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It has been a couple of months since the largest collapse of the 2011 MLB season, one in which the Boston Red Sox had a nine-game lead on Sept. 3 and lost 18 of their last 24 games.
The final game was toughest to watch, as closer Jonathan Papelbon blew another save against the lowly Baltimore Orioles at almost the exact same time as the Tampa Bay Rays completed a come-from-behind victory against the New York Yankees to take the Wild Card spot.
It was a tough time in Red Sox Nation, as fans were forced to cheer for the Yankees to save their own playoff lives, but the Yankees added another reason for Red Sox fans to hate them. In just a few minutes, the Red Sox went from scrapping into the postseason to down and out.
Now it’s December and the annual Winter Meetings are about to start up. Manager Terry Francona is gone and Papelbon has also departed.
But the Red Sox have found a replacement for Francona: Bobby Valentine.
How Valentine will do in Boston is yet to be seen, but the 61-year-old will bring a new spark of life to the bench — exactly what the team needs. Valentine has more of an outgoing personality and always seems to have a smile on his face. He is a player’s manager.
One time while managing for the New York Mets, he was ejected from a game after arguing a call and returned to the dugout in full disguise with a fake mustache and glasses.
Though Major League Baseball fined him for his antics, it shows not only that he cares about what is going on in the game, but he also likes to have fun and keep a relaxed atmosphere in the clubhouse.
Francona was not known for taking the blame or defending his players publicly, but Valentine will defend his players to the death.
Aside from that, the fans and management in Boston want to see results. With a payroll exceeding $100 million, losing is not something anyone wants to see. Valentine has had some success wherever he goes.
As the manager for the Texas Rangers, he brought a club that finished in last the year before to a division championship two years later. But his most recent MLB managing gig is what he is best known for. Valentine managed the Mets from 1996 to 2002. He had once again brought life back to a reeling franchise and brought them to the playoffs in 1999. This was the first of three straight playoff appearances, including a World Series berth in 2000.
If Valentine has the ability to make winners out of previously lagging teams, then imagine what he can do with a team like the Red Sox, who have many of the pieces in place to make a serious run next season.
After managing the Mets, Valentine managed in Japan for a couple of years but has been out of baseball ever since. He has worked for ESPN, appearing on Baseball Tonight and Sunday Night Baseball, and interviewed for other jobs, including the Orioles and Miami Marlins managing positions.
But he chose to go to Boston.
Even with all his time out of baseball, he still knows the game well. His attitude and change in pace may be just what the doctor ordered for the reeling Red Sox.
