By Christian Lawber –
Last September, the Boston Red Sox suffered one of the worst collapses, if not the worst collapse, in baseball history. Since then, the focus for everyone who follows the team has been on what their future might hold.
Soon after the 2011 season came to its dismal end, both Theo Epstein, long-time General Manager for the Sox, and Terry Francona, who finished his eighth season as team Manager, left the organization. Those two high-level departures, of course, left the Red Sox with some important decisions to make during this off-season.
The good news is, these decisions have now been made, with Ben Charington replacing Theo Epstein as General Manager of the team and Bobby Valentine in line to replace Francona.
The Boston Red Sox have just this week agreed to terms with Bobby Valentine, former Manager for the New York Mets and the Texas Rangers manager. Their agreement makes Valentine the Sox manager for two years, with the possibility that his stay in Boston could be extended.
Of course the question on everyone’s mind at this point is whether or not Bobby Valentine is the right fit for the Red Sox, considering where they are now. Many believe that the answer to that question is a simple but resounding “yes.”
The Red Sox actually interviewed several candidates for the job; however, not all of the names on that list were the names of former MLB managers.
When you think about where the Sox are going in the 2012 season, it’s clear that they will need a tough manager who can speak his mind. And that means a manager who can speak his mind to the players, to the ownership, and to the organization as a whole.
Based on his background, his experience, and his credentials, it certainly looks like Bobby V. is the best choice for Manager of the Red Sox. And given what we have seen him do in the past, there is little doubt in anyone’s mind at this point that Valentine will come right in and immediately attempt to change the culture of the Sox organization.
The hope of Red Sox fans everywhere is that Valentine will be the catalyst the Sox need to bring another championship back to Boston.
If you are wondering what it is that makes Bobby V. the best man for this job, it is, first of all, that he has been around baseball for along time. His experience with managing other teams pretty much speaks for itself.
As mentioned earlier, Valentine honed his skills during his years with the Mets and the Rangers, and this is exactly the type of experience this Red Sox team needs. The Red Sox have a lot of talent on the team; it is just a question of finding someone who can capitalize on that talent and make it work for entire team. John Henry and the other owners obviously feel that Valentine is ready to do just that.
If Bobby V. can motivate his players to pull together and play some serious baseball, he will have no trouble in making a big difference in Boston. Under this new Red Sox regime of Bobby Valentine and Ben Charington, the Red Sox players will be able to make a fresh start.
When he was introduced to the press on Thursday, Dec. 1, Valentine seemed quite humbled by the appointment to this great team, but he also seemed full of enthusiasm and optimism.
Along with the front office, he wants to work on strengthening the Red Sox pitching lineup with some new additions, but he also wants to work with the players who are already a part of the Boston organization, so that all players focus on how to work together.
This is the only way to ensure that the Red Sox will be Wolrd Series contenders next year.
