Bobby Valentine to manage Red Sox

The Red Sox will introduce Bobby Valentine as their new manager tomorrow.  Valentine became the favorite to get the job once the Cubs hired (or the Sox failed to hire) Dale Sveum.  I, like many, am surprised that Valentine turned out to be the choice (I may or may not have written "please not Bobby Valentine"), but clearly he is a Larry Luchino guy.

And this article by ESPN baseball writer Tim Kurkjian is enough to convince me that not only is Valentine a good hire, but the best possible choice for a new manager.

If players are a little upset or put out by the decision, as has been suggested, that's all the more reason to like it. 

We'll know more once the roster is complete and they start to play the games.

The Red Sox Offseason: Part 1

Now that we've all moved past last baseball season (or not), where do the Red Sox go from here?

For many, the answer is "somewhere else".  Theo is in Chicago. Terry Francona could go to St. Louis (or elsewhere). Jonathan Papelbon is headed to Philadelphia.

Ben Cherington is in as GM. Dale Sveum could be the next manager.  Daniel Bard is the presumptive closer.

Terry Francona Leaves Red Sox

It was announced yesterday that Terry Francona will not continue to manage the Boston Red Sox, following a season where the team famously collapsed and failed to make the playoffs.

In hindsight

This is what I didn't say, didn't know, or happened subsequent to my most recent posts. 

1.  Kissing Suzy Kolber has a lot of funny running jokes, including one about Chad Ochocinco and Bengals coach, Marvin Lewis.  The most recent entry is, What Happens When You Call Ocho’s Phone Sex Line? (NSFW)

2.  The incident that inspired the name "Kissing Suzy Kolber" is one of the funniest moments in the history of television. 

3.  The Supreme Court is hearing a case based upon Westboro Baptist Church protests at military funerals.  This is an extremely interesting case.  I can't move off the view that as despicable as the actions of the protesters are, they are protected by the First Amendment.  How does this balance with privacy rights, places and times when protests are regulated, and responsibility for the results of one's speech?  Free speech exists, but certain content such as slander and yelling "fire" in a movie theatre will get you in trouble.  I am interested in how the court rules.

4.  The Ryder Cup was something special.  There were some great performances.  It was decided on the final singles match, with Graeme McDowell defeating Hunter Mahan to win it for the Europeans. 

5.  I had never watched Jersey Shore.  Stopped for about one minute when I saw it was on the other day.  I'm pretty sure that nose picking constitutes foreplay in the Jersey Shore.  My curiosity is satisfied.  I've seen enough.

6.  They say pitching wins championships.  I hope so, because my World Series picks (Phillies and Rays) had some serious hitting problems over the course of the season. 

7.  Apparently, I now take submissions.  They will be posted under the heading, "put this in your blog and smoke it".  It made me take the time (approx. 2 minutes) to learn how to add pictures and videos.

8.  "Four Days In October" was a good documentary.  Liked the camcorder footage. 

9.  It didn't take long to reveal my loyalties are to the New England sports teams.  Too much going on not to comment.  I will try not to focus too heavily on it.  No, I didn't just become a Liverpool fan.

10.  Texas and Florida are two of the most overrated college football teams this season.  They simply lost too much talent from last year.  Betting against them helped redeem my college football picks.  Moving the picks from Friday to Thursday, as suggested. 

11.  Oregon's win over Stanford was a fun college football game to watch.  Alabama and Oregon are the two best teams in the country right now, and the national championship match up I would most like to see.

12.  Not sure if I can or should keep up the theme of song lyrics as column titles.  My guess is that it has been done before (and probably better).  I have seen articles centered around movie quotes, but there is no intent to steal unattributed content or ideas.

Links

1.  The Patriots trade Randy Moss to the Minnesota Vikings for a 3rd round draft pick

2.  Red Sox ownership has agreed to purchase Liverpool FC

3.  The US Supreme Court is hearing a case regarding protests at military funerals

4.  The baseball playoffs begin today

5.  Will it be Obama-Clinton in 2012?

"Four Days In October"

ESPN is showing "Four Days In October" tonight (8pm EST), as part of the documentary series "30 for 30".

"30 for 30" contains some of the best sports documentaries ever made.  This one is particularly interesting because I know the story so well.  It is the greatest moment I'll ever have as a sports fan.  #2 is reserved for the USA winning the World Cup.  I can hope, but it probably will not happen in my lifetime.  

The night prior to our story, Red Sox lost game 3, 19-8. The loss meant they were down 3-0 against the Yankees in the 2004 ALCS.  They were on the verge of being eliminated by the Yankees for the second year in a row.  The 2003 ALCS was particularly cruel because of the way it ended, and because I believed the Red Sox were the better team.  We had our shot, and blew it. 

2004 was to become a different story.  It would be the Yankees who had their shot and blew it.

Kentucky Fried Kevin

Before game 4 of the ALCS, the first of the four nights, I remember sharing precisely the same thoughts as Red Sox resident clairvoyant, Kevin Millar. 

"Don't let the Red Sox win this game." 

I held the same hope, for the same reasons.  If Derek Lowe could get us through game 4, the Yankees would have to defeat Pedro Martinez or Curt Schilling (would become the "bloody sock game").  Pedro is the best pitcher I have ever seen; Schilling, one of the best of his generation.  And, as we learned the year before, anything can happen if the Red Sox can just make it to a game 7.

During "Four Days In October", the Red Sox accomplished the most unlikely of comebacks, winning four straight games to go to the World Series.  The World Series was almost anti-climactic, as the Red Sox swept the St. Louis Cardinals to win their first championship since 1918.  When that game ended, not a moment earlier, I removed the bottle of Dom from the refrigerator to celebrate.

The Red Sox won the World Series again in 2007.  It was a great moment, not the same as 2004.  Then, the Mitchell Report was released, casting a shadow over the whole generation of baseball.  Today, the Red Sox are no longer considered the lovable losers.  Like the Yankees, Celtics and Patriots, winning has become the expectation.  Fans take success for granted.  Those who are not fans of the teams turn against them, rooting for the new underdog.  Please let anybody but them win. 

Not in 2004.  Nothing will ever be like those "Four Days In October".