For those of you who have not let the 1986 World Series go, just remember, it was not entirely his fault. I'm not going to say any more than that and bring up bad memories because Buckner may be the next member of the Sox coaching staff. Buckner and Valentine have been friends for over 40 years and he seems to be near the top of Valentine's list.
“I’ve watched his kids grow up and I respect his every opinion, in baseball and in worldly matters,'' Valentine said at his introductory press conference last week in Boston.
“Whether or not Bill Buckner would be on the staff is a decision that Ben (Cherington, the Boston GM) will talk about or if anybody else is going to be on the staff, Ben and I will talk about it.
“It’s not about friendship, it’s not about who was here in the past, it’s about who can do the specific jobs that need to be done.''
Buckner just came off of his first season as manager of the Brockton Rox (independent league), where they made a playoff run as far as the semi-finals this past season. Buckner has a great baseball mind and may be a good fit in what looks to be a bench coach position.
