Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here... highlighting the big storyline. Because there's nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.
This morning, Valentine initially spoke innocuously about the return of Youkilis until he was asked about their relationship and any “friction” that may have existed.
”I think that’s a joke,” Valentine said. “I wasn’t here last year. There was no friction in spring training. So I think that’s a joke. But I’ll take all that. I think the comment that I made early, he made a big issue out of and I don’t think he ever wanted to get over it.”
Valentine was asked how his relationship was with Youkilis after the Channel 7 comment.
”I have no idea,” he said. “It’s whatever he wanted it to be. Like I said, we didn’t have any strained relationship in spring training and I wasn’t around last year.”
By invoking last season, Valentine is apparently referring to the notion that some players on the team believe Youkilis was the source of the story regarding drinking in the clubhouse during games.
”Yeah, I was aware of that,” Valentine said. “I was a newcomer. I inherited that situation, didn’t cause it.”
Globe: Youk never got over April remark
Well then.
This has (sadly) become a rare sighting in Boston but Bobby Valentine is giving a strong opinion about how he feels about a player. And this time he didn't go too far!
It's not in the usual tradition of smearing a player but instead it was some good old fashioned honesty. It just re-assured that they didn't see things eye-to-eye. Youkilis never wanted Bobby Valentine or anyone else taking Terry Francona's job. He was really close to Francona and even said thank you to him in his letter to Red Sox nation. Bobby V's April comments just gave Youk something else to get mad at.
Bobby will look like the bad guy in this situation regardless of the recent comments but at least he's doing the one thing everyone thought he would do.Youkilis is on the opposing team so no need to defend him anymore. He was a beloved figure but trading him was the right thing to do and it's looking even better now that Middlebrooks is getting back on a hot streak. Once the White Sox leave, we don't have to hear about it about it again for the rest of the year....
Unless they face each other in the playoffs. Then just avoid all sports media altogether.
Rest of the Links: Globe: Middlebrooks was right choice | Youk never got over April remark | Youk sends letter to Red Sox nation | Herald: Firing up Youk | Sox on right road | Beckett fights off flu | Crawford ready to go for tonight | CSNNE: Remember this? | Beckett settles down after shaky first | Youk anticipates an emotional return | WEEI: How can Sox be fixed? | Why Cody Ross wants to stay & why the Sox might want to keep him|
