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

You’re Fired! Trump to Buy the Mets?

The Mets organization continues to defy expectations, proving once again just how messed up a franchise can be. This time around, the controversy involves the team’s owner Fred Wilpon and CEO Saul Katz. They are being sued by a trustee on behalf of Madoff victims claiming the two must’ve been aware of the enormous Ponzi scheme that cost some millions of dollars. Whether this is true or not remains to be seen during the upcoming trial but what’s clear is at the very least the Mets will play this season under a huge cloud. So, what else is new? Worse though for ownership is the prospect of having to sell the team as Wilpon is looking for a minority buyer to take some pressure off his finances while he fights the charges. Enter Donald Trump, the Queens born real estate mogul who would like to “help” his good friend. If I were Wilpon, I’d be as worried about Trump as the Madoff trial because Trump won’t take a back seat to anyone. In fact, he’s already stated to several media sources that he wants a controlling stake.

Let’s pause for a minute to imagine Trump as the Mets owner. I’m thinking early George Steinbrenner (they were both good at saying “you’re fired”!) but with an added touch of narcissism that only Trump can bring to the table. The possibilities are endless really – will he set up a golf course in the outfield to outdo the swimming pool where the Diamondbacks play? What about a huge hotel or apartment building like Trump Tower attached to Citi Field? That’s what Roman Abramovich constructed when he bought the famous Chelsea soccer team in London. And come to think of it, I’m sure Trump will re-consider the ballpark’s name – Citi field is too boring. I bet he’d even establish a cheerleaders troupe called the “Trumpettes” being the innovator that he is!! OMG , imagine the press conferences - they’d go on for ages. Say what you will about him but Trump knows how to manage the media. But does he know anything about baseball? I’m not sure Mets fans should care because with the direction their team is headed, at least they would be entertained which is more than I can say about their on-field product! 

Wife Melania can train the cheerleaders! Picture from nytimes.com