In a sport that no longer has guys like Leo Durocher and Tommy LaSorda in charge, isn't baseball a better sports when it has Bobby Valentine in a uniform?
Phlavio of Mack’s Mets:I'm happy to have Bobby V back in the MLB. He's been my favorite Met manager since I've been a fan.
Conrad Youngren of Mack’s Mets:Was never a big fan of the hat-stomping, dirt-kicking, chair-throwing manager/coaches (Weaver, Pinella, Bobby Knight, etc.) but Valentine's fire (and maybe Durocher & LaSorda too...I'll even add Billy Martin!) had a choreographed quality of control beneath the external temper tantrum. Nothing, absolutely nothing, beats the disguised return to the dugout after that ejection. I'm glad he's back.
Charlie T. of Mack’s Mets:
Do the Mets historically make poor decisions regarding their baseball operations? Um...uh....that's a yes. Any team that could even think about replacing Bobby Valentine with Art "we battled out there" Howe; let alone actually do it, has serious issues concerning whats best for the team. He should have been our Mike Sciossa or our Bobby Cox; a manager whose expertise will never be questioned and never in jeopardy of being fired. To think that he was axed in favor Steve Phillips is just unconscionable, but hey....the Wilpons, what do you expect? Yes, in a lot of ways Bobby didn't do himself any favors by having this same opinion and letting it be known. He defiantly contributed to his own undoing, but that was then and now he's back. Probably seven or eight years late do to his reputation as someone who is hard to deal with, but just like Terry Collins, better late than never. Baseball, the Red Sox, their rivalry with the Yankees, and Red Sox Nation will all be better off with Bobby no longer limited to the broadcast booth, where a man of with his baseball acumen should never be wasted. I couldn't be happier for him and always wished the Wilpons would realize their mistake and make things right whenever the Mets had an opening, but alas....the Wilpons; they don't think they've ever made a mistake. Make no mistake about it, baseball doesn't need Bobby Valentine. Baseball is bigger than any one man. Yet, I can't help but feel good for baseball today and especially good for the Red Sox. Now, we're hearing rumblings about some players who might be upset with this move. Here is what I have to say to them if that's actually true: grow the fuck up you pampered, cry baby assholes! How dare you cash those huge checks, ride around in your fancy cars, live in those three mansions, kiss those gorgeous wives and dare to complain about anything, let alone the man your bosses have hired to whip your stuck up, comfortable asses into gear. You've drunk your last beer in the dugout, and ate your last leg of fried chicken while your greasy fingers stroked an XBOX controller. There's a new sheriff in Bean Town, and they're all on notice...Boo-Ya (comments of Charlie T. do not express the opinion of this web site or probably anyone else in the galaxy).
Michael Scannell of Mack's Mets:
Keep these group questions, I like them. Baseball is better off having personalities like Bobby V sitting in the dugout. Baseball is missing colorful personalties like Valentine who are also intelligent baseball men. I'm glad he's back and I would have liked to see him back with the Mets.
Michael Freire of Mack's Mets:
Baseball is absolutely a better sport with Bobby V managing! I still rue the day the Mets let him go and moved in a different direction. A lot of folks loved him and I am sure even more hated him. But, he can manage with the best of them and I would not be shocked if the Red Sox come roaring back to life under his watch. Plus, what other manager would ever think of sitting in the dugout, post-ejection, with a "disguise" on? Classic!
Jack Flynn of Mack's Mets:
The baseball world needs more free thinkers, and it's a testament to how barren the landscape has become that Bobby Valentine can be actually be considered a free thinker.
Now that Bobby V has landed an MLB managing job again, it will be interesting to see if he will shy away from some of the established dogma that today's field generals are beholden to. Has he learned any new wrinkles from his time managing in Japan? Is he willing to take risks and think outside the box strategically? Does he have a patent on eye black in case he needs to go incognito again?
Valentine is actually in a very advantageous position. He waited for just the right managing job, and he may have found it in Boston. The Red Sox have a rich history, a rabid fanbase and a player budget larger than almost any other team in the game. And yet, Valentine even gets to play an "underdog" role of sorts - Bobby V coming to the rescue of a team that's missed the playoffs for two straight years, torched its relationship with a respected manager and GM and needs someone to help right the ship quickly.
He doesn't have to worry about being second-guessed, because the old ways didn't work in Boston. He can mix up his rotation, use relievers outside traditional usage patterns, tinker with his lineup, exploit platoon matchups - all the type of things free thinkers find themselves constrained by these days. If it doesn't work, he can go back to the set of Baseball Tonight with an "aw shucks" demeanor and make money on TV until he retires into the sunset.
Baseball is more interesting when Bobby Valentine is managing a baseball team. Here's hoping he gives us more to talk about than his choice in disguises!
Keep these group questions, I like them. Baseball is better off having personalities like Bobby V sitting in the dugout. Baseball is missing colorful personalties like Valentine who are also intelligent baseball men. I'm glad he's back and I would have liked to see him back with the Mets.
Michael Freire of Mack's Mets:
Baseball is absolutely a better sport with Bobby V managing! I still rue the day the Mets let him go and moved in a different direction. A lot of folks loved him and I am sure even more hated him. But, he can manage with the best of them and I would not be shocked if the Red Sox come roaring back to life under his watch. Plus, what other manager would ever think of sitting in the dugout, post-ejection, with a "disguise" on? Classic!
Jack Flynn of Mack's Mets:
The baseball world needs more free thinkers, and it's a testament to how barren the landscape has become that Bobby Valentine can be actually be considered a free thinker.
Now that Bobby V has landed an MLB managing job again, it will be interesting to see if he will shy away from some of the established dogma that today's field generals are beholden to. Has he learned any new wrinkles from his time managing in Japan? Is he willing to take risks and think outside the box strategically? Does he have a patent on eye black in case he needs to go incognito again?
Valentine is actually in a very advantageous position. He waited for just the right managing job, and he may have found it in Boston. The Red Sox have a rich history, a rabid fanbase and a player budget larger than almost any other team in the game. And yet, Valentine even gets to play an "underdog" role of sorts - Bobby V coming to the rescue of a team that's missed the playoffs for two straight years, torched its relationship with a respected manager and GM and needs someone to help right the ship quickly.
He doesn't have to worry about being second-guessed, because the old ways didn't work in Boston. He can mix up his rotation, use relievers outside traditional usage patterns, tinker with his lineup, exploit platoon matchups - all the type of things free thinkers find themselves constrained by these days. If it doesn't work, he can go back to the set of Baseball Tonight with an "aw shucks" demeanor and make money on TV until he retires into the sunset.
Baseball is more interesting when Bobby Valentine is managing a baseball team. Here's hoping he gives us more to talk about than his choice in disguises!
:)
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