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We’re in a Tight Spot

Oh, Bobby, Where Art Thou?

[Photo Credit: Getty Images]

Categories:  1: Featured  Baseball  Games We Play

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8 comments

1 ms october   ~  Jul 13, 2012 10:29 am

this is one of those personnel decisions/hires that i just don't see how it could have gone any other way but how it seems to be going.
between the boston media, the massholes, the prickly players, hold over coaches from francona, general francona loyalty, a new/split front office, it was inevitable for someone like bobby v to explode the situation.
i don't think it would have been a good scenario for almost anyone, but especially not someone who is as decisive as bobby v.
going to be interesting to see how the rest of the season plays out.

2 Alex Belth   ~  Jul 13, 2012 10:42 am

The '78 Yanks were a disaster too. But they had talent and they got it together. The Sox have some great players. I wonder if they'd fire Bobby V in August? I could see the Sox making a run and getting the wildcard or I could see them finishing in fourth place. Which one of these?

3 RagingTartabull   ~  Jul 13, 2012 11:33 am

I wasn't a fan of this hiring from a Red Sox perspective when it happened, but I gotta say there is a little part of me that kinda feels for Bobby here.

You have a team that, yes is dealing with a ton of injuries, but with one of the highest payrolls in baseball and a ton of talent on the field every night is sitting at 43-43 and is less than a year removed from the worst September collapse in history. The fact that there are people on this roster who think they're in the position to point fingers at the manager is almost comical.

You had the manager you loved...you got him fired. Now you have this, time to learn to live with it.

4 garydsimms   ~  Jul 13, 2012 11:48 am

I'm just glad that the Nats passed on him last summer when Riggleman quit.

5 Jon DeRosa   ~  Jul 13, 2012 12:00 pm

All of this is true, but imagine for a second the wave of insufferable preening and posing that is coming when the Sox get on a roll and get into the playoffs.

(Note I said "when" and not "if" - I'll never be guilty of underestimating the Red Sox)

6 Ben   ~  Jul 13, 2012 12:15 pm

I totally agree Jon. Though part of me feels a little sorry for Bobby V., the other parts quickly remind that first part how awful it would be if they were in first place. So the party of the first part is wrong. The worse the Sox are, the less the Yanks have to worry about them.

7 RIYank   ~  Jul 13, 2012 12:51 pm

I could say a whole lot about this, but here's my short take:

1. There is definitely friction between Valentine and (some) players, but it's hard not to hold the players more responsible for this than Bobby.

2. He's actually been a pretty good manager so far.

3. I think it's just a bit below even odds that the Red Sox make the playoffs. But remember, getting a Wild Card spot is much worse now than it used to be.

8 Simone   ~  Jul 13, 2012 1:47 pm

I need some clarification: Bobby did not get to choose his own coaching staff?

Regardless, I don't see how any of this can be his fault. This team was a disaster last season and as result Francona was fired. If the Rex Sox ownership is serious about changing team's culture, then it not Bobby who has go, it is the coaching staff and the most problematic players at the end of the season.

Also, I actually don't think that the Red Sox are that talented. They are the same flawed team from last season. I feel the same way about the Yankees.

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