Bobby Valentine was named manager of the Boston Red Sox. Red Sox ownership was not too pleased with the first round of candidates such as Torey Lovullo, Gene Lamont and Pete Mackanin. Works out good for Valentine, who all he had to do was show up to get offered the job. If he decided he didn't want the job, it would have gone to Lamont, who was clearly not the optimal choice. And all it was a matter of time when Valentine wanted to manage again. All the "experts" had him as a candidate for the Cubs and Cardinals jobs that came up this offseason. (Personally I think its Bobby is one who a writer can put up for any vacancy without having to do the work to confirm it. More easy work for the so called "insiders.") Though he probably could have had any job he wanted over the last couple of years, (Marlins or Mets last year, Cubs, Mariners, Orioles of past seasons) outside of the Marlins job and maybe the Orioles was he even contacted? No but it makes a good story or a tweet.
Obviously, Bobby V. waited for the "right" job to come along. He felt he was entitled to pick the next place he wanted to manage. And I also think with that, he wanted to walk himself into a place where he could win as soon as possible. Which is why the Red Sox job works for him and others didn't. Remember when Karl Malone played for the Lakers and Shaq tried to join the Cavaliers and Celtics just to win a championship. Thats all Valentine is doing. He wants to win a World Series with the pieces already assembled. Yes the Red Sox have some work to do, but the foundation is there for this team to not only get into the playoffs again, but to the World Series which is the way Valentine would prefer it. Kind of makes you admire a Buck Showalter a little more because he wants to turn a struggling organization around and while he has on a couple of occasions, he was never around to reap the benefits.
All you Mets fans that think Bobby V. is a god seem to forget how he too, was the ridicule of the town before those two consecutive playoff appearances and a pennant in 2000. While the Mets were struggling in September of 1999, calls for Valentine to be out as Mets manager were all over the place. They said Valentine was not a "winning manager" and could not get any team, let alone the Mets, to the postseason. Of course, this was before the one game playoff in 1999, which if the Mets lost, could have been his last game as Mets manager.
Valentine is running out of time, as well as desire to be a major league manager. This will be his last attempt. I say he gives this two years, and if the Red Sox aren't on the verge of winning a World Series in year three, he will retire and never manage again.
Obviously, Bobby V. waited for the "right" job to come along. He felt he was entitled to pick the next place he wanted to manage. And I also think with that, he wanted to walk himself into a place where he could win as soon as possible. Which is why the Red Sox job works for him and others didn't. Remember when Karl Malone played for the Lakers and Shaq tried to join the Cavaliers and Celtics just to win a championship. Thats all Valentine is doing. He wants to win a World Series with the pieces already assembled. Yes the Red Sox have some work to do, but the foundation is there for this team to not only get into the playoffs again, but to the World Series which is the way Valentine would prefer it. Kind of makes you admire a Buck Showalter a little more because he wants to turn a struggling organization around and while he has on a couple of occasions, he was never around to reap the benefits.
All you Mets fans that think Bobby V. is a god seem to forget how he too, was the ridicule of the town before those two consecutive playoff appearances and a pennant in 2000. While the Mets were struggling in September of 1999, calls for Valentine to be out as Mets manager were all over the place. They said Valentine was not a "winning manager" and could not get any team, let alone the Mets, to the postseason. Of course, this was before the one game playoff in 1999, which if the Mets lost, could have been his last game as Mets manager.
Valentine is running out of time, as well as desire to be a major league manager. This will be his last attempt. I say he gives this two years, and if the Red Sox aren't on the verge of winning a World Series in year three, he will retire and never manage again.
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