud of suspicion, like Bonds and Sosa before him.  I can’t imagine what the Rays must be thinking right now….

How stupid can you possibly be?