Bobby Valentine officially fired by Boston

[Guest]

The Boston Red Sox fired manager Bobby Valentine on Thursday, one day after completing the franchise's worst season in nearly five decades.

"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."

The Red Sox went 69-93 this season under Valentine, finishing last in the American League East.

http://espn.go.com/boston/mlb/story/...ine-one-season

[RyanLeaf16]

Couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

[Swarley]

How sad.

[Senser81]

I've never been impressed with Valentine, but he's somehow been a manager for 16 years. I guess some people must think he's good. I don't know how he got the Mets job after being with the Rangers, because he didn't really do much with that Texas team and they did have some talent. And I don't know how he got the Boston job after being with the Mets, because he had ended poorly with the Mets and been out of baseball so long. He's a guy whose career record is about .500, has been to the postseason once in 16 years, and has never won a Manager of the Year award. So two questions:

1) Do you think Valentine was/is a good manager?

2) Do you think Valentine will ever manage again?

[Guest]

I think he was a good manager, someone who a team goes to to help rebuild. His tough way of treating players could have helped a few seasons ago.

However, not this season. We've read many stories of how Showalter adjusted to things with the Orioles, and how players were extremely apprehensive about playing for him. Seems that Valentine couldn't adjust, and lets not forget this wasn't a young team. At the start, this was a team full of veterans that missed the playoffs by one game. Given how he did not manage the team well, and how it got into the press, I think Bobby V shot himself in the foot for future opportunities. I'll be surprised if he gets one.

[EmpireWF]

Yes, Valentine can be a good manager. Boston was just one of the worst situations imaginable for him to come back to in MLB. That clubhouse was going to be toxic for any manager who didn't completely let them do whatever they wanted.

With that said, Valentine can definitely be grating. In the years he was working in Japan and ESPN, there was occasional talk from segments of the Mets fan base about wanting him back. Truth was, Mets ownership never considered him at all because of the way things ended a decade ago (he wasn't exactly considered a trustworthy person in the organization).

Unfortunately, I don't think he'll manage in MLB again (unless he really wants back in a couple years and is willing to take a job in a small market…even then I doubt he does). Perhaps, if he still has the bug, he'll return to Japan where they likely welcome him back with open arms. Most likely, he works for ESPN/MLBN and then rides off into the sunset.

[RyanLeaf16]

Well there is talk that Jeff Loria would like to speak to him about the Marlins gig.

[Rudi]

Shocker.

[FedEx227]

You'd think such a previously well regarded MLB manager would have a first place finish at some point, right?

[Warner2BruceTD]

You'd think such a previously well regarded MLB manager would have a first place finish at some point, right?

how soon we forget, about the Chiba Lotte Marines...

 

[Guest]

Well there is talk that Jeff Loria would like to speak to him about the Marlins gig.

Didn't this almost happen two years ago? Or even last year? Hell, after how Loria has gone through managers recently, that might be the only job Valentine can get.

[sraczk2011]

Well there is talk that Jeff Loria would like to speak to him about the Marlins gig.

They're perfect for each other. Two shitheads in a half empty ballpark, destined for mediocrity.

[Irish]

Did we really view Valentine as a well regarded MLB manager? I mean he was at his best telling me the top web gems on baseball tonight.