Roche: Time To End The Valentine Experiment
BOSTON (CBS) - This west coast trip has been nothing short of ugly for Bobby Valentine and the Boston Red Sox.
We just watched them get destroyed in Oakland to the tune of 33-5. Alfredo Aceves has thrown nearly 150 pitches in the past five days while converting to a starter. He also forced Dustin Pedroia to have a heated discussion with him in the dugout after trying to pick a runner off second multiple times in a blowout game.
Valentine showed up to the park just three hours before a game -- which you never, ever hear of in the big leagues. His comments to the beat writers have been a bit odd lately as well.
Read: Cherington, Henry In Seattle, But Not To Fire Valentine
It has almost appeared as if Valetnine has either 1) completely lost interest in the job or, 2) is trying to get fired.
The Red Sox have to be disappointed in the way things have gone both on and off the field.
So, what do they do?
First off, after suspending him once already for three games, it looks like they may have to say goodbye to Aceves. In a losing atmosphere things could get worse in a hurry and the Sox don't need this.
Meanwhile, the Sox appear to be doing what they always do when it comes to important decisions; showing patience.
John Henry will be in Seattle, but it was a pre-planned trip and doesn't have to do with the current skid. He told me he is not heading out west with plans of firing Valentine.
Will he meet with him while he's there? Possibly.
I would.
A source told me that the Red Sox will wait until the end of the season to evaluate Valentine, along with the entire organization -- something they always do.
If, at that time, they feel Valentine should go, they will send him on his way. Right now (and things can change as we all know) it appears the manager's job is safe.
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Ben Cherington had planned on going to Seattle as well. Cherington routinely joins the team on road trips, as do many GM's in the game, and is also not flying out there to show Valentine the door.
However, I do think he will bring up the way he is managing the team, handling the pitching staff, and making out his lineup card. It's his right to do that.
I can't see it, but Cherington could ask ownership to dismiss Valentine if he doesn't like what he hears. Again, I just don't see it happening, but as we well know, stranger things have happened.
So, for now, the Sox will just keep going on in what looks like could be an unwatchable final month of baseball. This team seems physically, and even more so emotionally, done.
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If it were me, I would say goodbye to Valentine now and get it over with.
Nothing against Bobby V, but it simply hasn't worked.
Like I have been saying all year, this was either going to be a brilliant move that would lead to a possible World Series title or end in a disaster. It's turned out to be the latter.
It's time to let Tim Bogar take over to get a sense of managing, and for the Sox to see what he can do and how the players respond.
But, this Bobby V experiment is over.
The Red Sox are better off ending it now.
Follow WBZ-TV's Dan Roche on twitter @RochieWBZ.
