Bobby Valentine might as well cue up some classic “Twisted Sister” songs on the old clubhouse boombox, because apparently “he’s not gonna take it, anymore.”
The oft-outspoken Red Sox manager has kept a pretty tight lip both with the media and umpires, so far this season. But on Wednesday, his frustrations finally boiled over onto the field.
Valentine made two trips out to the field to complain about questionable calls by the umpiring staff, and as each word seeped from the manager’s frothy lips it appeared he was become more infuriated. He may have kept his cool long enough to stave off ejection from Wednesday’s 4-3 loss in Kansas City, but the message was clear: enough is enough.
“Don’t be stubborn. It’s not his job to call a friggin’ play. Just get help,” a visibly frustrated Valentine said of the umpires call on a questionable Marlon Byrd bunt attempt. “It’s a damn shame, is what that is. And then they don’t want replay. If they can’t get it right, friggin’ ask for help.’
“They asked for help on the one in the outfield and I think they got it right. Why the [expletive] is it so hard to do it at the end of game?”
The clear passion and fire in Valentine’s voice was evident throughout his emotional postgame spiel, as the manager rallied behind his team and spoke his mind without giving pause to caution or political correctness. He was filled with a great sense of intensity and excitement, offering an exuberant declaration that culminated in an expression of unrelenting confidence in his team.
“I’m going to forget this series and go home,” Valentine said. “I saw a great effort from our guys, and it’s a damn shame we didn’t win all three [games].”
The Red Sox are in the midst of a dismal stretch, winning only one of their past eight games, and Valentine has a right to be chapped. Heading into Thursday’s series opener with Cleveland, the Red Sox (12-18) are six games under .500 with what currently ranks as the third-worst record in baseball — only San Diego (11-21) and Minnesota (8-22) are worse.
Surely, the Red Sox are severely battered and bruised. Boston is still managing through injuries to four key players — Andrew Bailey, Carl Crawford, Jacoby Ellsbury and Kevin Youkilis, but there needs to be more enthusiasm if things are expected to turn around.
Bobby Valentine is clearly doing his best to rally the troops. Now it’s up to the players to follow the manager’s lead and find the passion from within.
