Ted's Army: The Voice of Red Sox fans

Bobby V is out of his mind

As many of you know, Bobby Valentine is the new athletic director at Sacred Heart University (smooth move Sacred Heart). During his introduction, Valentine made a statement that consisted of some absolute nonsense.

WEEI

“I thought I did a hell of a job in Boston,” Valentine said. “I thought what had to be done there was done except for winning a pennant. But Connie Mack wasn’t going to win with that team.”

Added Valentine: “It’s six months of a 62-year life. It’s six months of a 42-year career in baseball. It’s a blip, a little spot on the radar, as far as I’m concerned.”

In an interview with the Connecticut Post on Monday, Valentine insisted he’s not taking the job for the publicity.

“Why would I need the publicity?” he said. “I wouldn’t understand the question and I wouldn’t dignify it with an answer.”

Valentine also chatted with Boston Herald columnist Steve Buckley on Monday, telling Buckley that he had no interest in rebutting some of the critical remarks made about him at Red Sox spring training.

“I don’t want to comment on stupid things that stupid people say,” Valentine said. “I’m not going to comment on any of that.”

WHAT? Bobby, you are out of your (insert custom expletive) mind! Somehow, he made an absolutely screwed up situation beyond worse.The team had talent and potential that didn't click. It never would have clicked under his management.

If we saw things the way Bobby does, The Royals have been doing a hell of a job, they just haven't won any pennants. 

Valentine ended it nicely, referring to members of the Red Sox as stupid people saying stupid things. Nice job keeping this shit show going.

Ortiz takes some shots at Bobby V

I am sick of going back and talking about anything regarding the very short-lived Bobby V era in Boston. When players take shots at him at this slow news time of year, subtle or not, it may be worthy of noting. This time David Ortiz came up with a little analogy to describe what we already knew.

WEEI:

“You know, a lot of players have a lot of issues with our manager last year. We have a new manager, a guy who is familiar with the organization, a guy who we pretty much grew up around. That’s John [Farrell],” said Ortiz. “An organization, a team is like the human body. If the head is right, the body is going to function right. If the head is messed up, then the body is going to be all over the place. It seemed like that was part of our situation last year. Guys weren’t comfortable with the manager that we had. Guys were struggling. Even situations that, as a player, you need to handle better, sometimes you get confused and you get caught in a situation where you don’t know how you’re going to react to things.

“The first thing that our organization did was to go out there and try to fix that. I’m pretty sure that everybody is looking at that as a positive move. Now, it’s like a fresh start. I’m pretty sure a lot of guys are comfortable with what they’re going to be seeing. We’re going back to the basics with a manager like John.”

[...]

“Last year in spring training, just to give an example, when we were doing the workouts, I started seeing things that I had never seen in baseball, since I’ve been playing baseball,” said Ortiz. “I’ve been watching baseball and playing baseball for a long time. So I had question marks for those things that I saw last year. Those question marks went into the season, and you guys saw the disaster that happened to us last year. Now you’re going back to seeing the things that you are used to. Baseball is a game that is a little complicated. When you start to add things to that, me personally, I don’t think things get any better. It just gets worse. Hopefully that’s not the case now.

Nothing we all didn't already know. It wasn't one of those quotes that people will talk about. It did come out of the mouth of a member of that 2012 team, who did express some disingenuous support for Valentine during the season.

Your Morning Dump...where it's semi-officially baseball season

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.

With apologies to hockey and basketball, football is behind us, which means we can really focus on baseball season. The local sports media focuses it's coverage about 90% on the Patriots during football season, so knocking that down to whatever-it-is-in-the-offseason allows us a bit more insight into what's happening on the diamond.

Gordon Edes has well timed his "5 Questions" serious, kicking it off today with a question about John Farrell's impact, and he brings up an interesting point:

There may be an element of truth in what Valentine said, that any manager replacing the popular Terry Francona would have encountered resistance from a team still reeling from its collapse the previous September and bombarded by stories questioning its character and commitment, leaving it wary and defensive. But if Valentine had to deal with a perfect storm of dissolution, the circumstances awaiting Farrell may be ideal for a team united in a desire to erase bitter memories. 

Farrell won’t have the trust issues that plagued Valentine, not with his coaches, players or front office. He understands the territory, having been a pitching coach here for four seasons, so he knows how to navigate the minefields into which Valentine often willingly lurched. The fan base appears supportive, although there may be a wait-and-see aspect to how quickly the fans embrace Farrell as a curative. 

It's an interesting thought -- and probably pretty accurate. It's very difficult to imagine this year going worst than last. And 2012 had Bobby V's imprint on it so strongly that I have to think Farrell will be given plenty of leeway with how 2013 unfolds.

I like Farrell, and I think he'll do well here. The biggest issue with Bobby V wasn't in-game strategy or preparation, it was communication. He didn't communicate well with his coaches, who hated him, his players, who mocked him, and the front office, with whom he had several known disagreements, and probably many more behind the scenes. Farrell and Ben Cherington appear -- at least at the outset -- more on the same page about what it takes to win. Now we'll see how long it takes the club to get there.

Herald | Gauging the 2013 Red Sox and fan expectations | Points of interest in Florida 

Image: Sullivan Tire

Your Morning Dump...where Sox fans can still get their Bobby V fix

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.

According to SI.com, former Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine has been hired to be a member of the NBC Sports Radio lineup as a Major League Baseball contributor.

The report states that Valentine will call in weekly to NBC Sports affiliated stations over the next two months before co-hosting his own daily sports talk show starting in April.

"I think in my years here on earth, I have let people know I have an opinion about pretty much everything," Valentine told SI.com. "I think I will remain true to that."

WEEI | Bobby Valentine to host own radio show

There was plenty of bad fallout associated with the hiring of Bobby Valentine. One was the poor performance. Another was the resentment it engendered among players.

Luckily those were remedied by a quick firing and a short bike ride away from Fenway. 

But the worst piece of fallout for fans is that Bobby V is now on our radar for the forseeable future. He's now a guy who we'll always hear about -- every time he gets hired to a new gig, every time he comments on anything Red Sox related, essentially any time Bobby V is in the news, we're going to hear about it.

And the problem with that is Bobby V likes to be in the news, and the media likes him because he always gives a good quote.

So get used to hearing more from Bobby V. There will surely be a time or twelve when he says something inflammatory about the Sox, or alludes to something, or criticizes a former player, or misrepresents his time here, and it's going to turn into a big thing.

Ugh.

Herald | What lies ahead for Red Sox -- plus links | WEEI | Bogaerts among 11 in Sox rookie program

Your Morning Dump...where the last thing we need is a war of words with Bobby V

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.

Ousted skipper Bobby Valentine created a stir Tuesday with comments to interviewer Bob Costas in which he criticized the team -- most notably David Ortiz -- and the media. Olney said that shouldn't be a surprise.

"No, and I think it will continue," Olney said. "It's clear that Bobby was not happy with how it ended. He qualifies everything by saying, 'It's my fault, I should have done a better job.' But then he'll also in the same breath not hesitate to take shots at different people. 

"The thing I'm going to be curious about is whether or not David Ortiz and others fire back. Or if they say, 'You know what, we know that if you get into this with Bobby, he's always going to be the one who gets the last word in.' David Ortiz, I thought the entire year, really he could have done incredible damage to Bobby -- and clearly he disagreed with him on some issues; he was in the middle of the thing with Mike Aviles in spring training -- and he held back. I'm really very fascinated to see whether or not he and others decide to go back at Bobby, or if they say, 'You know what, he's not the manager anymore, no point in continuing this."

WEEI: Ortiz held back

No. Please for the love of God, don't get into a war of words with Bobby Valentine. Just let it go. Now is not the time for this. Once the gag order has passed and Bobby V comes out with his tell all book, THEN you can go after him. 

The whole interview shouldn't have surprised anyone. It was right in Bobby's wheelhouse and with Bob Costas lobbing the easy questions his way, it was nothing worth being riled up about. He said some things that were low blows like Ortiz quitting but one thing still rings true: that the clubhouse still feels entitled. The Sox are still in the process of getting those guys out of the clubhouse and hopefully it's different with Farrell here but that remains to be seen.

David Ortiz is about to finalize the two year deal that he has coveted for the past couple of years. The Sox know you didn't give up, and they still think you can be the big bat in the lineup that you have been for the past decade. So be the bigger Papi man and just laugh it off. 

Rest of the Links: Globe: Getting Farrell just the start 20 questions Costas should've asked Valentine | Herald: Another epic fail for Bobby V | Farrell set to pitch in | CSNNE: Cherington on Japanese pitching phenom Otani | Bobby V sounds off | WEEI: Into the unknown

Your Morning Dump...where Bobby V upstages Farrell

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.

Former Boston Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine on Tuesday said slugger David Ortizsidelined himself after a brief return from an Achilles injury -- not because of soreness but because the team made a blockbuster deal that sealed their playoff fate.

"He realized that this trade meant that we're not going to run this race and we're not even going to finish the race properly and he decided not to play anymore," Valentine said in an interview airing Tuesday night on "Costas Tonight" on NBC Sports Network. "I think at that time it was all downhill from there."

"It's unfortunate that Bobby would be putting blame on David for the way this season has ended," said Fernando Cuza, Ortiz's agent. "Nothing could be further from the truth. David was having his best season since 2007 and has been one of the most durable players in the game. Based on the advice of the team doctor and his own doctor, resting and therapy was recommended for a complete recovery from this injury.

"David loves to play this game and has never quit on any one, and most important of all on this team that means so much to him. He has been a leader on this on the team and is disappointed in Bobby's remarks."

ESPNBoston | Bobby V critical of David Ortiz

It's fitting with this franchise that on a day where we should be focused fully on moving forward, Bobby V had to come out and stir up some drama.

I would not be at all surprised if Valentine is somewhat telling the truth...but I don't see the problem with it. The Sox were dead in the water. What's the point of Ortiz coming back and risking anything for that last five weeks? So we could finish the year with 71 wins instead of 69? I doubt Ortiz refused to play, but I'm pretty sure members of the organization got together and decided this.

And the organization made the right decision in having him sit. Of course, Bobby objects to the organization being involved at all (the Herald account of this notes that Valentine complained that Ben Cherington or one of his flunkies were constantly bothering Bobby about managerial concerns).

Bobby V was a disaster from beginning to end. Hopefully things will go better with Farrell. They can't go worse.

ESPNBoston | Red Sox looking for quick turnaround | Red Sox introduce John Farrell | Bobby: Middlebrooks crack didn't happen | John Farrell: Pitching a priority | Schilling: 'John Farrell has a presence' | David Ortiz close to new deal | Source: Sox to hire Lovullo as bench coach | Kennedy: Henry not looking to sell | Carlton Fisk charged with DUI | CSNNE | Farrell ready to learn from mistakes he made in Toronto | Valentine speaks on season managing Sox | Cherington denies Farrell tampering claims | Herald | Bobby Valentine: David Ortiz bailed after trade | Have faith about leap | Sox talking with David Ortiz about new deal | John Farrell knows score | John Farrell quick to credit first big league manager | Globe | John Farrell has big plans for Red Sox | Farrell brings sigh of relief to Red Sox | When pressed, John Farrell has answers | John Farrell reconnects with Red Sox and assistant GM Mike Hazen

Your Morning Dump... Where the Valentine chapter is closed

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.

Eleven months after rejecting Dale Sveum over lunch, the Red Sox [team stats] fired Bobby Valentine at breakfast.

The morning after the Red Sox completed their worst season in 47 years, Valentine met for nearly two hours with ownership and general manager Ben Cherington at team president Larry Lucchino’s house in Brookline. It was there the beleaguered manager was informed, to no one’s surprise, that he would be dismissed after only 308 days and with approximately $2.5 million remaining on his two-year contract.

And thus, the ignominious Bobby V era is over.

“As we got to the end of the year and looked toward 2013,” Cherington said later at Fenway Park [map], “we just felt like a fresh start in the manager’s office was needed to really be able to move forward and hit the reset button and start to build a culture that will hopefully make us a more competitive team, a winning team, over time.”

Herald - Change of Sox needed

I'm thrilled the Red Sox let Bobby go as quickly as they did.  Yes, because there's no reason to drag out the inevitable.  But also because I think we've all already said everything there was to say about the Valentine era.  Like everything else surrounding this year, the Valentine storyline has grown tiresome.

It wasn't all bad -- there were some moments during the season where we praised him for his handling of the sub-par talent-wise bullpen, among other things.  And there's probably a lot of truth in his "the other coaches undermined me" complaint.  From pretty much April on, the Sox as a whole made Valentine the scapegoat for all that ailed them.  That's comes with being a manager, but it's really not all his fault.  It would have taken a truly special manager to make anything positive out of this team.  I guess the silver lining of Bobby being made to look so awful is that he's on the back-end of his career, and this was probably going to be his last managing gig anyway. 

Now we shift focus to the next guy -- the one that's going to inherit a (most likely) young squad, lacking in talent.  One that realistically won't be a playoff contender for at least three years.  Oh, and a fanbase that's sick of watching crappy baseball, sick of watching over-matched guys on the field, and just sick of losing in general.  Whoever this next manager is is almost destined to fail before he begins. 

I'm sure the front office will say all the right things:  He'll get plenty of slack.  They'll stick with him through the long-haul as the roster comes together.  He won't be judged by wins and losses. 

But we always tend to think our players are better than they are.  We always think the number of wins is too low.  And we're not going to watch a middling team for three more years.  Unless the guy can pull a Buck Showalter and take the world by surprise, he's probably not going to last long enough to see the fruits of his labors. 

I hope I'm wrong.  I hope the Sox find a way to repeat what the Celtics did with Doc Rivers.  But I don't think I'm wrong.  And I don't think we should get too comfy with our next manager because when that next World Series trophy is hoisted, whenever that may be, Bobby Valentine's successor won't be raising it.

On Page 2, Schilling's blood sock could be yours soon!

Bobby V gets the ax

Our long national nightmare is finally over. Bobby Valentine has been fired by the Red Sox after leading the worst Sox team in nearly 50 years.

"Our 2012 season was disappointing for many reasons," Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington said in a written statement. "No single issue is the reason, and no single individual is to blame."

This is absolutely true. While I thought Valentine was the wrong choice for the team, and wildly overmatched for the entire season, it's really unfair to blame him for what went on. Some of it was injuries, some of it was the mix of players, and some of it was a hilarious lack of talent (the roster of the last six weeks).

Depending on the follow-up move, it seems likely that this is a sign that Ben Cherington has been given the keys. Let's see what he does: Give up prospects for John Farrell, or bring in a less heralded choice?

I said it last night, but I'll repeat: Be ready for a quick signing of David Ortiz or Cody Ross. Ownership is not going to want the fans and media to fret too long on the collosal failure of Bobby V, so they'll throw us some positive news pretty soon.

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Your Morning Dump...where Lester is glad 2012 is over

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.

The manager, Bobby Valentine, is expected to be fired after Wednesday's season finale, probably by the end of the week. The owners have been ridiculed, the general manager maligned, the sellout streak mocked, the marquee players traded.

"It's been a long year for a lot of people for a lot of different reasons," Lester said. "Like I said, I'm glad it's over. Move on. It's over for me. I'm going into a much-needed offseason. Regroup, come back in spring training, be ready to kick some people's asses and go from there."

If only it was that simple. The Red Sox have now missed the playoffs three straight seasons, and the slide might just be accelerating. This team is beset with questions, not the least of which is how to improve its starting pitching. With one game left, the starters have a collective ERA of 5.15. Only the dreadful Indians, Twins and Rockies were worse.

Lester finishes his season with a 9-14 record and 4.82 ERA. The wins are his fewest since he began taking a regular turn in the rotation in 2008. The ERA is the highest. The rate of strikeouts per nine innings (7.27) is a low.

ESPNBoston | Jon Lester relieved to put grim season behind him

Us, too.

One of the most perplexing parts of this season was Lester's performance. Other things were predictable. We knew Valentine was a mess. We knew Salty only makes contact with the ball once a week. We knew Ellsbury is hurt all the time, and Youk's time here was expiring, and that we had a lot of bad contracts.

But the one stable part of the team was supposed to be Lester.

Instead, he couldn't even get to 10 wins? I know wins have more to do with the team at large than the pitcher's ability, but the rest of his stats don't look much better. 

Once the season mercifully expires tonight, the Ted's Army crew will get hard at work on what we would do in the offseason, and we'll be rolling those plans out over the coming days. One thing we'll each have to address is what the deal is with Jon Lester. Was this season a fluke? Should our expectations be adjusted? Is it time to purge him from the roster, too? Or can he get back to the guy in the picture, who threw no-hitters and was inspirational?

It's worth pointing out that the advanced stats indicate Lester had a bit of bad luck. Lester's FIP was 4.12 -- up just 29 points from last year's 3.82. His ERA, however, advanced by 1.35. So it's probably fair to say the defense behind him wasn't that good, and that he went through some bad streaks rather than just being a consistently bad pitcher.

It all ends tonight. And by "it all" I don't just mean 2012. I mean the Bobby Valentine Era, the Daisuke Matsuzaka Era -- there's a lot we can put behind us. And then we can start to look forward.

On page 2, our old friends were eliminated.

 

Your Morning Dump...Where the Sox embark on a miserable milestone

 

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.

The next loss for the Red Sox will be their 90th of the season. This will almost certainly be viewed as further evidence of the apocalypse and the need for Bobby Valentine to be drawn and quartered in Copley Square.

Losing 90 games is a benchmark in baseball. It's the point where you cross the line from being merely a bad team to being a truly dreadful one. Plenty of teams have losing seasons, but you need to really stink up the joint to lose 90 games.

But it's worth noting that you have to back to 1966 — three years before Neil Armstrong walked on the moon — to find the last Red Sox team to lose 90 games.

If that sounds impressive, it should. Because no other team has come close to going that many years.

[...]

So do not bemoan 90 losses. Celebrate the fact that you went 45 years without having to say, "Man, my team really stinks."

Globe: Thoughts on a miserable milestone for the Red Sox

Most Red Sox fans have stopped watching and are oblivious to what is going on with the team and baseball in general. With 4 games left this season, fully expect the Sox to finish with 93 losses. It is still weird to type "losses" after such a large number.

Last night's loss wasn't as embarrassing as the previous night. The Sox put up a great fight, but fell short of returning the favor to the Orioles by playing spoiler. There is that word again, I don't know why I mentioned it..."spoiler". I thought the requirement to play spoiler is to be a decent team. By decent, I mean more than 70 wins. I've been hearing that word for the last month and the Sox are the worst team at playing spoiler. They just make every team they play look like a playoff contender. The Royals have a better record than the Red Sox, THE ROYALS!

Thank god it is football season and basketball season is right around the corner. Some hockey would be nice, but I won't get into it.

On Page 2, The Sox may not require experience for their next manager.