Roche: Defending Bobby
BOSTON (CBS) - The latest flare up over the Red Sox and their clubhouse actually had me chuckling.
Bobby Valentine innocently says "nice inning" to a rookie third baseman, who makes a couple of errors in a game. And, that gets whispered upstairs as a hurtful, vicious remark.
C'mon people! This is getting absurd!
I love the game of baseball, especially the ebb and flow of a season. It is not an easy game. It can be cruel, frustrating, and nasty. However, it can also be exhilarating, refreshing, and beautiful.
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But, it is a long season.
With that said, it's amazing to watch the ups and downs. It will always baffle me how some guy can go 15-for-19 while crushing the ball to all fields one week and then the next week go 0-for-19 and look like they've never played the game. You need patience, humility, and mental toughness to survive -- no matter what caliber of player you are.
So, if Bobby Valentine sarcastically gets on a player for having a tough at-bat or bad day in the field, it's ok! I've seen it time and time again where a manager does everything in his power to get a player going or relax them. And sometimes it actually works. The major league ballplayer can have a fragile mind believe it or not. Something said to them may be an ice-breaker. It can be that tiny little thing that gets them back on track. And, even if perhaps the player takes it the wrong way it still can turn them around because of the anger.
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I have done my share of Bobby V bashing this season, but this is ridiculous. Whether you like him or not, it's the job as a player to go out and perform to the best of their ability on a daily basis. We've all had bosses we love, and ones we don't. It's part of life.
It's time for everyone in the Sox organization to grow up, come together, and move on.
Unfortunately, it looks like that just won't be happening this season. It's a shame if it doesn't happen because it will be a giant waste of time, energy, and talent.
Follow WBZ-TV's Dan Roche on twitter @RochieWBZ
