The American Spectator

The Boston Red Sox have relieved Bobby Valentine of his managerial duties.

I knew it wouldn’t work. I just knew it:

It may very well have been time for Terry Francona to move on. Even with two World Series titles under his belt, all good things must come to an end. But hiring Bobby Valentine reeks of desperation. The Red Sox collapse has only just begun and making Valentine the captain of the ship means they are accelerating towards the iceberg.

I picked the Red Sox to finish in last place in the AL East. They finished in last place in the AL East.

Their 69-93 record was the worst campaign for the Sox since 1965. The Sox finished 26 games out of first place. They went 16-42 from August 1st losing their last eight games of the season capped off by a 14-2 drubbing by the New York Yankees last night.

You knew Bobby V. was already out the door when he publicly bashed his coaching staff during a radio interview a couple of days ago.

Well, the $64.37 question is who will replace him in the seventh circle of hell located at 4 Yawkey Way?

The odds on favorite would be Toronto Blue Jays manager John Farrell who served as the Red Sox pitching coach from 2006 to 2010. I could see the Sox trading somebody like Mike Aviles to get Farrell. It’s unusual but managers occasionally get traded. The Pirates traded Manny Sanguillen to the Oakland A’s to get Chuck Tanner’s managerial services. More recently, the then Tampa Bay Devil Rays hired Lou Piniella as their manager by acquiring him from the Seattle Mariners for Randy Winn.

Other possibilities would be former Astros manager Brad Mills and Baltimore Orioles third base coach DeMarlo Hale. Both men were also coaches on Francona’s staff.

If Sandy Alomar, Jr. doesn’t get the Indians job on a permanent basis (more on that in a moment), perhaps the Sox will consider him. I’m sure Tampa Bay Rays bench coach Dave Martinez is in the mix.

One guy I’d like to see get a shot would be Los Angeles Dodgers third base coach Tim Wallach. But if the Sox decide to go with Farrell, I wonder if the Jays will pursue Wallach. The Jays wanted him last time but the Dodgers refused to let him be interviewed.

I digress.

Of course, what John Henry, Tom Werner and Larry Lucchino should do is get down on their knees and beg Francona to please come back to Boston.

But chances are Tito will end up managing the Indians in 2013. If so then more power to the Tribe.

Regardless of who the Red Sox hire it will be a long road back. The Red Sox will not win the World Series in 2013. Or the year after that. And so on.

The Red Sox may spend fifteen years in purgatory just like the Baltimore Orioles and earn their way back into the graces of the baseball gods.

On the other hand, I think the worst is over for the Red Sox.