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.
It’s too late to empower Bobby Valentine. It’s too late to make his players like him. It’s too late to give him his own coaching staff. But it’s not too late to correct the biggest mistake of the offseason.
Valentine may very well still be a good manager in a vacuum, but he’s the wrong manager for this team, and he has been since Day 1. The Red Sox [team stats]never had any intention of letting him be himself, because the very concept runs counter to their organizational philosophies of consensus-building, dispassionate analysis and keep-it-in-house discipline.
And if you’re not going to let Bobby Valentine be Bobby Valentine — with all the fieriness and emotion that entails — then why is he still managing this team?
Herald:Bobby Valentine never fit here, should go now
This is probably article #1,649 that has been written by the Boston media about how Bobby Valentine isn't good fit and how he needs to go. In this one, Tomase suggests that by letting him go that the Sox would go on a tear.
This guy just can't win in this city. He hasn't been the problem, the players never respected him ever since the Youkilis incident and the front office won't back a single move he does to fix the clubhouse.
The last time that any Boston team had an outspoken coach like Valentine it was when the Patriots had Bill Parcells. He eventually called out the almighty Bob Kraft when Bill wasn't getting his way which lead to once of his famous quotes, "If they want you to cook the dinner; at least they ought to let you shop for some of the groceries." Well Valentine was expected to make a gourmet meal using plasticware and an Easy Bake Oven. It's like a twisted version of "Chopped".
The sad part about all of this is... he's been doing a good job. With all due respect to Dale Sveum, there's no way he would've been able to get as much as Bobby has out of this bullpen which is getting exposed more and more as the season goes along. Nor do I think he would've been able to get the most out of the leadoff spot when Jacoby Ellsbury was on the DL. Bobby gave Pedro Ciriaco a chance and he's been one of the biggest joys of this depressing season. Franklin Morales would still be used in the bullpen instead of getting a chance to start. I don't think the front office or Carmine would've thought of those ideas.
Maybe if the front office listened to Bobby about Daniel Bard, he mught have been useful this season. Yet everyone complains about Valentine like he's the problem. This team needed to clean house with whatever ills that clubhouse yet they refused to because the patterns in the stats thought last season was nothing more than an analomy. They continue to hold on to this thought that this team can make it to the playoffs as-is. They're as delusional as those that think Bobby Valentine is the problem with this team.
Just take a step back and look what he's actually done. He's trying to turn chicken shit into chicken salad but no matter what he does, it still tastes like shit. Does that mean he deserves to get "Chopped?"
Globe: Salvage yard | Birthday bashing by Crawford | Gonzalez strikes a blow | Herald: Morales cleans up | Gonzalez understands the deal | CSNNE: That's more like it | Morales is a spot starting star | Gonzalez: "I don't want to go anywhere" | WEEI: Of real importance | Ortiz may seek alternative treatment | Ortiz injury may be the straw that broke the Red Sox back
