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With a Wild Card Still Possible, Bobby-V should get the boot

by Ryan Gilmore       August 7th, 2012 1:48 PM
  • With-a-Wild-Card-Still-Possible-Bobby-V-should-get-the-boot
  • Credit: US PRESSWIRE

    • In the midst of an onslaught of rumors regarding embattled Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine’s job security, Boston Principle Owner John Henry stated on Tuesday that he has no intention of jettisoning his current manager before this season’s end.

    Many would argue that the Red Sox rather underwhelming performance is predominantly due to a poor collection of individual players, not shoddy managing. In fact, it’s somewhat of a marvel that the man has led his team of disappointing, malcontent prima donnas to a .500 record considering the horrendous bullpen, swath of injuries, “bleh” rotation, an invisible Dustin Pedroia, and Adrian Gonzalez being a $154 million singles hitter for the better part of this season.

    However, as much as I agree with the whole “it’s not entirely Bobby’s fault” sentiment, I cannot help but wonder what would happen if old man Valentine was added to the legions of unemployed before this year’s end.

    Historically speaking, even the lousiest of teams tend to go on head-scratching streaks when a head coach or manager get fired mid-season.

    It pretty much goes without saying that the players and Bobby Valentine aren’t too fond of each other, what with Kevin Youkilis being booted in exchange for a bag of Fritos, locker room leader Pedroia criticizing Valentine in front of the media, Josh Beckett opting to play golf instead of resting for his next start, and Curt Schilling (yes, I do take this with a grain of salt) stating that much of the locker room hates Valentine.

    Consider this: Boston is sitting at 55-55, four games back of that last Wild Card spot. Ahead of them lies the offensively anemic Tampa Bay Rays, an Oakland A’s team who’s magical late-July tear is coming to a grinding halt, the questionable Baltimore Orioles, and a Detroit Tigers team that has shown it’s weaknesses more than a few times thus far. That’s not exactly a huge mountain to climb.

    The fact that Boston is still in the mix is the very reason Henry should can Valentine. Historically speaking, even the lousiest of teams tend to go on head-scratching streaks when a head coach or manager (particularly unpopular ones) get fired mid-season. It’s one of those perplexing trends that nobody has been fully able to explain. If the perceived a**hole is removed from the room players tend to get motivated as a result. Hasn’t that been the Red Sox problem all along? Motivation? It sure isn’t a lack of talent.

    They really don’t have much lose. At best, the Red Sox charge their way into the postseason riding a wave of Valentine-loathing momentum. At worst, they’ve jettisoned a coach who clearly wasn’t going to work out long-term anyways.

    Firing Valentine could be the swift kick in the rear that the Sox need to get to the playoffs, and at that point, it’s whoever’s hottest.

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