Nov
27
2011

Murray Chass Rips Into Bobby V Again

An article by Hojo's Mojo

Former New York Times columnist Murray Chass, went ballistic on Bobby Valentine on his blog where he writes about an exchange he recently had with Red Sox owner Larry Lucchino and GM Ben Cherington.

If the Red Sox decided to interview one or more other candidates, it could be a sign that they are not prepared to offer Valentine the job.

“We haven’t made a decision yet,” Cherington said. “We’re going to be working on it. We’d like to have a decision sometime in the coming week.”

I called Cherington because Larry Lucchino, the chief executive officer, told me that ownership had decided that Cherington would speak for the organization on the subject of the manager. “We’ve had too many voices speaking,” Lucchino said.

Nevertheless, I asked Lucchino what he thought about Valentine’s interview. “Bobby did a terrific job when he was here,” he said.

Then Lucchino asked me a question. “What do you think of him?” he asked.

I would rather not have people I am interviewing ask me questions. In this instance what I thought about Valentine or any other candidate shouldn’t matter. I am not the one hiring and paying the new manager.

On the other hand, Lucchino asked a reasonable question, and the primary problem I had with it was whether I should offer some vague, non-committal comment or answer honestly. Of course, I chose honesty because I expect honest answers from the people I question.

“I have found him to be the most disliked man in baseball,” I said. And I added, “He doesn’t like me and I don’t like him.”

He then goes on to rip into Bobby V and shares quotes from other players and managers about him. He says that beyond his personal defferences with Valentine, he calls him one of the worst managers in history – “he ranks third in history among managers who have managed the most games without finishing in first place.”

According to Elias Sports Bureau, this is the rank:

Jimmy Dykes 2,962 games
Frank Robinson 2,241
Bobby Valentine 2,189

Updated 11/27

According to a report in the Boston Herald, the long and winding Red Sox managerial search has entered its final stages, and barring a surprise, the team has whittled its list to a pair of finalists: Gene Lamont and Bobby Valentine.

The former met with Sox ownership for a second interview earlier this week and remains in the running. The latter met with ownership first and then conducted a day-long interview with general manager Ben Cherington on Monday.

The team hopes to make a decision early next week in order to have a manager in place before the winter meetings, which begin a week from tomorrow in Dallas.

Original Post 11/20

According to Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports, Bobby Valentine and Ben Cherington will meet all day Monday to discuss the Boston Red Sox’s managerial job.

Cherington, presently on his way back to Boston from a brief scouting mission in the Dominican Republic, will not waste any time resuming the club’s search for its new manager. He and Valentine will trade philosophies, assess personnel and feel each other out and then the new Boston new general manager, will return to ownership with his final verdict.

This will be Valentine’s second interview with Boston’s brass and with no other interviews scheduled, it looks like it is Bobby V’s job to lose.

It was the Red Sox ownership group that has pushed for Valentine, so as long as he meets with Cherington’s approval, the job should be his and the announcemnt could come within the next 2-3 days if not sooner.

About the Author: Rob Johnson

12 Comments + Add Comment

Mr North Jersey November 20, 2011 at 5:53 pm

If he gets the job it will be fun to watch Bobby V and the Red Sox hopefully get under the skin of Joe Girardi and the Yankees.
Sach November 20, 2011 at 7:05 pm

As Rich Coutinho said, it’s interesting that both Bobby V and Omar Minaya could end up in Boston.
- larman November 20, 2011 at 9:14 pm
  
  The mets foiled themselves by not getting bobby v to manage the mets again, they needed that spark to get under these players to make them play the right way. I just don’t get it, the mets, i feel they are loosing touch with their fan base fast. Also to me their should be a salary cap these players are killing the sport of baseball by asking for all this money and some can’t even play real good year to year. I feel that these players are taking my heart for once i loved and kill it when i can’t take my family to see cus i can’t afford it.
  - LongTimeFan November 28, 2011 at 3:31 am
    
    I point to fans as being part of the problem making every situation a reason to complain whether justified or not. Collins and Valentine aren’t that different other than star power. That star power wasn’t selected for return engagement, irks you as the Mets doing wrong to you whether it’s rational reaction or not.
    
    So too the so-called ticket expense when in reality, tickets were also available for $10-15 which isn’t a price that should warrant complaints in 2011 against any team. There’s just pervasive anger amongst some Mets fans who, in attempting to deal with losing records and related disappointment, lash out at this or that whether justified or not.
Sach November 20, 2011 at 7:14 pm

As an aside, the Phils keep pushing- have acquired Ty Wigginton from the Rockies for a PTBNL or cash.
Lifelongmetsfan November 21, 2011 at 4:42 am

I live in the Boston metro area and it’s simply bizarre watching and hearing these Boston sports media “experts” clueless about the Boston Red Sox. All this past summer you wuld read and hear all Boston reporters talking, writing how wonderful and what a happy family the Red Sox clubhouse was…..
Booby V’s name came up in the Boston media a few weeks ago. All reports reported, “NO chance Bobby V. would even be considered! Never going to happen! blah blah blah…”
It’s amazing to me how wrong and oblivious reporters can be about the team they are supposed to be reporting on! I think most of the time these people just write and report total bs and we the fans take it as the truth! Why listen or read reporters at all?! It’s all crap.
Metfan Lou November 21, 2011 at 8:56 am

If Bobby V is the new Red Sox manager they will go after Yu Darvish. Bobby speaks fluent Japanese and his expertise with Japanese ballplayers is second to none. You can bet this was discussed during his interviews and may have been the motivating factor. After all he would be leaving a very lucrative job on tv.
Lifelongmetsfan November 21, 2011 at 9:54 am

hmm,…. Interesting thought! Nice job!
- Metfan Lou November 21, 2011 at 10:18 am
  
  Thank you for your nice comment, and when I read the story Yu Darvish is the first thing that came to mind. If you read the Darvish rumors, he is not so sure he wants to leave Japan under the current negotiating situation and to me the only one that can seal the deal would be Bobby V. The guy is a phenomenal pitcher (at least in Japan) and Boston would love to have him since Sabathia signed and starting pitching FAs are slim.
Joe Diaz November 26, 2011 at 3:58 pm

Bobby V is as good as it gets.He knows how to use a 25 man roster better than anyone.Reyes would flourish under a manager like Bobby V who knows when to give a guy a day off and keep his bench from rotting on the pine.Boston would be foolish to go with Lamont over Bobby V.
Lifelongmetsfan November 28, 2011 at 5:10 am

I love how Chass used a cocaine addicted, steroid using, loud mouth jerk who had lost his starting catching job to Mike Piazza as his confirmation that Valentine is not a good person. Hahha.. Too funny!
I really hope Valentine gets the Boston job!
Donal November 28, 2011 at 11:51 am

“Former New York Times columnist Murray Chass, went ballistic on Bobby Valentine on his blog”

IT IS NOT A BLOG!!!! ARRRGGGHHH!

Not, get off his lawn.

NL East Standings

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB
Braves	42	30	.583	-
Phillies	35	37	.486	7.0
Nationals	34	36	.486	7.0
Mets	27	40	.403	12.5
Marlins	22	48	.314	19.0

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