BOSTONBy the time Mondays game had ended, a 1-0 loss in the series finale to the Rays, it appeared the firestorm that erupted from manager Bobby Valentines comments about Kevin Youkilis Sunday nightand Dustin Pedroias subsequent comments Monday morning supporting Youkiliswas beginning to wane.
Valentine, though, was soundly booed as he walked off the field in the seventh inning after removing starter Daniel Bard. Whether the noise was for leaving Bard in one batter too long or for his comments about Youkilis is up to interpretation.
They felt what I thought, Valentine said. Should have taken him out earlier. Theyre good fans. They know whats going on.
Valentine said he and Youkilis spoke during the game.
After the game, Youkilis said, Were fine.
Pedroia and Valentine also talked.
Hes cool. He says he gets it, Valentine said. I think he was asked a question in a kind of dubious manner. I told him what happened. He said, Okay, I got it.
Before the game, Pedroia had said Thats really not the way we go about our stuff around here. So, Im sure Valentine will figure that out soon.
Asked after the game if he thought Valentine had learned, Pedroia replied:
Im not sure. Youd have to ask him. I cant speak for Bobby.
Asked if he tried to make that point when he talked to the manager, Pedroia said:
Its between me and him, man. Im not going to sit here and talk about what me and Bobby talked about. Were all grown men and everybody involved in this organization and this team, were here to have each others backs through the worst times and the best times. We all pride ourselves on that and were going to make sure that that happens.
Its important to everybody. Not just me, its important to our whole team.
Asked if he thought everyone was on the same page now, Pedroia said:
Yeah, were good.
In the clubhouse the support was decidedly in Youkilis favor.
I found out today when I showed up to the ballpark, Adrian Gonzalez said. We all know that Youk does give 110 percent every time hes out there. So thats my reaction to it, is that Youks a team player and we all love him and are behind him.
We all got his back. And we know what type of player he is. So thats all we can do, is tell Youk that we appreciate everything that he does.
Asked if a manager risks losing the trust of his players with such comments, Gonzalez replied:
Thats something he said that were behind each other. Were here supporting our teammates, and thats how were going to focus on it.
Its about being out and pulling for each other on the field and in this clubhouse. Were next to each more time than we are at home. So we create a pretty strong bond in here and we definitely know what each player is all about. And we know that Youk is a guy thats 100 percent devoted.