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.
