
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
AP: Sox, Bobby V. Agree To Terms

New HOF Class Is Lackluster

A Former Met Fan Views Bobby V.

When I first heard that the Sox were thinking about Bobby Valentine, I was surprised. I think of his personality as the opposite of the managers we have seen around here for a long time. Jimy Williams, Terry Francona, and the other guy I don’t like to think about were all pretty low key guys. They were calming presences, and didn’t stir up controversy. Even in other sports, the guys who seem to thrive here are the guys who don’t go out of their way to create controversy (Belichick has attracted his share of controversy, but it wasn’t his outgoing personality that led to it). Bobby V, on the other hand, loves to talk, and becomes part of the story. I think of him more like Rick Pitino and Bill Parcells, neither of whom lasted long in this town. Given the collapse at the end of last year, however, maybe it’s what they need right now.
Looking at Valentine’s record, the first thing you notice is that he doesn’t wear out his welcome too fast. He’s only had two managing gigs, and they lasted a long time. He may be emotional, but I don’t remember too many battles between him and his players – he’s no Billy Martin (or Rick Pitino, or Bill Parcells) in that regard. In New York, his tenure precisely overlapped with the years that the Yankees were most dominant, and the Mets were kicked off the back pages of the tabloids, so he didn’t get as much exposure as you might think. In Boston, he’ll get all the attention he wants.
His first gig was with the Rangers, from ’85 to ’92. He took over a team that was terrible – the Rangers finished last in ’84, and were 9-23 in ’85 when he took over. The only guys with any real talent were over 30. It didn’t take long for them to improve, in a big way. While they continued to struggle in the rest of ’85, they took a major step forward in ’86, finishing 87-75, in second place. He immediately put in a bunch of young players, got rid of the dead wood, and it paid off. Among his regular players that year were Pete Incaviglia (age 22), Oddibe McDowell (age 23), Ruben Sierra (age 20), Ed Correa (age 20), Bobby Witt (age 22), Jose Guzman (age 23), Mitch Williams (age 21), and Steve Buechele (age 24). The Rangers had a lot of young talent, and by God, he was going to give them a chance. However, they weren’t the real reason the Rangers improved so much. They improved because the veterans that were left all had terrific years – Pete O’Brien, Scott Fletcher, Larry Parrish, and Charlie Hough in particular.
After the glorious first full year, the Rangers were considered one of the hot young teams in baseball. And then they collapsed. 87 losses in ’87. 91 losses the next year. By ’89, they finally found their footing, and were pretty good for a few years, before management got tired of being pretty good, and Bobby V. was gone by midseason of ’92. Looking at those teams, they scored runs – a lot of them, but their pitching was never very good. Most of the young pitchers didn’t develop under Valentine, and they were carried along by Kevin Brown and an ancient Nolan Ryan for a few years. But still, he never stopped giving a chance to the young guys, including starting Juan Gonzalez at age 20, and a 19 year old catcher name Ivan Rodriguez, and it paid off more than it didn’t.
His second chance came in New York. Once again, he took over a team that was pretty bad, but then again Dallas Green was the manager, who I distinctly remember had no business running a major league baseball team. And once again, they almost immediately improved—from 71 to 88 wins in his first full season. And it should be noted that he won 88 games that year with a starting rotation of Rick Reed, Dave Mlicki, Bobby Jones, Mark Clark, and Armando Reynoso. This time they consolidated, winning 88 games the next year, 97 the year after that, and made it to the World Series the year after that.
To be fair, they did get Mike Piazza, along with Al Leiter for the pitching staff, but the talent on those clubs was not overwhelming. In one way, he did the opposite in New York as he did with Texas, tending to play the veterans, rather than young guys, but then again, he had more old talent and less young than he did in Texas. Eventually, the strategy stopped working – our old friend Mo Vaughn, along with Roberto Alomar, were pretty bad, and the team collapsed, but for a few years, he did a hell of a job.
So what does this all add up to? First, he seems to have a pretty positive impact at the beginning. Although he played a lot of youngsters in Texas, it’s interesting that he got some terrific performances out of veterans that just weren’t that good during the rest of their careers. I don’t think his teams were overwhelmingly talented, but they still won, at least for a while. Several veterans who were good performed even better under Valentine than they had in the past. Second, he’ll go with young guys when they look real promising, even at a very young age, but if not, he’s happy playing veterans as well.
Finally, I think the extent to which he’s an emotional manager is a bit overblown. Emotional managers don’t tend to last for several years at each stop. Nor do guys who have problems with their General Managers or ownership.
It’s a good record. In my opinion, he’s never really had the horses, even in New York, especially when it comes to pitching. The more I look at his record, the more I think they made the right choice.
Nakajima A SS Option For Sox?

(Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
Bobby V. Presser Thursday/Friday

The Remaining Red Sox Agenda

1.) Let's start with a pitching coach. Curt Young took the first flight out of Logan as soon as Black September wrapped up. He's back in Oakland. Former Red Sox pitching coach Dave Wallace served under Bobby V. for two years with the Mets, so he is a logical hire. Do it!
2.) Next, we need a closer. We think the Red Sox made a big mistake not re-signing Jonathan Papelbon, but that's Bud Light under the bridge. We need Heath Bell to be signed as soon as possible—before the Blue Jays scoop him up. Put Bard in the starting rotation.
3.) How about a right-fielder? The most logical choice to replace the "worth more than $14 million" J. D. Drew is Michael Cuddyer. He's tough, he's durable, he's got a .343 career OBP, and he's available. Go get him!
4.) Then there's the two open slots in the starting rotation. Putting Daniel Bard in the starting rotation (after Beckett, Lester, and Buchholz) leaves only the fifth spot open. Assuming Wake is not coming back, we would suggest going after a filler option like Roy Oswalt. This also allows us to keep Alfredo Aceves as a set-up 8th-inning guy.
5.) OK, now Designated Hitter. If Papi is allowed to walk to Toronto or Baltimore, we should sign Aramis Ramirez to play third and make Kevin Youkilis the DH. This would also bring Boston into line with the overall trend of making DHs rotatable among two or three players—giving more rest to all. One could see Youk, Ramirez and A-Gon rotating roles to give a "blow" to each one as needed.
6.) Penultimately, catcher. Assuming Jason Varitek is wearing Oriole black and orange in 2012, we think Jarrod Saltalamacchia should be backed up by Ryan Lavarnway. Let the kid play—if he clicks, he could be the number one catcher next year.
7.) Finally, shortstop. I know, I know—Marco Scutaro is signed to be our everyday guy. However, at 35, he's not the best option. Jed Lowrie can't be counted on to be a healthy back-up either. If they can deal Lowrie (there is interest), then the Jose Iglesias Era should begin. First, as back-up, and, if he clicks, as the mid-season starter.
It's not that complicated. The Red Sox just need to do it.
A CT Met In King Henry's Court

From where we sit, Valentine was the only logical choice from the final two. Gene Lamont is undoubtedly a good guy, and he probably would have been a fine manager. I'm sure he also enjoys long walks on the beach. But he is boring and his "kick-ass" bona fides are unknown. The collective yawn from The Nation that his hiring would have induced would be deafening.
There is a clear loser in this hire. Ben Cherington did not get his first choice, so the first impression we have is that he was out-maneuvered by Larry Lucchino. His power is in roughly the same proportion as Dmitri Medvedev's is to Valdimir Putin's. For those of you unfamiliar with Russian politics, let's just say it's not good for BenCher.
Time will tell whether Bobby V. can whip this talented but tainted club into championship form. Let the honeymoon begin—until May 1.
(Photo / Stamford Advocate)
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Looks Like Valentine's Day!
ESPN's Karl Ravech is tweeting that Gene Lamont is out of the running for Red Sox manager. By process of elimination, it looks as if Boston will name Bobby Valentine its 45th skipper soon. Stay Tuned.
DeMarlo Going To Fenway South?

Pedro In Town For Dana Farber

Sox Malaise May Cost Them Bell

(PHOTO: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Dust Mites: Fenway Under Seige?

Gotham Reporter Rips Valentine

What Are The Sox Waiting For?
When the Red Sox are in the midst of the three-game June road-trip to Wrigley, no one will remember that we didn't have a manager until the first of December or so. We get that. Nevertheless, it's infuriating to read that the Kansas City Royals—the Royals—are locking up closers (Jonathan Broxton), while we continue to lolly-gag our way through Indecision 2011. This is ridiculous. No matter who the choice is, we need to see the white smoke flowing from the chimney on Yawkey Way now.
Dueling Tweets On Sox Mgr. Hire

Monday, November 28, 2011
Sox Will Pick Manager On Tuesday

Turning Around Japanese?

Sox May Venture Into 'Garza' Strip

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images North America)
It's Official! No Manager Decision!

BirdsOFeather For Papi Together?

Red Sox Drift Continues: Day 58

Do We Really 'Wandy' Rodriguez?

Sunday, November 27, 2011
Power Test On Manager Selection

Two Red Sox Icons For The Birds?

Sox Kick The Tires On Ayala

Saturday, November 26, 2011
Bobby V. Landslide Over Lamont

Butch Hobson's Choice

It's Come To This With The Sox

Friday, November 25, 2011
Why The Sox Can't Afford a "Gio"

Jays Asked For Clay To Get Farrell

Heath Bell Is Logical Closer Choice

Red Sox Are Left-Over Turkey

Thursday, November 24, 2011
Papi: 28 Million Thankful Things?

A Lot To Be Thankful For Today

NH Court Upholds NYY Fan Ruling

Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Sox Offer Papi Salary Arbitration

Arbitration Clock Ticking On Papi

A Young Reporter Gets His Story

El Tiante Turns 71 Today

BenCher Assembles His Own Team

Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Sox Seek 'Street' Credibility

New CBA Is Chock Full Of 'Stuff'

'No Jay Way' On John Farrell

(PHOTO: Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE)
Who Is This Guy Exactly?

The problem is he has been described as all of these at one time or another over the years. He is a masked man (literally) and 'a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma' (with apologies to Winston Churchill). Hey, at least he won't be boring.
(PROVIDENCE JOURNAL PHOTO / BOB BREIDENBACH)
2011 Best O' Nation Media Awards

DAY 53: Still No Skipper

Nevertheless, you do get the sense that things are passing the Red Sox by—they still have huge issues to address after the white smoke rises from Yawkey Way and Bobby V. gets anointed. They need a closer, two starters and a right fielder. And maybe even a shortstop. Oh, and they have to pull the trigger on Ortiz (one way or the other). Yikes. Get it going, BenCher!
Chorye Spoone Is 'Sox Best Name'

Monday, November 21, 2011
Valentine: 'Growth Experience'

(CSN New England Screenshot)
Sox Open Against NU Huskies

Dallas 'Sportswriter' Does It Again

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