Mutiny In The Bosox
Via Jeff Passan -
Boston Red Sox players blasted manager Bobby Valentine to owners John Henry and Larry Lucchino during a heated meeting called after a text message was sent by a group of frustrated players to the team and ownership in late July, three sources familiar with the meeting told Yahoo! Sports.
The owners called the meeting for Boston’s off-day in New York on July 26 after first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, texting on behalf of himself and some teammates, aired their dissatisfaction with Valentine for embarrassing starting pitcher Jon Lester by leaving him in to allow 11 runs during a July 22 start. It was the latest incident in a season’s worth of bad relations bubbling between Red Sox players and Valentine.
Gonzalez and Dustin Pedroia were among the most vocal in the meeting, in which some players stated flatly they no longer wanted to play for Valentine, the sources said. The tenor of the 2 p.m. meeting at The Palace hotel in New York turned ugly almost immediately, according to the sources, whom Yahoo! Sports granted anonymity because they were not authorized to speak about internal matters.
Not all of the Red Sox players attended the meeting, the sources said, highlighting the chasm that exists not only between some players and Valentine but among players in the clubhouse. The perception that Valentine is being scapegoated unfairly to divert attention from mediocre performances by star players exists among some players, according to sources.
Sounds like it’s time for the Red Sox to blow the whole thing up and start all over again.
The players would get the benefit of the doubt………
But then again this is the same core that went 8-20 last September and got Francona sprung.
When the enemy is in disarray…do nothing but watch.
Popcorn and a recliner is optional.
A couple of weeks ago, Valentine said the Yankees might not make the play-offs. I’d say the odds are much better of Valentine not being back next season.
How could anyone have predicted this? Simply shocking.
Steve,
Might be fun to go back and reprint the story & comments from your posting the day Valetine was signed. Pretty much everyone knew this windbag would turn it into a circus…. He hasn’t dissappointed has he?
“The secret of managing is to keep the guys who hate you away from the guys who are undecided.” – Casey Stengel
As for Lester, he seems to be doing better since he was “embarrassed” so at least he has that going for him.
Raf wrote:
An awesome quote.
Bobby Valentine has done himself no favors with his approach but — as much as I’m enjoying the spectacle he’s created — it’s pretty clear that his players didn’t give him much of a chance this year either.
There are no innocent parties in this. Valentine’s done a bad job with the off-field stuff and the players have done a bad job of trying to put last year’s collapse behind them.
Steve L. wrote:
Easier said than done, I think. You can trade one or two guys away and eat salary but you can’t set fire to your entire roster when there are so many long term contracts that you’d have to eat money on.
There may be a few changes around the margins but I think this is still going to be Boston’s team for at least another one or two seasons.
Three simple questions I have:
- when is the CD release date?
- Will the CD come in a Blue Ray version?
- and is Theo and Jed laughing harder than us?
Pop corn in the microwave, remote in hand and Yes, a tall cold beer with chicken will be served while I watch this!
MJ Recanati wrote:
Agreed. Beckett is living up to his jeckyll & hyde rep, alternating good years and bad. If he bounces back next year and Lester has turned a corner, the pitching should solidify itself a bit. The parts are there, it just seems that they’re just off a bit. It will be an interesting offseason.