Report: Gonzo, Sox blast Bobby V to Owners

[SemperFi Sox]

According to a report from Yahoo! Sports' Jeff Passan, angered Red Sox players met with owner John Henry and team president and CEO Larry Lucchino on the team's July 27 off day to vent their frustrations with manager Bobby Valentine. The meeting was confirmed to have taken place by general manager Ben Cherington.

 

Passan, citing sources (Cherington did not divulge details of the meeting), writes that the meeting was called by Boston ownership after first baseman Adrian Gonzalez sent a text message on behalf of himself and "some teammates" that aired their " dissatisfaction with Valentine for embarrassing starting pitcher Jon Lester by leaving him in to allow 11 runs during a July 22 start." Passan adds that "it was the latest incident in a season's worth of bad relations bubbling between Red Sox players and Valentine."

 

Writes Passan:

 

"Gonzalez and Dustin Pedroia were among the most vocal in the meeting, in which some players stated flatly they no longer wanted to play for Valentine, the sources said. The tenor of the 2 p.m. meeting at The Palace hotel in New York turned ugly almost immediately, according to the sources, whom Yahoo! Sports granted anonymity because they were not authorized to speak about internal matters.

 

"Not all of the Red Sox players attended the meeting, the sources said, highlighting the chasm that exists not only between some players and Valentine but among players in the clubhouse. The perception that Valentine is being scapegoated unfairly to divert attention from mediocre performances by star players exists among some players, according to sources."

 

Cherington said the following in the story:

 

"The intent of the meeting was to provide a forum for people to express whatever frustration needed to be expressed at a time during the season when things were not going exactly the way we wanted to on the field in hopes that we could put whatever issues were there aside and focus on playing games the rest of the season. That was the intent of the meeting. That was the focus of ownership. It was a productive meeting.

 

"Since then, we have not gone on the run we were supposed to.

 

 

http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/this-just-in/21220641/report-pedroia-gonzo-blast-bobby-v-owners

 

 

Everything about this team makes me sick

[BigPapiEnFuego]

Unbelievable. They run Francona out of town and now trying to do the same with Valentine. The FO needs to put their foot down and tell these prima-donna punks to shut their damn mouths and play. This has gotten pathetic.

 

 

Between Gonzalez' whining about playing too many night games and travelling and double headers last year and this, I am losing a lot of respect for him. What a pussy.

[jacksonianmarch]

What I find damning is the fact that the GM confirmed the report and then effectively confirmed that there was dirty laundry aired. Holy s***, talk about dysfunctional. It would seem that Cherington was the guy who leaked the story to the press. This is absolutely amazing

[Emmz]

Hah, if anything it just shows that the team is united. You seriously think Pedroia's a prima-donna? You're one of those guys who got all bent out of shape over beer and chicken.

 

When you lose respect for your coach, it's impossible to play for them. How did they run Francona out? Last I checked he was fired along with Theo, and I never heard jack s*** of substance that said the players no longer wanted to play for him.

[jung]

Agons gave evidence of being a whiny little skank last year and has just confirmed it this year.

[Emmz]

Bobby V is a joke. I hope he's run out of town.

[Youk Of The Nation]

I find it heartening that the Sox are apparently unanimous in their dislike of Valentine. I certainly dislike the guy enough.

 

Whether or not you think they are 'whiny prima-donnas", the point remains that, like Emmz said, if no one respects the coach then that can poison the clubhouse and by extension, the play, much more than any supposed "cancerous" players. I had my issues with Francona, but I firmly believe this team would be doing much better were he still in charge. He may have been General Sedgwick rather than General Grant, but Petey, Gonzalez, and everyone else loved the guy and played their asses off for him. The collapse at the end of last season was a collapse all the same, but I never got the impression they were playing lifelessly like they seem to be now. I hate basing my opinion off of my own limited observation of events, but this report doesn't tell me that the players are at fault, it tells me that the manager is.

[jung]

Not sure why BC confirmed the meeting happened. Since he was asked to confirm he might have figured that the media already had the story. Trying to put a positive spin on it by claiming that it was a "positive" meeting just tells you how far off base BC is. You would have to think that all of upper management would have put their heads together though and made a decision about whether they would confirm or deny if word got out. Must have decided it made sense to confirm. Not sure I blame them though. If the media already had the story somebody else leaked it. If they denied at that point they would probably have just had to endure more confirmations from others leaving them looking even sillier.

[Emmz]

Not sure why BC confirmed the meeting happened. Since he was asked to confirm he might have figured that the media already had the story. Trying to put a positive spin on it by claiming that it was a "positive" meeting just tells you how far off base BC is. You would have to think that all of upper management would have put their heads together though and made a decision about whether they would confirm or deny if word got out. Must have decided it made sense to confirm. Not sure I blame them though. If the media already had the story somebody else leaked it. If they denied at that point they would probably have just had to endure more confirmations from others leaving them looking even sillier.

 

Yeah, you know what happened in this meeting better than someone who was actually there.

[ibot2much]

Where do you get " the team is united" and "Unanimous in their dislike of V".

 

The story says other wise.

[jung]

Oh I think V's fate was sealed long before this meeting making the players comments and request for an audience at this point meaningless. I do think that he will not be the only one shown the door. Unfortunately upper management has empowered certain players to pull this s***. That can't go on either.

[Emmz]

Where do you get " the team is united" and "Unanimous in their dislike of V".

 

The story says other wise.

 

lol, didn't read the story eh?

[Bellhorn04]

There's a whole bag of tricks in the story, because it says that some players boycotted the meeting. The impression is that there are multiple rifts, one between players and Valentine, one between players and players.

[jung]

There is no way for a meeting being conducted by upper management jumping over and past the chain of command in an effort to try to deal with an organization already awash in failure and controversy to be a "positive meeting". I did not have to be there to make that judgement. Just have to look at the things that have already been publicly acknowledged and the record of accomplishment of the 2012 team.

[Youk Of The Nation]

Where do you get " the team is united" and "Unanimous in their dislike of V".

 

The story says other wise.

 

 

Did we read the same story? The one where Dustin Pedroia, the default-Captain-without-the-title, and Gonzalez, the unofficial spokesman for the players, along with "some other players", made these statements? When I say unanimous, I pretty much mean unanimous among those whose opinions actually matter. I don't really care, and I doubt anyone else does either, what Nick Punto or Matt Albers think of Valentine or the FO. It's clear Valentine has the confidence of absolutely no one of importance on this team. Ortiz is the only one I don't know about, but for all his willingness to complain about contracts and the FO he has always been reluctant to publicly air negative opinions on fellow teammates or coaching staff.

[Emmz]

Either way, chemistry is overrated. If your guys are trying to win, it doesn't matter if they hate each other. Baseball players are just like us, but with bigger salaries, cars and talent. Anyone with a job knows that you rarely like everyone you work with, but if your manager is cool, you usually perform your job properly because you don't want to let them down.

[a700hitter]

Unbelievable. They run Francona out of town and now trying to do the same with Valentine. The FO needs to put their foot down and tell these prima-donna punks to shut their damn mouths and play. This has gotten pathetic.

 

 

Between Gonzalez' whining about playing too many night games and travelling and double headers last year and this, I am losing a lot of respect for him. What a pussy.

Maybe he thinks the losing is God's plan?

[Emmz]

There is no way for a meeting being conducted by upper management jumping over and past the chain of command in an effort to try to deal with an organization already awash in failure and controversy to be a "positive meeting". I did not have to be there to make that judgement. Just have to look at the things that have already been publicly acknowledged and the record of accomplishment of the 2012 team.

 

You are talking completely out of your backside, as is the case with 95% of your posts (psychoanalyzing people you don't know is hilarious, btw).

 

You're trying to connect the dots, but it just sounds kind of irrational to me.

[jung]

Ya' mean the way they didn't let Tito down last year? This team now has a record that is fast approaching epic for its lack of on field performance and off field lunacy. Tonight's game should be a absolute laugh fest. What is next? Protest signs in the dugout. "Put the wrap on V" has a nice ring to it.

[Orange Juiced]

Maybe he thinks the losing is God's plan?

 

Sure seems to be this year.

 

But yeah, as I have said before, this is the most unlikeable Red Sox team I can ever remember. Top to bottom, a total crapfest.

[jung]

All I have to do is the same thing we would do on the football field when somebody started yapping their mouth. Look at the scoreboard or in this case....look at the record.

[ibot2much]

Did we read the same story? The one where Dustin Pedroia' date=' the default-Captain-without-the-title, and Gonzalez, the unofficial spokesman for the players, along with "some other players", made these statements? When I say unanimous, I pretty much mean unanimous among those whose opinions actually matter. [/quote']

 

I read the story. I understood it. What I did not do was apply my own interpretation of what "unanimous" and "united" meant..

[Youk Of The Nation]

Either way' date=' chemistry is overrated. If your guys are trying to win, it doesn't matter if they hate each other. Baseball players are just like us, but with bigger salaries, cars and talent. Anyone with a job knows that you rarely like everyone you work with, but if your manager is cool, you usually perform your job properly because you don't want to let them down.[/quote']

 

Exactly. I was actually coming back in here to post something similar to this. My example, however, was going to be the 86 Mets. That was probably the most bizarre and dysfunctional bunch of *******s to all wear the same uniform. It borders on miraculous than none of them murdered each other, an opponent, or a prostitute during that season. And yet, they ended up winning the WS.

 

People forget that athletes are people doing a job. Yes, they get paid more, but why do we always seem to expect maturity and dignity from these guys? For one, nothing in learning to play baseball is inherently designed to make you mature and agreeable, and secondly, lots of money, fame, and attention makes almost anyone release their inner child at inopportune times. If the talent is there and they have a decent coaching staff to keep them somewhat happy and focused, any team should be able to win whether or not they like each other. Anyone who points to clubhouse cancers or whatever as the root of the Sox's problems is fooling themselves. The biggest problem the Sox have is a manager who commands no respect or attention from either his subordinates or his bosses. His bosses let a manager go that all of the player-leaders love, and then jumped ship themselves to Chicago. His new bosses don't listen to him. His subordinates hate him. It's obvious by looking at that kind of situation that the common denominator in both bad situations is Valentine.

[Emmz]

Ya' mean the way they didn't let Tito down last year? This team now has a record that is fast approaching epic for its lack of on field performance and off field lunacy. Tonight's game should be a absolute laugh fest. What is next? Protest signs in the dugout. "Put the wrap on V" has a nice ring to it.

 

They let Tito down because of poor performance. The press painted a picture of something that wasn't even there, and you bought into it. Man, those teams in 04 and 07 REALLY let Tito down man!

 

They had to put up with Manny's ******** back then as well.

[Youk Of The Nation]

I read the story. I understood it. What I did not do was apply my own interpretation of what "unanimous" and "united" meant..

 

So you don't think that caring about the journeymen's and scrub's opinions on the management/FO is a waste of time?

[Youk Of The Nation]

Ya' mean the way they didn't let Tito down last year? This team now has a record that is fast approaching epic for its lack of on field performance and off field lunacy. Tonight's game should be a absolute laugh fest. What is next? Protest signs in the dugout. "Put the wrap on V" has a nice ring to it.

 

Say what you will about last season, but I watched all the games then and watched all of them now. It's not quantifiable, I know, but they didn't look nearly as disinterested in September 2011 as they do now. Then, they looked like they were getting pissed off more and more every time they made mistakes or lost. Now, they just look like "eh, whatever".

[jung]

The difference is whether they play together or not....the successful teams of the past with known issues between the players or between players and management played together....played for each other......this "team" has not shown any evidence of being able to play together or for each other across two managers and two seasons....two managers as different as they could be I might add.

 

Reggie Jackson and Billy Martin hated each other but that team played together. Nobody on this Red Sox team knows how to lead or how to follow.

[Emmz]

All I have to do is the same thing we would do on the football field when somebody started yapping their mouth. Look at the scoreboard or in this case....look at the record.

 

So you apply your own random logic because of losing? Sounds.... Even more irrational. No wonder your handle is "jung".

[jung]

They are playing now exactly as they played in September of last year....just happened earlier this year. In fact people other than myself have been saying that for weeks now.

[Youk Of The Nation]

Pedroia never bitched or complained at the end of last season. He followed fine from the minute he joined the big leagues right up until Valentine was hired, then he became obstinate. That tells me it is Valentine, not Pedroia.