Bobby Valentine agrees ro deal to become Red Sox Manager

[Elktonnick]

Well' date=' you should come to Latin America and figure out all the drama about this sport my friend. This is light compared with the environment around soccer in countries like Mexico, Argentina or Brazil. Some players even have death-threats due to their horrible performance. I don't go to the stadiums anymore, it is very dangerous. A lot of People have died out there, mostly if you are an opposite team fan. It's not cool anymore. A lot fanatism.[/quote']

 

amen to that. The single scariest moment in my life was watching the Copa de America final in the upper deck of the "Bombanera" in Buenos Aires Fortuneately we don't have hinchas like the "Barra Brava" here.

[iortiz]

amen to that. The single scariest moment in my life was watching the Copa de America final in the upper deck of the "Bombanera" in Buenos Aires Fortuneately we don't have hinchas like the "Barra Brava" here.

 

Yeah... That's exactly what I'm talking about. The fanatism goes beyond the game these days in soccer in our countries.

[Elktonnick]

Yeah... That's exactly what I'm talking about. The fanatism goes beyond the game these days in soccer in our countries.

 

I have seen a couple of Mexican league baseball games on tv but never in person. How are they drawing at the gate these days

[iortiz]

I have seen a couple of Mexican league baseball games on tv but never in person. How are they drawing at the gate these days

 

Well, in Mexico the passion for baseball is definetely a lot different than soccer. In baseball games, You can go with your family and buddies and have a great time. Some states like Sinaloa, Sonora, Tabasco, Oaxaca, Baja Califorina, among others, the passion for baseball is awesome and the stadiums are often full of fans. I have never been in a MLB statdium, but here is not that fancy, here is more likely old school eviorement. Drinking rum, smoking cigars, while filling the baseball cards and hearing the organ and the sounds of the game, and mostly having great conversations about the game with your buddies and the people that surrounds you; the people at baseball parks are very friendly, if you ask me. A lot of old school guys in the parks. I like the eviorement. Haven't changed that much since I started to go (20 years).

[Elktonnick]

Well' date=' in Mexico the passion for baseball is definetely a lot different than soccer. In baseball games, You can go with your family and buddies and have a great time. Some states like Sinaloa, Sonora, Tabasco, Oaxaca, Baja Califorina, among others, the passion for baseball is awesome and the stadiums are often full of fans. I have never been in a MLB statdium, but here is not that fancy, here is more likely old school eviorement. Drinking rum, smoking cigars, while filling the baseball cards and hearing the organ and the sounds of the game, and mostly having great conversations about the game with your buddies and the people that surrounds you; the people at baseball parks are very friendly, if you ask me. A lot of old school guys in the parks. I like the eviorement. Haven't changed that much since I started to go (20 years).[/quote']

 

Sounds great.

[SoxSport]

I do think that both LL and V appear to be strong willed' date=' opinionated, used to getting their way. At the end of the day, they may both end up happy that BC occupies a spot effectively between the two of them. Not sure how happy BC is going to be about that.[/quote']

 

V and LL are two likes--more or less. The opposites of reserved, understated Ben C.

Personality conflict, but not necessarily fatal. Diversification could be beneficial with a FO full of Epstein clones. Maybe LL/Henry had that in mind to cure the dysfunction in the organization.

 

My impression is Epstein pretty much got his way for too long, and that has changed.

[jung]

I do wonder to what extent V or any other manager can "muscle up" on a player and bend him as opposed to manipulating him to get the most out of him. Pro sports has changed alot' in the last few years. Most of the change has occurred during the period V has been on the sidelines.

 

It has gotten to the point now where even NHL coaches have had to change. The NHL is a league in a sport where you spend eighty-two games with your head on a swivel, where there are no soft surfaces like the cushy grass of Fenway and where not manning up will likely get you called out publicly and identified as a pussy. Political correctness has not even caught on yet in the NHL. Even there, players now have to be to an extent "coddled". If not the coach losses them and before long it is the coach that is gone...that is after a bushel barrel of losses. I simply no longer think you can say things like "well he will certainly straighten that bunch of lunkheads out".

 

There is just to much money at stack in pro sports now. Coaches would do well to take a trip to Hollywood and get some idea of what directors go through trying to get their stars to not walk off the set over an inflamed and painful hangnail. Pro sports are entertainment in every sense now.

 

If I had to guess, I would agree with those that have commented here that for a short time anyway, a V might be the right medicine, I would also suggest that V is more like radiation therapy and less like vitamins. If you have a problem he could be the cure. No question we have a problem here.

[Wil Corderos Wife]

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb162/pknight212/bobby.jpg

 

 

Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeere's Bobby!

[jung]

I have been seeing reports that the contract for V is two years with a team option year for a third. Probably as far as the Sox were willing to go and the minimum V would be willing to accept. Probably about right.

[FredLynn]

I have been seeing reports that the contract for V is two years with a team option year for a third. Probably as far as the Sox were willing to go and the minimum V would be willing to accept. Probably about right.

 

IMO thats exactly the right length of time..just perfect. I never claimed that Bobby V is a long term solution for us. He is much too abrasive for that, unless he has mellowed out significantly over the years he has spent out of managing. In three years (or two) his job as sheriff will have been completed, the clubhouse mentality will have done an about face, and we will be ready for a more lenient manager (not nearly as gelatinous as Francona) to lead us to a championship.

Kudos to the FO! They get an "A-" so far this offseason in my book. Only Cherington was dubious.

[boy racer]

We'll see what happens.

[jung]

Two years puts the onus on both the players and the manager witch is the only way anything works these days. It may well be short enough for V to recognize that it will be very easy for the players to crash and burn his regime if he is just off the wall. The Sox could easily can V in one year if they don't like what is happening.

 

On the other hand, two years is long enough so that if V and the players get off on the right foot, they could together erode away at the stench that was left in that clubhouse after this season. While you can change the way things are from day 1 it generally takes longer than that to take the stain away to the point where the clubhouse is not the lounge anymore but is instead the workplace.

 

It seems to me, that the team began to treat that clubhouse like an old comfy couch that they could sink into and that was hard to get up out of once you had your butt well planted there. That clubhouse needs to be a good solid straight back wooden chair but it does not need to leave you with slivers every time.

[jopete19]

Anyone see this during the interview?

[Billy Mueller]

Bobby on MLB network now

[Gringo]

Well' date=' you should come to Latin America and figure out all the drama about this sport my friend. This is light compared with the environment around soccer in countries like Mexico, Argentina or Brazil. Some players even have death-threats due to their horrible performance. I don't go to the stadiums anymore, it is very dangerous. A lot of People have died out there, mostly if you are an opposite team fan. It's not cool anymore. A lot fanatism.[/quote']

 

Hehe, these guys put us to shame. The best we can do is Sweet Caroline!

 

[VA Sox Fan]

I was honestly impressed by the press conference. Feel better than I did 2 hours ago.

[iortiz]

Hehe, these guys put us to shame. The best we can do is Sweet Caroline!

 

 

Pretty impressive ... the fans in Latin America are quite the same....

[User Name]

Valentine notes:

 

The Red Sox and manager Bobby Valentine agreed on a two-year deal, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (on Twitter). The Red Sox hold team options on Valentine for 2014 and 2015, tweets WEEI.com's Alex Speier.

 

Valentine reached out to David Cone about becoming the new Red Sox pitching coach, reports Jack Curry of the YES Network (Twitter link). Cone isn't expected to take the job but was "flattered."

[a700hitter]

Bobby V said that he was going to wear Tony C's number 25. He said that he was Tony C's last room mate when Tony C. was attempting a comeback with the Padres. I remember his short-lived comeback with the 1975 Sox and that he retired when they wanted to send him to the minors. I don't remember his affiliation with the Padres.

[VA Sox Fan]

Bobby V said that he was going to wear Tony C's number 25. He said that he was Tony C's last room mate when Tony C. was attempting a comeback with the Padres. I remember his short-lived comeback with the 1975 Sox and that he retired when they wanted to send him to the minors. I don't remember his affiliation with the Padres.

 

And he and Bill Buckner were room mates in college. Just learned that tonight. But I'm sure you already knew that...

[jung]

I was trying to see what jersey that was that he had. I think it was a 5 but I guess it could have been a 25.

[a700hitter]

And he and Bill Buckner were room mates in college. Just learned that tonight. But I'm sure you already knew that...

I didn't know that he played in college with Buckner. I did know that they played together for the Dodgers in their early careers. I think Buckner and Bobby V might have been on the same Topps Rookie card.

[a700hitter]

I didn't know that he played in college with Buckner. I did know that they played together for the Dodgers in their early careers. I think Buckner and Bobby V might have been on the same Topps Rookie card.

^ Just checked. They were on different rookie cards.

[jung]

What a shame. That would have been a neat rook card to have especially if V invites Buck.

[jete02fan]

Morning all...interesting presser with Valentine, got let off the hook a bit on the Beckett, Crawford thing, showed support for Francona...i think he'll do well in Boston... granted the day was about Valentine,would have liked the assembly to ask Cherington a few broader questions, seems like a bright guy..

[a700hitter]

What a shame. That would have been a neat rook card to have especially if V invites Buck.

My favorite rookie card is the Nolan Ryan/Jerry Koosman Rookie card.

[Billy Mueller]

Ya know another thought, that I guess is an obvious one and one that may have already been discussed, is the Dice-K factor. Bobby was very critical on ESPN of how we used him in the past saying we "Americanized" him too much. Bobby obviously knows the game over there and how to deal with the players. I see Dice-K being a legit starter within the next couple years.

[Emmz]

I don't know how you could expect much from Dice K, that sounds more like wishful thinking than foreseeing to me.

[jung]

My favorite rookie card is the Nolan Ryan/Jerry Koosman Rookie card.

 

I am almost positive I still have this card. I have not looked at them in 25 years but just have kept carting them from one house to the next but I can even remember what this card looks like.

[jung]

dice as a legit starter might not be hard to envision. Heck he was a legit starter for time here already. The problem has always been that combined with the posting fee they paid ace money for him and he never turned out to be an ace. No telling what kind of arm he will have on the other side of surgery and that actually becomes more of an issue than the name of his manager.