doggydaddy
Grampysorus Rex
- Joined
- Aug 26, 2011
- Messages
- 6,008
- Reaction Score
- 8,970
With Francona working for ESPN and his willingness to talk Sox, and in return, Valentine's willingness to fire back. it should be fun!
Have to admit that I had the same thought the other day. I'm not a big fan of coaches that feel they have to take the "pressure" or the "focus" off the players. I still think V has a plan. Perhaps he'll do less yakking as time goes on.
Don't count on it. Yaking is who he is but at least it will be interesting.Have to admit that I had the same thought the other day. I'm not a big fan of coaches that feel they have to take the "pressure" or the "focus" off the players. I still think V has a plan. Perhaps he'll do less yakking as time goes on.
I was a Francona supporter too but it was time for him to go. He had lost control and perhaps the respect of some of his players. I never liked the special treatment that some players were given and I did not like the idea that the starting pitcher could fly ahead of the team so he'd be well-rested for the next game. For a team to be a team it needs to be together. Should they be allowed to drink in the clubhouse during the game? Heck, they shouldn't be allowed in the clubhouse during the game. I am hopeful that the Sox will be in the playoffs this year. On paper it looks like we have some holes but last year, on paper, it looked like we couldn't lose. I guess that's why they play the game.I was a huge Francona supporter and am very leery of Bobby V. Hopefully I am wrong but Bobby will not be run out of town by the media, that is for sure. He will give them exactly what they want. And given that he, V, is a willing puppet for ownership, this could get ugly. I would expect 3rd place to be their ceiling this year with 4th a likely possibility.
I was a Francona supporter too but it was time for him to go. He had lost control and perhaps the respect of some of his players. I never liked the special treatment that some players were given and I did not like the idea that the starting pitcher could fly ahead of the team so he'd be well-rested for the next game. For a team to be a team it needs to be together. Should they be allowed to drink in the clubhouse during the game? Heck, they shouldn't be allowed in the clubhouse during the game. I am hopeful that the Sox will be in the playoffs this year. On paper it looks like we have some holes but last year, on paper, it looked like we couldn't lose. I guess that's why they play the game.
Bobby V will never last in Boston or anywhere else for that matter but for right now he may be the answer. He will put them through plenty of fundamental drills and maybe sharpen up their skills.And you are right, the players won't like it and Bobby V will use the media against them. This season the Sox need a manager to shake them up and Bobby V is more like Billy Martin than Tito.Not saying it wasn't time for him to go. You are right about the fact that his players had tuned him out but the "star" treatment comes from ownership. It was that way under Little too. I believe it was Pedro in 2003 who wanted to fly home ahead of the team on a roadtrip when he wouldn't even be pitching and Little said no. Pedro went over his head to the owners who granted him permission.
I'm just not sure Bobby V is the answer. This reminds me of replacing Parcells with Carroll. Everyone loved Pete's energy but the team tuned him out midway through year two. If Valentine is going to try to communicate with his players through the media, I predict it won't go well. One thing Tito was great about was handling the players in private and telling the media just enough to keep them off his back. I don't see that being Bobby's style and the piranha's in the media will eat this up. I doubt the players will like it.
I really hope I am wrong about this.
I never liked the special treatment that some players were given and I did not like the idea that the starting pitcher could fly ahead of the team so he'd be well-rested for the next game.
Its gonna be great. Bobby V has rabbit ears and will respond to everything. He has his hands full, a snitch in the clubhouse, a big question mark at ss, banning beer and the gorilla in the room- failing to add legit starters to the back of the rotation. Its gonna be fun to watch.
It's gonna be a long wait. How is Crawford enjoying his time in Boston?
Maybe with the expanded playoffs the Sox will make it to October this year.
I hope we won't need it. Also, I hope that Tampa Bay doesn't make it in because your fan base is the worst.
You realize Toronto will take their place? Blue Jays are going to be good for a LONG time with the great moves they have made in the offseason. Unlike Tampa, they can actually pay their home grown players (Bautista, etc) as well. Boston is in severe trouble.
... (didn't count Gardner, as he's mediocre).
This is absurd. The team with the second highest payroll in the game, and multiple all-stars, plus great young players in Pedroia, Lester and Ellsbury is not even close to being in trouble. The Yankess are in bigger trouble, with few young players and plenty of old ones that are breaking down. Apart from Cano, Granderson and maybe Texiera, the regulars are on the way to retirement (didn't count Gardner, as he's mediocre).
Besides Jeter and A-Rod, who are you talking about? No one in the outfield, not first base, second or catcher (Where even with trading Jesus, they are still stocked in the minors at the position) and their rotation and bullpen is young.
You have no idea what you're talking about. But enjoy Crawford and the arthritis he already developing now at his age. That should be a fun contract.
Garcia and Kuroda are young? Rivera and Proctor are 42 and 37. The Sox have very few guys on the pitching staff over 30, and the oldest is Lacky at 33, and he's done for the year (Thank God).
I don't think either team is in trouble, but the Yanks need to replace 3 aging veterans soon (A-Rod, Jeter and the ageless Rivera) plus the two old farts in the rotation. The sox need to replace Ortiz (and Lavarnaway and Anderson are already set to do that). If Toronto catches one or the other in a year or two, it's more likely to be NY.
Whatever you say, Gammonds. Good thing y0u exhausted the entire list of young Sox in your post. I'm sure you are aware that pitching is a relatively important part of this game. The Sox pitching is probably better than the Orioles, at least.This is absurd. The team with the second highest payroll in the game, and multiple all-stars, plus great young players in Pedroia, Lester and Ellsbury is not even close to being in trouble. The Yankess are in bigger trouble, with few young players and plenty of old ones that are breaking down. Apart from Cano, Granderson and maybe Texiera, the regulars are on the way to retirement (didn't count Gardner, as he's mediocre).