PROVING BOBBY VALENTINE WRONG

"Obviously, we would like to beat Boston- especially at home- every time." 

--Russell Martin

The focus is clear, the Yankees want to win every game they play against Boston.  And for me, my focus is clear, I need to prove to everyone in baseball that Bobby Valentine is a dud.  So far, it's been easy, he's doing it himself.

I've never understood the hype surrounding Bobby Valentine.  I mean, sure, the guy was a major leaguer... a career average of .260, a part time player that played for teams like the Angels, the Mets and Dodgers from 1969 to 1979. But then came his big moment... manager and that started in 1985 with the Rangers.
Suddenly, the pedestal for Bobby was created...not by him, but by baseball and when he came in to manage the New York Mets, the hype surrounding this guy was so high, so huge, it was like Casey Stengel had comeback to life.  I never understood that.  Bobby Valentine may be a nice guy, but in the world of truly great managers, he's just another manager.  Valentine has a 1166 - 1123 career record as a manager.  With the Mets, he had mild success, winning 536 games and losing 467.  And throughout all of that, what type of champion is he? He won the 2000 National League Pennant with the New York Mets...that's it.

Yet, after he left the Mets, he was praised... "a great manager". People considered him a great baseball mind. He became an analyst and was booked on all the shows, yet, all he did was have an opinion, like you or I.  He talked about the past, "When I did this with the Mets..." or, that player "... played for me with the Rangers" and everyone fawned over it. Yet again... he won a pennant in 2000...that's it. Not a World Series, a pennant...once.

One he won a championship in Japan, where it doesn't matter in the United States by the way, he came back to the states and the Boston Red Sox took him in.  Terry Francona was forced out for something that adult baseball players did and I am a believer that Francona cannot stand that franchise anymore.  Let's be honest,  Francona may have been the Red Sox manager, but the guy's likable, not cocky.  The guy understands the players and the players understand him. It was right about then that the rivalry was amazing and it had everything to do with personalities and respect for each player, the Yankees and across the line, the Red Sox. Sure, we hate each other, but we hated each other in terms of the team, the personally. The players and managers actually liked each other, the rivalry was huge.  Now Valentine has brought in his own hype and more so, he's bought into the hype surrounding him as well.  Bobby's arrogance reeks, yet, he's got nothing to be arrogant about.  The players on the Red Sox don't like him, and don't want to play for him.  How do I know? Watch them play.

Now Bobby made a bold statement before the Yankees clobbered him on Friday night in the Bronx 10-3, read HERE. He told Michael Kay this: "...it's about time to put the pedal to the metal and I think it's just about time that we get out and get our act together."

Sure, it's a matter of time, but time's running out. Bobby should have gained trust and respect back in Spring Training, but instead he chose to fuel the fire of a rivalry he knew nothing about, just to try and be relevant.

He was also asked about his aces Jon Lester and Josh Beckett having a bad start this year. To that he stated: "It's a mystery...They're very, very talented guys. There's been a lot of weird plays when they're pitching -- that one play that could end the inning and turn the game around. It seems like most every time it's been going the other way. The way I look at that is that the next 10-12 starts, things could start going their way and they could get on a real run, and that's exactly what we need."

Just break down that ridiculous statement.  I could see if this was Little League and the kids in the field just couldn't make a play because their still developing and they give up a few runs here and there, but this is a pro team.  This is where his "baseball analysis" falls short.  Don't call Beckett and Lester a "mystery", don't blame bad plays. Simply tell the media, "We're working to turn them around. I have confidence they will, they're pros." That's it.  There is no blame. Do you know how I know? Because the last time he blamed Kevin Youkilis, he got out of Beantown and started to actually play well with the White Sox. No one likes negative people.

(In photo: Kevin Youkilis #20)
Let's say it like it is, Lester and Beckett can't get over the hump for the chicken and beer scandal, they were publicly attacked and then Bobby shows up with a big mouth to over manage and blab about his team until they need to stick ear plugs in their ears just to get through the day.  Bobby Valentine in Boston is a disaster, he's no longer a manager, he's a guy whose time is up.  He's living in the past, he believes the hype surrounding him and he needs to go away.

Now comes word that Dustin Pedroia has a few choice words about the Red Sox after last night's loss:

“The first hundred games have been (expletive)... We’re two games under .500. We’re the Boston Red Sox. If anyone’s thrilled about where we’re at, they need to reevaluate because I don’t like losing. I know everyone else doesn’t like losing. We’ve got to play better, man.”

He  told that to the Boston Herald HERE. Look, I actually feel bad for Red Sox fans. I can't believe I'm even saying that but the reason is simple;  I understand passion for my team and I understand when things don't go well, you get annoyed. Red Sox fans and Yankee fans can relate to that.   It doesn't help that Valentine is there, he makes matters worse.  Bottom line? As a Yankee fan, I'm thrilled Beantown is crumbling, but I'm also pleased that finally, as predicted when Bobby showed up... people are opening their eyes ...Bobby divides ... he doesn't unite.

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