Most everywhere you look the media is in support of Bobby Valentine. Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington said he was “very satisfied” with Valentine’s job performance. The endorsement came after a postgame meeting in Valentine’s office, which included primary owner John Henry and team president Larry Lucchino.
A day later, Valentine did not cut himself much slack. Still others have said, the blame shouldn’t lie with Valentine. My question is why not?
This past week began with Valentine’s ill-timed remark questioning the commitment of one of the team’s most respected stars, Kevin Youkilis, which prompted another star, Dustin Pedroia, to call out the manager for not keeping his thoughts in-house.
Valentine arrived in Boston with much fanfare and with much anticipation. He was going to be the guy who righted the ship. No more fried chicken and beer in the clubhouse , not on his watch ! So now things aren’t quite so rosey in bean-town.
“I think we’ve hit bottom,” Valentine said. “I told [the team] after the game, ‘You have to sometimes hit bottom.’ If this isn’t bottom, we’ll find some new ends to the earth, I guess. That may have worked with a younger club , but somehow I don’t see that flying by the veteran Red Sox players .
If the Red Sox were 10-4 right now , and not 4-10 , the “big” sports networks would be singing his praises. So with that being said, taking a little heat for being 4-10 seems about right.
The Red Sox will win again. They are too talented a team to continue to flounder the way the have, but lets give honor to whom honor is due , and criticism in the same manner.
