BOSTONBobby Valentines inaugural homestand as the Red Sox manager could not have started better, taking the first three games on the nine-game stand by a combined score of 31-11.
After that, it was downhill. From the night of April 15, when he questioned Kevin Youkilis commitment on Channel 7s Sports Xtra to Saturdays horrific bullpen implosion, losing the last five games. With the Fenway Park crowd letting him know what they thought at virtually every misstep.
With 16 years managing in the major leagues, with the Rangers and Mets, and another seven in Japan, Valentine has had his share of managerial challenges. The past week is right up there.
Im not good at rating things. But this has been a tough week, Valentine said, after Sundays homestand finale with the Yankees was postponed because of rain.
If I had to rate them all, this is one of the tougher ones for sure. Not the toughest. We came into the season with a lot of decisions and we still have a lot of decisions we have to make. And I think guys are going to make those decisions easier as the season goes along.
After Saturdays game Valentine had a closed door meeting in his office for about a half-hour with principal owner John Henry, president Larry Lucchino, general manager Ben Cherington, and assistant GM Brian OHalloran. Valentine has had those kinds of meetings in the past.
I think you have to continue to plan all year long, Valentine said. I hope thats not the last time that Ben and Brian and Larry and John and I can sit in a room and say where we are and figure out where were going to go and make a plan to get there.
I think when people get together and discuss what is a real situation or problem, the best comes out of it. You figure out collectively things that should be done always. I dont think that this is going to be an isolated instance, and if it is, Id be surprised. It hasn't been in my situation in the past.
Late Saturday night, after the meeting, Cherington spoke to reporters, saying he is satisfied with the job Valentine has been doing.
Valentine, though, is far from satisfied, in every way, he said.
No, Im not satisfied with the job I did. I dont need to hear from Ben or ownership or fans or anyone else. Ive got to do better.
Its not hard, though, to acknowledge that he is not satisfied, he said.
No, no. Players, hitters go in slumps. Pitchers go in slumps. Managers go in slumps, he said. You figure it out.
The only thing that matters are wins and losses. And a 4-10 record is not good enough.
The records the only thing that Im judged on, he said. Thats kind of how I judge myself. Pretty high standard. Theres been some good things. Just like players, some of the guys who are in slumps have played pretty well at times. But I dont accept four wins in 14 games.
How to get out of that slump?
I like swinging my way out, Valentine said.