As expected, Red Sox upper management intends to dismiss Bobby Valentine once the season ends, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports. The firing is expected to take place soon after the regular season ends and could occur Thursday or Friday. GM Ben Cherington declined to comment on the matter, Heyman reports.
It's been widely expected that the Red Sox will dismiss Valentine following the regular season. Blue Jays manager John Farrell appears to be a top target of Boston's front office executives. The Red Sox enter the final game of the season with a 69-92 record, having lost 90 games for the first time since 1966.
Valentine told reporters today that he "had every opportunity to succeed and didn't," according to Jack Curry of the YES Network (Twitter links). The manager also said he regrets commenting about Kevin Youkilis' engagement level early in the season.
As a Braves fan, I am glad that this curse has been released from the Red Sox
And so Bobby V is left to roam the earth once again, hungering for new teams whose lifeblood he can suck dry.
Wow. I’m shocked. Seriously. No one expected this. I can’t believe they would fire him.
He ought to throw everyone under the bus on his way out.
He’s Bobby Valentine. Does he ever do it any other way?
I’m sure there will be plenty of that going on from all angles; everyone involved is pretty good at doing just that.
Not like Billy Martin.. Maybe Valentine should start hammering away on the team owner’s personal and criminal (henry doesn’t have one) background like Martin used to every time Martin would get himself tore up drunk, then fired.
Thursday or Friday? I wouldn’t be surprised to see them waiting in the dugout to fire him right after last pitch
I dislike Bobby V. as much as the next guy.. but that team needs a lot more fixing than just getting rid of the manager.
Now it does, prior to the big Dodgers trade it was basically the same 90 win team from a year ago. They overreacted about the collapse and paid for it with this disappointing season. The Braves are a perfect example of how the Red Sox should have reacted. There is nothing wrong with having a manager that has close relationships with players(like Francona was). The problem is when you have a manager like Bobby who for the most part created a wall between himself and the players which is why they gave up later in the year. That said, I do agree with the trade because the season was lost at that point and they got really lucky that the Dodgers were willing to take all that salary.
I understand dealing Beckett, but dealing Gonzalez, Crawford and Youkilis just to show you support Valentine was wrong.
I doubt the Red Sox are going to find a good replacement for Gonzalez and I think they gave up too early on Crawford.
Under the current CBA, teams are basically capped on what they can spend on the draft and international free agent market.
The only real way to gain a competitive advantage in through free agency (which is what the players really wanted).
So the Red Sox saved a bunch of money, but now are faced with a weak market to spend that money in.
In the past, they could use some of that savings to sign draft picks or international free agents, but not any more.
I would not doubt what the Sox can do, even with a post CBA Rule 4 draft in place. They have done as well as any team not named Tampa bay over the last 10 seasons in June, yet have been drafting in spots 20-30 on a yearly basis and not every prospect has been those overslot variety either.
Having one of the best scouting and minor league infrastructures already in place has helped tremendously, it’s why teams came and took away their people with ‘promotions” in different organizations. Now they even are adding Eddie Bane.
They may have a good scouting department, but they are still limited to a draft bonus pool for the draft and a cap on international free agent spending (I believe around $3 mill).
They are not going to be able to give big bonuses to late picks who had “signability issues” like in the past or spend big on bonuses to international free agents.
The playing field has been evened out pretty well in those avenues of acquiring talent.
Free agency is the one area that Boston can flex their financial muscle and this offseason the market actually looks very weak.
The IFA market Boston has not really spent heavily on period, other than Iglesias and *just* before the cap went into effect? Lin. Other than those 2? 1-1.5m was all the Henry-Epstein ran team gave to the top people. Boston preferred to get talent via *known* locales where you can trust ages, credentials, as in an athlete can play baseball, rather than just run 60yd dashes and hit BP etc..
Now.. If Japan is included.. Okajima, Matsuzaka and Tazawa would be included in the above list.
The 2.7m cap *think* all teams were limimited to in the 2012-next July actually changes the rest of the years of the current CBA and it’s based on a team’s overall record. Not going to go look it up, but pretty sure that hard figure for every team being the same is *only* for year 1.
I dont think those moves had anything to do with Valentine. I think Cherington saw a chance to unload a bad contract and he did just that. Obviously it cost the Sox Gonzalez but there were many concerns about his loss of power. Youkilis is a player in decline and the Sox had Middlebrooks who was tearing it up with no place to put him so I think that trade was a no brainer. I do think they could have gotten more for Youkilis though.
I think Cherington figured that the money the team had already lost on Crawford was enough that keeping him around wouldnt make that difference up.
They dont need to replace Gonzalez, they just need to stay healthy! Ellsbury, Middlebrooks and Ortiz provide plenty of offense when healthy and Middlebrooks is still improving.
The Red Sox do not need to spend all this free money now, I still believe that a core of Pedroia, Ellsbury, Middlebrooks, Ortiz (if they resign him) can provide enough offense for them.
I think if healthy that core is decent, but is in no way a juggernaut of a lineup. And the bigger issues are Ortiz’s age and also durability issues with Ellsbury.
IMO they do need to capably fill the holes left by AGon and Crawford and that’s goings to be hard to do on the open market.
If they can’t replace that production for next year AND upgrade their rotation then next year could be another difficult year no matter who the manager is.
Crawford barely had any value over the time he was here. So Im not sure why they need to find a replacement for him. Ortiz’s age is an issue but he was one of the best hitters in baseball this year until he got injured. Ellsbury is a great player, hes just unlucky with all these injuries. I think if Middlebrooks can improve that in many ways balances out Agon. Middlebrooks actually has more power at this point. They do need to upgrade their rotation but the problem is that they already have 4 starters in Lester, Buchholz, Doubront and Lackey. They dont need an allstar at every position just look at the Orioles and Athletics this past year. It has a lot to do with the manager.
With tens of millions of dollars to spend and multiple open positions I’m sure they’ll be doing more than just replacing the manager.
True, the Red Sox are a bad team with or without Bobby V but its still a problem that needs to be addressed.
@ keith… in the Crawford, Beckett Gonzo deal… they got rid of over a quarter BILLION in bad contracts… Hated to see Gonzo go, but he is not the player he was with the Padres. I am a lifelong Sox fan..and Bobby V should NEVER have been hired… now he is saying coaches undermined him etc etc… He bad mouthed Youk out of town who was nothing but a warrior… he bad mouthed just about everyone else… I for one will help him pack…. as far as the 1.2 year collapse…it is EVERYONE’S fault, Theo…ownership, Tito, the players…and Bobby V….
The Youkilis situation was handled poorly, and Youkilis was able to find his power stroke over on the South Side, but Will Middlebrooks was both ready for the show and a better player than Kevin Youkilis.
I guess you can blame Bobby for noticing the obvious on that one.
Bobby will never manage again. He just doesn’t know when to keep his mouth shut. And yes the Red Sox are in a lot of trouble.
Best day ever.
Who is Heyman’s source on this story….? Or, is this mere speculation…ie…taking license with the truth to beat the local sports writers before anything happens, if it happens.
you are in such serious denial
I don’t think he was as physically or emotionally into the game as he has been in the past for some reason.
-Kevin Youkilis
Brilliant.
encore
between this and the “Dodgers Prepared to Spend” headline, it has been a shocking final week of the season.
They should fire the whole team for the way they’ve rolled over against the Yankees these last 2 games…..
They haven’t “rolled over,” there’s simply not enough talent on the team right now to beat the Yankees.
Been trying to tell ppl all day when Pedroia and Ells are not in the lineup now.. Salty is the ONLY guy who has got 250AB this year on the field for them and Pedey has a broken finger trying to play last night..
JUST how well are the PawSox they are down to supposed to be playing??
I was at the game on Monday, the lineup that was put out there was pathetic… I dont think there was one guy who had an average over .300. Like 4 or more of the starters had averages that made the Mendoza line look good. To top it all off Clay allowed 9 runs in the second inning. Yeah so it was quite hard to sit there watching that bashing.
You mean last week don’t you? I’ve never heard of a team taking 12 innings to “roll over”.
My bad….should have said “the way they’ve played all season “…..could have knocked their biggest rival into a wild card seed and they’ve barely showed up.
Remember what the Orioles did to the Sox last year?
Alternate headline: Guy Everyone Knew Was Getting Fired Is Getting Fired; Regrets Stuff That Got Him Fired
It’s back to Baseball Tonight for ol Bobby V.
please no john farrel. New guy
I would not be shocked to see him end up in South Beach.
I wonder if we will get to see Tito and Bobby V both with ESPN, thatd be enternaining.
You don’t say!
They really need to get away from this Farrell thing. Get someone else. Get a former Red Sox player. Get Dwight Evans. Convince Jason Varitek. Don’t do some drawn out thing with Toronto where we have to give them a player who’ll help beat us.
I just want them to actually do their due diligence and hire the best man for the job, rather than a guy who has a name or who reminds them of happier days.
Can we PLEASE finally put to rest the ridiculous, completely unfounded myth that Bobby V is a good manager?
In other shocking news, the sun will rise in the east tomorrow.
Regardless of who manages on the field and in the front office in 2013, the Red Sox have serious, qualitative weaknesses in the collection of players that make up the present 25-man roster. First and foremost, the team needs two, new, everyday players who can hit for average and power (25-35 HR’s) and play above average defense. The Sox also need two upper echelon starting pitchers to anchor their rotation with both being able to stay on the mound for 200 plus innings over the course of the full season. Lastly, they need an overpowering closer who has the kind of “killer instinct” that really good closers have. There is enough talent on the current roster to fill out the 20 remaining slots as needed to put a competitive team on the field in 2013. Whomever makes the “decisions” to put a quality team on the field should be held accountable by the fans who attend games and support the team by purchasing cable access to NESN. Two years of sub-par performance on the field, while at the same time charging the highest ticket prices in baseball is enough. It is time to come up with a quality product Mr. Henry & Co. or sell the team to someone who can and will.
They dont need all of those things you mentioned. Middlebrooks, Ellsbury and Ortiz have missed quite some time with injury. If Middlebrooks is healthy and can build off of what he did in the first part of the season then he is a great offensive addition. Same goes for Ortiz and Ellsbury. Pedroia had an off year this season and personally I just think it was due to Valentine. Not saying he didnt play hard because even today he was mad about being pulled but I think he had too much on his mind. Im hoping they resign Ortiz as he has shown he has plenty left in the tank. Ross is another guy who can provide good power. Id imagine the rotation is set for the most part with Lester, Buchholz, Doubront, Lackey. Id look for them to sign a few guys to compete for that 5th spot. I would like to see them sure up the bullpen and look for a first baseman.
We agree on the 1st baseman…my choice would be the Angel’s Kendry’s Morales, if they can get him. I don’t agree with your being content with this staff of starters. Both Lester and Buchholz have ERA’s near 5. The Sox need a #1 and #2 starter, and the aforementioned are not them. Hopefully they give Jerry Sands a thorough vetting in LF in 2013 because he has power potential according to his minor league stats, and he is only 24. As for a closer the guy they have has done poorly since returning from the 60-day DL…. He was injury prone out in Oakland too. Aceves and Bard are not the answer, if he should go down again…. The Red Sox need a true closer, a fireballer, who can come in and get outs….3 maybe 4 per outing.
Let me put it this way…if, in 2013, the Red Sox continue to require that Saltalamacchia bat 5th or 6th in the order, they are in big trouble. He is an ancilliary offensive tool but he strikes out way too much. Batting him 7th or 8th in the order is ideal. He can keep pitchers honest for hitters #5, #6 and #7… The Sox need two power bats that can hit for average ahead of Salty and after Ortiz in the lineup.
Can’t wait to see Red Sox ownership get a story out about how this losing season was all his fault.
I don’t always stand behind what the Sox FO is doing (i.e. Francona – especially the part after the dismissal took place), but this time, they’ll get it absolutely right. Bobby should have been gone yesterday. There was a chance he could have survived a bad year, but his damn mouth is too much to take. He kept on saying and doing horrible things. It started with Youkilis and ended with pinch-hitting for a rookie during an AB. In between, he was bad mouthing several other people, like Joe Maddon and Glenn Ordway.
This is not solely an issue with the manager it is the players themselves who have aggravated the clubhouse environemnt. Although the Red Sox had a dismal campaign I due expect them to return to relevancy as long as they can haul some pitching.
i dislike valentine, but good for him for owning it with those quotes
Sad thing is, Bobby V is 10 times the manager that John Farrell is.
Dont let the door hit you where the sun doesn’t shine bobby V as no offensive but the game has pass you by big time…
Replace one big mouth with another…..makes sense.
No way. Mike Lowell will manage the Marlins if Guillen is fired.
So it’s settled: the Red Sox are trading Bobby Valentine to the Marlins for, oh, let’s say Logan Morrison and Ozzie Guillen, who’ll be reassigned as the team’s new talk radio ambassador.
Only Jeff Loria would replace Guillen with Valentine and really.. Now that Valentine is gone.. What is the hold up to firing Guillen? he deserved it before the season even started.
His mouth deserved getting him fired and i don’t mean for the normal, meaningless babbling he spews out but the racial rabble he spewed out before the season began that was reminiscent of the rubbish straight out of the “old south” and the Boston area a few decades back.
Funny you mention Gil Velazquez.. I want to toss up every time see him in a game.. He was a horrid retread several years ago when Boston finally got rid of him and I KNOW the Fish have to be able to find someone better than that guy to play 3b, even at this late juncture.. Having him as the starting 3b, injuries and all is an embarrassment.
Okay, but only if he retires to become a NESN studio host. Unfortunately, tragedy strikes when during his very first show, he fails to throw to Red Sox highlights on 12 separate occasions (and somehow gives up seven homers).
You know they did let Bonifacio butcher 3b for an entire season a couple years back.. I was hoping “The Dobber” would be allowed to play 3b FT actually.. As bad there as he is.
Lowell wasn’t that bad before he blew out his hip. I understand it’s been awhile since he was a marlin and had to look cause forgot the exact year myself.. but he did win his 1 GG with the Fish. A decent fielder and yeah.. Much better than Cabby and Cantu.
3B hasn’t exactly been a position where the Marlins have had the luxury of great defense, but hopefully help is on the way.
It’s fine. His fielding went from decent, to no range at all after he blew out his hip in Boston the last couple of years and easy to forget. the guy couldn’t even move his range was so bad and painful to watch near the end.