Bobby V Running Thread

[Boom_70]

Sorry but what Bobby V is doing in Boston deserves a running thread all of it's own. It's going to be fun to watch.

 

[Chef2]

Fired by Labor Day.

 

[YankeeFan]

It's going to be spectacular.

 

[Lugnuts]

The title of this thread just makes me smile. :)

You're right, Boom. I love Bobby V. Long live Bobby V.

 

[Bubbler]

Ten games into the season, Boston is 4-6 and two games out of first.

I know he ripped on Kevin Youkilis, but isn't it a tad early to start putting realty signs on Valentine's yard?

 

[Evil Bastard (aka Chris_L)]

Let me weigh in on Bobby Valentine and his recent comments about Kevin Youkilis. I have three points I'd like to make.

1. Let me first say that I don't think Valentine knew at the time that he was saying something wrong or controversial. He was not trying some motivational ploy. It was just a poor choice of words by a guy in love with the sound of his own voice.

I have never thought Valentine to be that articulate. Sure he was a big improvement over Joe Morgan on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball but that's not really that much of an accomplishment. Valentine is much closer to Chance the Gardner than Einstein no matter what his supporters would have you believe (remember Chance the Gardner's supporters thought he was smart enough to be President).

Bobby can't help being Bobby (like Manny couldn't help being Manny). He may be chastened by this accidental brouhaha for a while but with all of his media commitments (the Michael Kay show in NYC and his own weekly show on NESN just the tip of the iceberg of his need for attention) - Bobby V will strike again and again. He will make another offhand remark or try to make a joke about a player that will fall flat. He won't be able to help himself. That will be his downfall.

2. The Red Sox management are not stupid people. They knew what they were getting in Valentine. This makes me wonder if there is a bit of Machiavellian genius at work here. Is this like the book Dune where Baron Harkonnen who first sends in the Beast Rabban with the idea of replacing him with the lovely Feyd Rautha (played by Sting in the 1984 movie).

The Red Sox probably looked at their candidates to replace Terry Francona and decided that none of them would make people forget the discarded Francona. There were no John Farrell's in the bunch and the closest thing - Dale Sveum - probably made it clear that he had no intention of working for the bunch he did his friend Francona so dirty.

With that in mind the Red Sox management made a 180 degree pivot to Bobby V. Knowing full well what they were getting. Let Bobby V implode and let the fans and players see what the other options look like then bring in a guy like DeMarlo Hale.

3. In the meantime Bobby V is in a position to do a lot of damage. I'm not talking about the season because almost no Red Sox fan has any hopes this year. I'm talking about him blowing out the arms of his starters on the way out the door. Daniel Bard had 111 pitches yesterday in 2nd start ever. Last year he had dead arm in September. If Bobby V keeps using him like that he might as well schedule his appointment with Dr. James Andrew right now.

 

[Chef2]

Ten games into the season, Boston is 4-6 and two games out of first.

I know he ripped on Kevin Youkilis, but isn't it a tad early to start putting realty signs on Valentine's yard?

That's just it. Only 10 games in, and he's ripping on someone who "Red Sox Nation" holds near and dear. Ask Boston fans whom they would rather have if they could only have one....Youkilis or Valentine.

 

[Boom_70]

Ten games into the season, Boston is 4-6 and two games out of first.

I know he ripped on Kevin Youkilis, but isn't it a tad early to start putting realty signs on Valentine's yard?

That's just it. Only 10 games in, and he's ripping on someone who "Red Sox Nation" holds near and dear. Ask Boston fans whom they would rather have if they could only have one....Youkilis or Valentine.

Youk's a wicked cool guy. You can't rip Youk. Babby Veee
sucks.

 

[Gator]

Ten games into the season, Boston is 4-6 and two games out of first.

I know he ripped on Kevin Youkilis, but isn't it a tad early to start putting realty signs on Valentine's yard?

That's just it. Only 10 games in, and he's ripping on someone who "Red Sox Nation" holds near and dear. Ask Boston fans whom they would rather have if they could only have one....Youkilis or Valentine.

Youk's a wicked cool guy. You can't rip Youk. Babby Veee
sucks.

Red Sox Nation held Curt Schilling near and dear for a time, too, but it's a very fickle nation. I admit that Bobby V's criticism is a bit early (just like this thread), but if Youk keeps faltering in big spots, fans are going to start agreeing with the crazy scientist manager.

 

[bigpern23]

Ten games into the season, Boston is 4-6 and two games out of first.

I know he ripped on Kevin Youkilis, but isn't it a tad early to start putting realty signs on Valentine's yard?

That's just it. Only 10 games in, and he's ripping on someone who "Red Sox Nation" holds near and dear. Ask Boston fans whom they would rather have if they could only have one....Youkilis or Valentine.

Youk's a wicked cool guy. You can't rip Youk. Babby Veee
sucks.

Red Sox Nation held Curt Schilling near and dear for a time, too, but it's a very fickle nation. I admit that Bobby V's criticism is a bit early (just like this thread), but if Youk keeps faltering in big spots, fans are going to start agreeing with the crazy scientist manager.

It seems like Youkilis has got a bit of burgeoning reputation as a pain in the ass in the clubhouse, too. He can be a pain in the ass all he wants as long as he produces and keeps playing like a tough SOB. But if he stops producing, or doesn't play tough as he always has, Sox fans will turn on him.

 

[Boom_70]

The title of this thread just makes me smile. :)

You're right, Boom. I love Bobby V. Long live Bobby V.

And might I say, what a beautiful smile.

 

[The Big Ragu]

Bobby Valentine is brilliant in that he actually somehow makes it even easier to hate the Red Sox. It's something I would have thought impossible before he was hired.

 

[Boom_70]

Ten games into the season, Boston is 4-6 and two games out of first.

I know he ripped on Kevin Youkilis, but isn't it a tad early to start putting realty signs on Valentine's yard?

That's just it. Only 10 games in, and he's ripping on someone who "Red Sox Nation" holds near and dear. Ask Boston fans whom they would rather have if they could only have one....Youkilis or Valentine.

Youk's a wicked cool guy. You can't rip Youk. Babby Veee
sucks.

Red Sox Nation held Curt Schilling near and dear for a time, too, but it's a very fickle nation. I admit that Bobby V's criticism is a bit early (just like this thread), but if Youk keeps faltering in big spots, fans are going to start agreeing with the crazy scientist manager.

How is this thread a bit early? I was not at all suggesting that he would be fired. I just thought that it would be better to have one Bobby V thread to follow all the great story lines that are sure to come.

Has he cozied up to any writers yet that will be his go to guys like he did with The Mets?

 

[cranberry]

Ten games into the season, Boston is 4-6 and two games out of first.

I know he ripped on Kevin Youkilis, but isn't it a tad early to start putting realty signs on Valentine's yard?

That's just it. Only 10 games in, and he's ripping on someone who "Red Sox Nation" holds near and dear. Ask Boston fans whom they would rather have if they could only have one....Youkilis or Valentine.

Youk's a wicked cool guy. You can't rip Youk. Babby Veee
sucks.

Red Sox Nation held Curt Schilling near and dear for a time, too, but it's a very fickle nation. I admit that Bobby V's criticism is a bit early (just like this thread), but if Youk keeps faltering in big spots, fans are going to start agreeing with the crazy scientist manager.

It seems like Youkilis has got a bit of burgeoning reputation as a pain in the ass in the clubhouse, too. He can be a pain in the ass all he wants as long as he produces and keeps playing like a tough SOB. But if he stops producing, or doesn't play tough as he always has, Sox fans will turn on him.

I've never heard this before. Do you have any stories, links or personal anecdotes that suggest this is true?

Best I can tell in this situation, Bobby is already pissing off the players. Pedrioia's comment -- "maybe that works in Japan" -- is kind of telling. His condescending style isn't going to play well in a veteran clubhouse like that.

I'm picking them for fourth place behind Toronto, New York and Tampa Bay.

 

[bigpern23]

It seems like Youkilis has got a bit of burgeoning reputation as a pain in the ass in the clubhouse, too. He can be a pain in the ass all he wants as long as he produces and keeps playing like a tough SOB. But if he stops producing, or doesn't play tough as he always has, Sox fans will turn on him.

I've never heard this before. Do you have any stories, links or personal anecdotes that suggest this is true?

Best I can tell in this situation, Bobby is already pissing off the players. Pedrioia's comment -- "maybe that works in Japan" -- is kind of telling. His condescending style isn't going to play well in a veteran clubhouse like that.

I'm picking them for fourth place behind Toronto, New York and Tampa Bay.

This is from a Jackie MacMullen story last year:

Kevin Youkilis has always been a hot button. On occasion, his intensity and his honesty were his biggest assets, but not this season. The injured Youkilis showed up every day the way he wanted Ellsbury to, but he turned so sour and cynical that his carping and insistence on inserting himself into other people's affairs turned him into a detriment.

http://espn.go.com/boston/mlb/story/_/id/7036983/underachieving-boston-red-sox-flunked-chemistry

 

[BYH]

Youk IS a pain in the ass. Always moping around glowering and bitching about how tough it is in Boston b/c there's so much attention. Hey Youk. Anywhere else in America and you're making half the money you're making, nobody's chanting YOOOOOOOUUUUUUUK (which they've been doing since he was in rookie ball) and the one-time fat kid from Cincinnati isn't marrying Tom Brady's sister.

Jackie MacMullan wrote about Youk's combustibility last year: http://espn.go.com/boston/mlb/story/_/id/7036983/underachieving-boston-red-sox-flunked-chemistry She mentions how he criticized Ellsbury for not rehabbing with the team in 2010. And let's not forget how he and Manny exchanged blows in 2008 (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/gallery/featured/GAL1143695/3/18/index.htm).

(Edit: DAMNIT PERN!!!!)

Bobby V knew exactly what he was doing, even if it doesn't make a whole lot of sense. He likes to pick fights with the vulnerable (unless he wants to defend them, a la Armando Benitez) and those he knows he can get a rise out of. Youk is a fading, on-the-way-out vet (free agent at the end of the year) who doesn't have the political capital of a David Ortiz and who has a perpetually short temper. Everything went exactly as Bobby planned, except for Pedroia taking up such a passionate defense of Youk. I think most people are surprised by it, but that's Pedroia, who should be the captain right now.

 

[cranberry]

It seems like Youkilis has got a bit of burgeoning reputation as a pain in the ass in the clubhouse, too. He can be a pain in the ass all he wants as long as he produces and keeps playing like a tough SOB. But if he stops producing, or doesn't play tough as he always has, Sox fans will turn on him.

I've never heard this before. Do you have any stories, links or personal anecdotes that suggest this is true?

Best I can tell in this situation, Bobby is already pissing off the players. Pedrioia's comment -- "maybe that works in Japan" -- is kind of telling. His condescending style isn't going to play well in a veteran clubhouse like that.

I'm picking them for fourth place behind Toronto, New York and Tampa Bay.

This is from a Jackie MacMullen story last year:

Kevin Youkilis has always been a hot button. On occasion, his intensity and his honesty were his biggest assets, but not this season. The injured Youkilis showed up every day the way he wanted Ellsbury to, but he turned so sour and cynical that his carping and insistence on inserting himself into other people's affairs turned him into a detriment.

http://espn.go.com/boston/mlb/story/_/id/7036983/underachieving-boston-red-sox-flunked-chemistry

Oh I can see Kevin having a personality conflict with a teammate that boils over from time to time, because he is very intense (about baseball) and a veteran guy on the club. In fact this has happened, even before last year. But what Bobby V said, however, is that Youkilis doesn't appear to be as "physically or emotionally into the game" as he used to be. The way his teammates have rallied around Youkilis in this instance suggest they don't have a problem with him.

 

[Evil Bastard (aka Chris_L)]

Ian Browne ‏ @IanMBrowne
I'm guessing Youkilis gets a bigger hand than usual when he digs in for his first at-bat tonight. As Bobby V. would say, "Call it a hunch."

BTW - if I recall correctly didn't Youk have a feud with Shoppach when they were both at Pawtucket that ended with Shoppach being traded away?

 

[imjustagirl]

I <3 Bobby V.

 

[Boom_70]

It seems like Youkilis has got a bit of burgeoning reputation as a pain in the ass in the clubhouse, too. He can be a pain in the ass all he wants as long as he produces and keeps playing like a tough SOB. But if he stops producing, or doesn't play tough as he always has, Sox fans will turn on him.

I've never heard this before. Do you have any stories, links or personal anecdotes that suggest this is true?

Best I can tell in this situation, Bobby is already pissing off the players. Pedrioia's comment -- "maybe that works in Japan" -- is kind of telling. His condescending style isn't going to play well in a veteran clubhouse like that.

I'm picking them for fourth place behind Toronto, New York and Tampa Bay.

This is from a Jackie MacMullen story last year:

Kevin Youkilis has always been a hot button. On occasion, his intensity and his honesty were his biggest assets, but not this season. The injured Youkilis showed up every day the way he wanted Ellsbury to, but he turned so sour and cynical that his carping and insistence on inserting himself into other people's affairs turned him into a detriment.

http://espn.go.com/boston/mlb/story/_/id/7036983/underachieving-boston-red-sox-flunked-chemistry

Oh I can see Kevin having a personality conflict with a teammate that boils over from time to time, because he is very intense (about baseball) and a veteran guy on the club. In fact this has happened, even before last year. But what Bobby V said, however, is that Youkilis doesn't appear to be as "physically or emotionally into the game" as he used to be. The way his teammates have rallied around Youkilis in this instance suggest they don't have a problem with him.

But clearly Bobby V knew that this would create a media fire storm. Nothing Bobby V says is without a purpose.