Bob Lobel: Why I Can’t See Bobby Valentine Lasting Another Year in Boston
Wednesday, August 01, 2012
Bob Lobel, GoLocalWorcester Sports Contributor
It seems that's the environment best suited for current Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine. There is no other way to explain this strange season that has descended like a pox upon the Sox.
There has been a rising tide against Valentine from outside the organization from the fans to the media, and you know they feed off each other. Clearly, the guys in the front office are beginning to feel the same way.
The problem with that is they are paid not to panic, but to fix. Same old dysfunctional management and ownership. The only difference between this version of Boston's absentee ownership is their unwillingness to spend their way out of trouble. In the recent past, that was the business plan.
"Got a problem? Let's spend some money for John Lackey and Carl Crawford!"
Even if that meant the Sox had to part ways with promising younger players. The luxury tax has apparently made ownership less willing to go for their "big spending=big fix" model, so where does Valentine fit into this new mess?
Most would say it isn't his fault because impostors wearing Josh Beckett and John Lester's uniforms showed up to pitch this year, but more holes keep opening up in this leaky boat of a team. Tito's impromptu meeting in the clubhouse with several players totally disrespected Valentine's turf. Sure, Francona later
How long will Bobby V. last in Boston?
Another question is why does Bobby V. seem so detached? What is behind the hat, gum and smirk he seems to always be wearing? He is almost a cartoon character. No, he is a cartoon character.
Ironically, it has been the younger players, who collect smaller checks, I might add, that have kept the Sox alive in the Wild Card race. I believe Bobby will certainly finish out this year, but seeing him serve until the end of his two-year contract is nearly impossible to imagine at this point.
Another thing that was unfortunate for Valentine was Boston's inability to trade Josh Beckett at yesterday's trade deadline. They almost couldn't give him away. Not only because of his shaky mound appearances, but also his sketchy persona.
Most potential employers don't like the way Beckett conducts his business, plus he has veto power over where he goes. With over $30 million left on the final two years of his deal, the Sox are stuck with him, for better or worse.
By the way, in an unrelated topic, you need to know that people involved in the Freeh Report have said it was never done to aid or influence the NCAA in any way. This leads to the obvious conclusion, as I have maintained in very strong terms, that the NCAA was way out of its league and purview in doing what it did to Penn State.
When the facts are all in an the trials are done, that would be the time for the NCAA to act. But, they were driven by popular opinion instead of any facts, because they failed to launch their own investigation. Time will tell if they come to regret it.
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