Shut Up Bobby

Well it took 9 whole games before Bobby Valentine show just how much he doesn't get what managing the Red Sox really means. If you don't know what I'm talking about, when speaking about Kevin Youkilis and his slow start he said, "I don't think he's as physically or emotionally into the game as he has been in the past for some reason." In all fairness, he did go on to praise Youk, sorta. But what this illustrates more than anything else, is Valentine is completely clueless to this point as to what it means to manage a team like the Red Sox.

Yes the Red Sox are big market team, and the word big probably doesn't describe it well enough. The Sox are one of the most popular teams in the game, we all know that. The fan base is die-hard and deeply committed. So when the new guy in town openly criticizes a fan favorite after 9 games for starting slowly, it's not going to go over well. Valentine was loudly booed during Monday's game, which curiously saw Youkilis not in the lineup with what Valentine said was a sore groin. He also said he has apologized to Youkilis for his comments and didn't mean to be criticizing him. Let's back up a bit, didn't mean to criticize? What else would you be trying to do when you come out and say one of the stars of your team doesn't care anymore? Valentine clearly stuck his foot in his mouth, and while he thinks he may have apologized, if I was Youkilis, I'd be less than satisfied at this point.

Dustin Pedroia put things in perspective when he said he didn't really understand what Valentine was trying to do, but that whatever it was, that's not the way things work in Boston, and he's absolutely right. While the Sox may have a rabid fanbase and play in a huge market, they are a team that sticks together. Pointing fingers isn't going to help anyone, especially right now. Pedroia is the Sox sparkplug and has become their emotional leader over the past few seasons. So he was absolutely correct to make a statement and back his teammate. It wouldn't surprise me if the entire dugout felt the same way. If anything, Youkilis has been criticized in the past for caring too much.

It's obvious Valentine doesn't know how to manage this team, at least at this point. That's not to say he can't figure it out, but I'd be shocked if he gets it by the All-Star break. That's what made Francona so great, he always backed his guys, no matter what happened. I just don't see Valentine ever doing that. He's not going to take responsibility for a loss, which is what a manager should do, even though he's not the one on the field. I have a bad feeling this isn't going to be the last time Valentine throws one of his players under the buss and then offers a half-assed apology. He spends far too much time talking, especially about things he has no business speaking to the media about. It's time for him to shut up and get his team motivated. This should ring as a loud wakeup call to him too, Boston isn't going to tolerate a manger ripping his own players, and as it sits right now, Valentine's got a better chance of finding himself out of MLB again than he does returning as the Red Sox manager.