Bobby Valentine Bucking Tradition, Keeping Opinions to Himself Early in Season

by abournenesn

May 1, 2012

Bobby Valentine Bucking Tradition, Keeping Opinions to Himself Early in Season Editor's note: NESN.com is going to tell the story of the 2012 Red Sox in Bobby Valentine's words. Each game day, we will select a Valentine quote that sums up the day for the Red Sox.

Clay Buchholz has had a rough season. He's 3-1, but he also has the worst ERA in the majors (8.69). He appeared to be coming around Monday night, allowing just one run through six innings. But then the A's bombed five runs on him in the seventh, sending a visibly upset Buchholz off the mound, back at square one.

The pundits will be out this week, speculating on why Buchholz has been struggling. Curveball, back injury. This, that.

But one guy who knows plenty about baseball and could be piping up hasn't said a word: Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine.

Perhaps one of the biggest surprises for the Red Sox this season hasn't been player production or game results — it's been the relatively tight-lipped nature of the Boston skipper. Tight-lipped, of course, is a fluid concept. Valentine is no Bill Belichick.

But the man who once waxed eloquent (or often, less than eloquent) for ESPN and has been known to give running commentary on matters best left inside the clubhouse has been different this year.

Valentine has explained his reasoning after games and said his pieces about players' performance. But, the one unnerving situation with Kevin Youkilis and Dustin Pedroia aside, Valentine hasn't been the self-reverential baseball Buddha many predicted he would be.

In fact, he's been downright boring.

Valentine was a little animated when the Red Sox started winning in Minnesota, especially when asking if Alfredo Aceves was "trying to kill me" after the closer nearly blew a late lead.

But otherwise, he's been pretty basic with his thoughts. He explains his reasoning and quickly takes blame for the team's mistakes, but he doesn't give much beyond the positive when talking about his team.

After Buchholz struggled Monday night, Valentine relayed information about the sequence of the pitcher's outing, but he stopped short of giving an analyst's take.

"I'm not going to define it," he said.

The season is still young, and the wins are still few, so vintage Valentine could still make an appearance. But for now, the blank slate wearing the manager's jersey is making sure the drama stays on the field.

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