BALTIMOREBobby Valentine doesnt just think hell be the manager of the Boston Red Sox for the rest of this season.
His enemies on the Sox 25-man roster better cover their ears and avert their eyes because the embattled Sox manager believes hell be the skipper in Boston for the next three or four years at least. In a Lebron James-esque delivery Valentine started reeling off how many years he believes hell be manning the corner office in the Sox clubhouse despite a 2012 season where the ship is hitting the rocks. It sounds like he believes hell be around long after some of his detractors and critics are wearing different uniforms.
2014 and 2015 is what Im confident about, said a positively beaming Valentine, who is currently on a two-year contract with the Sox through next season. I have years of extensions out there.
Am I supposed to change my style? I used to sit around in the clubhouse and go to dinner with the players, you know? Things have changed and I give them their space. They know when they need me that Im in here. Im with them every day, every minute and every second of their lives.
Bad baseball, toxicity in the clubhouse and players looking to throw their manager under the bus have all been on the menu for this years team, but Valentine still has the backing of Larry Lucchino and the rest of the Sox ownership group. It appears the Sox ownership group and management team is sending the message that youre stuck with the manager whether hes well-liked or not, and it appears thats what the current group of players deserves.
Valentine said he regretted that Dustin Pedroia had to publicly state that he wasnt trying to get his manager fired, and that he has nothing but respect for his second baseman.
I feel badly that he has to have that kind of comment. Dustin is the warrior of warriors and one of the greatest players that Ive ever been around, said Valentine. For him to have to say hes to blame for something? Hes not to blame for anything. I think were in this together personally, and were going to get hot.
So, Valentine thinks the Sox are still going to get hot and that hell still be managing the Sox in 2015. One certainly couldnt attack the manager for his lack of unfettered and overwhelming optimism in the face of one brush fire after another.