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Our Daily Bobby

Edgy DC Oct 18 2010 08:24 PM

Bobby Valentine Dispatches of the day: 10/18: Bobby Valentine is listed among candidates to skipper the Toronto Blue Jays, along with Rays' bench coach Dave Martinez, Red Sox third base coach and former Rays quality assurance coach Tim Bogar, Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell, Phillies bench coach Pete MacKanin, and former Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu. The Dodgers apparently did not let the Jays talk with Tim Wallach. Some outside buzz has him, former Astros manager Cecil Cooper, and former Baltimore interim Juan Samuel in the mix for the Milwaukee opening. Actual interviews for that job have included Nationals third base coach Pat Listach and White Sox bench coach Joey Cora, and former Mariners and D-Backs manager Bob Melvin. Some, but I don't think all, accounts out of Florida say Valentine was offered the job. Several sources say Valentine is prepared to return to Bristol next season, but he dropped this juicy tidbit when talking to Russo on Sirus/XM/Whatever. “If it was just a job, I think I could already have it, and probably have it a few places, and I really am flattered by the people who have had me in and have talked to me and even offered me a chance…But I’m looking for that perfect situation, and it hasn’t presented itself yet.” You know, gulp. I post this today because I sense a Parcellsian BobbyV. media frenzy about to blow, which may scare the Mets off or cause V to overplay his hand.

Fman99 Oct 18 2010 08:27 PM Re: Our Daily Bobby

Do we think the Mets are that perfect situation he's waiting for? He did go back to Chiba Lotte, there's a precedent here for him returning to something he didn't finish the first time.

Ashie62 Oct 18 2010 09:43 PM Re: Our Daily Bobby

Fman99 wrote: Do we think the Mets are that perfect situation he's waiting for? He did go back to Chiba Lotte, there's a precedent here for him returning to something he didn't finish the first time. Shush! Bobby might hear you.

Edgy DC Oct 19 2010 07:35 AM Re: Our Daily Bobby

At Bobby V's Sports Bar in Arlington, "The group couldn't remember the last time there was no football on the big screens... ."

Lefty Specialist Oct 19 2010 09:26 AM Re: Our Daily Bobby

Tampa Bay has a quality assurance coach?

Edgy DC Oct 19 2010 09:40 AM Re: Our Daily Bobby

A former one, anyhow, though I don't see one listed on their website now. Self-examination may bring Rays solutions Updated 4/16/2008 3:25 PM By Seth Livingstone, USA TODAY ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays, the only franchise in the majors never to win more than 70 games in a season, are taking a long, hard look at themselves. One man critiquing the performance is former big-league infielder Tim Bogar, hired to the newly created position of quality assurance coach. "Everybody talks about quality control," says Rays manager Joe Maddon. "But that means evaluating things after they've occurred. Quality assurance means we're evaluating things in advance — trying to head off our mistakes." Maddon envisioned an additional coach to tie up loose ends. "With all the information that's thrown out there today, I thought the one position I'd always like to have was an information coach — a guy who acts as a liaison between scouting and us (in the dugout). I also thought we could use a guy to really organize our day, a guy who scouts us and analyzes videos — kind of an assistant to everybody." That job description made sense to team vice president Andrew Friedman. "Other teams spend so much time advance scouting opponents and not enough time scouting themselves," Friedman says. "Tim will spend a lot of time looking at areas other teams might try to exploit." Although he's liable to be on the field before a game throwing batting practice or hitting fungoes, Bogar isn't one of the Rays' six uniformed coaches during games. Instead, he follows the action from the stands or press box, gaining a different perspective that more befits the white-collar job title. "It's an interesting job for me," said Bogar, 41, who spent the previous two seasons managing the Cleveland Indians' Class AA team in Akron, Ohio. "I'm another set of eyes for the rest of our staff, trying to take some of the pressure off them." Maddon says he's told Bogar to keep the Rays one step ahead of themselves. "If he sees us getting into any patterns, if we're tipping things off, if the route the left fielder took wasn't as good as we thought it was from the dugout," Maddon says, "he'll be able to see things up there that we can't see." And Maddon expects Bogar to quantify things that won't show up in box scores. "Everybody tracks physical errors," Maddon says. "I want us to keep track of the plays we didn't make that we should have made — the mental errors. You talk about them all the time, but you never record them." During spring training, Bogar served as the Rays' camp coordinator and also assisted with infield and baserunning skills. He says he likes the idea of sitting apart from Maddon and other coaches. "Sitting in the stands during a game, I don't have the emotion of sitting in the dugout," he says. "I'll be making sure Joe has all the information he needs going into a series. So, I'll be checking the Internet and reading the local papers in advance besides evaluating what's going on during games."

Edgy DC Oct 19 2010 02:09 PM Re: Our Daily Bobby

Ed Price is tweeting that Bobby Valentine had the Greek salad for lunch, and has been belching non-stop since 2:00.

TransMonk Oct 19 2010 02:20 PM Re: Our Daily Bobby

Fman99 wrote: Do we think the Mets are that perfect situation he's waiting for? I'm thinking that it would be easy enough for him to say that he was not considering himself a candidate for the Mets opening (as he did with the Marlins). The fact that he has not said that makes me believe that even if the Mets are not the situation he is waiting for, he won't be accepting any other jobs until the Mets tell him that they don't want him.

Edgy DC Oct 19 2010 02:47 PM Re: Our Daily Bobby

I think he'd've gone nuts for the Dodger job if the organization wasn't falling apart around Torre. A guy in his position in an earlier era would have seen the power vacuum as an oppoturnity to take over as manager and buy into the team. I think the Mariners --- and their transcontinental fanbase/talent pool --- would've been something he was excited about if they weren't a few years away and/or if he had some control over player acquisition.

attgig Oct 19 2010 03:32 PM Re: Our Daily Bobby

seems like every team should have a quality assurance coach... especially if it takes david wright & hojo a few weeks to realize that he's standing far away from the plate.

Edgy DC Oct 20 2010 07:12 AM Re: Our Daily Bobby

10/20 No reports on Bobby Valenine this morning, other than the jobs he didn't get. This thread sucks.

86-Dreamer Oct 21 2010 09:34 AM Re: Our Daily Bobby

Now that Cubs have hired QUAH-dee, my great fear of Bobby going to the Bronx to succeed Girardi has eased significantly.

TransMonk Oct 21 2010 10:12 AM Re: Our Daily Bobby

I don't forsee any further Bobby news until the Mets hire a GM. I have a hard time seeing Bobby go anywhere but Flushing or back to Bristol.

Ashie62 Oct 21 2010 10:54 AM Re: Our Daily Bobby

Bobby V is coming back to the Mets, I believe! (I really do!)

seawolf17 Oct 21 2010 02:18 PM Re: Our Daily Bobby

I'll be in Stamford on October 28; I'll go to Bobby's for lunch and see if I can get a secret message to him.

Benjamin Grimm Oct 21 2010 02:24 PM Re: Our Daily Bobby

I've been very dismissive of the idea that Bobby might return in 2011, but lately I'm not so sure. I find myself becoming just a bit optimistic.

Edgy DC Oct 21 2010 02:24 PM Re: Our Daily Bobby

That's the spirit We need more of that.

Vic Sage Oct 21 2010 03:23 PM Re: Our Daily Bobby

seawolf17 wrote: I'll be in Stamford on October 28; I'll go to Bobby's for lunch and see if I can get a secret message to him. Tell him that "the vessel with the pestle has the pellet with the poison... the flagon with the dragon has the brew that is true." He'll know what it means.

The Second Spitter Oct 21 2010 04:09 PM Re: Our Daily Bobby

Does anybody else feel the return of Valentine will be less likely if Alderson is appointed GM?

TransMonk Oct 21 2010 04:14 PM Re: Our Daily Bobby

I do. But I still think for Bobby it's Flushing or Bristol...at least for 2011.

metirish Oct 21 2010 04:18 PM Re: Our Daily Bobby

Not me, in fact I think a first time GM would be less inclined to hire Bobby , in such a GM/Manager team Bobby would be the bigger name/personality , with Alderson I think they both have the name, the history and the strong personalities to match up.

The Second Spitter Oct 21 2010 04:19 PM Re: Our Daily Bobby

TransMonk wrote: But I still think for Bobby it's Flushing or Bristol...at least for 2011. I think that part's pretty obvious. Applying for jobs and then pulling out before you get an interview doesn't tend to endear you to prospective employers.

Ashie62 Oct 21 2010 06:35 PM Re: Our Daily Bobby

Vic Sage wrote: seawolf17 wrote: I'll be in Stamford on October 28; I'll go to Bobby's for lunch and see if I can get a secret message to him. Tell him that "the vessel with the pestle has the pellet with the poison... the flagon with the dragon has the brew that is true." He'll know what it means. They may just work Tell he he can hold Woody Woodpecker during the Macy's day Parade also.

TransMonk Oct 22 2010 07:17 AM Re: Our Daily Bobby

10/22: http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/105474168.html The Brewers also talked informally with former Texas and Mets manager Bobby Valentine, now with ESPN, though he was not believed to have interviewed directly for the job.

Edgy DC Oct 22 2010 07:29 AM Re: Our Daily Bobby

Pretty cool that Doug Melvin is interviewing Bob Melvin. They can get the Melvins to play the opening day national anthem. Paddy Power will have a field day if Melvin disappears from the Mets list of candidates. Reports have Toronto leaning toward John Farrell. Stuff of legends. Memorable. Bigger than life. Exhibiting the extraordinary about which tales are written. These are the hallmarks of legendary people and you can meet and celebrate a few at the Bobby Bragan Youth Foundation 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award Gala on Nov. 18 at Ridglea Country Club. The fabled philanthropist Boone Pickens will be honored at a gala dinner benefiting the foundation's scholarship program. Former pro baseball player and Texas Rangers manager, restaurateur and sports analyst Bobby Valentine will host festivities including remembrances of Bobby Bragan. The evening includes raffles for sports tickets, vacation getaways and more. Tickets are $200, with tables starting at $1,750. Call 817-870-2300 or visit http://www.bobbybragan.org for more information. Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/10/21 ... o.html#tvg#ixzz135t8JsFh

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Oct 22 2010 09:59 AM Re: Our Daily Bobby

The Second Spitter wrote: Does anybody else feel the return of Valentine will be less likely if Alderson is appointed GM? Very much so, yes.

batmagadanleadoff Oct 22 2010 10:00 AM Re: Our Daily Bobby

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: The Second Spitter wrote: Does anybody else feel the return of Valentine will be less likely if Alderson is appointed GM? Very much so, yes. Howkum?

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 22 2010 10:04 AM Re: Our Daily Bobby

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: The Second Spitter wrote: Does anybody else feel the return of Valentine will be less likely if Alderson is appointed GM? Very much so, yes. Well, who then? I'm not sure if Wally Backman is particularly Aldersonian, and his behavior could make his bosses look bad. That's why I'm expecting a curveball of some kind. Mazzilli? Has some experience, Met heritage but is probably malleable enough to fit into a Howe-ish role. There's also Chip Hale. Seems like a bright guy, really well-liked, I could see it.

Edgy DC Oct 22 2010 10:07 AM Re: Our Daily Bobby

I guess I could see Alderson liking Bobby and not liking Bobby. I'd sure like to know why he specifically shouldn't like Bobby. As noted earlier, the idea that "smart" guys are threatened by "smart' guys* doesn't hold up when you consider that he hired Tony LaRussa. * A variation on the 900-lb. gorilla theory.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Oct 22 2010 10:58 AM Re: Our Daily Bobby

While I don't think Alderson minds working with smart guys as subordinates, I think that he'd be averse to committing a large amount of financial resources there. I'd imagine that Bobby's asking price is pretty damn steep-- unless they found his tie objectionable or he suddenly, uncontrollably began vomiting racial slurs during the interview, I can't imagine any other reason why Seattle gave Wedge the job over him. Alderson seems constitutionally opposed to that sort of multimillion-dollar spending on "middle management;" that he would be taking over a team that seems, among other things, to be listing toward fiscal prudence (if not restraint), makes a hire even less likely. But hey, maybe he's a big Valentine fan-- maybe they're old buddies from some'eres, or maybe he's been a fan from afar-- and I'm completely off-base. I'm not saying it's impossible... I'm just saying that it seems highly improbable to me, given the way Alderson seems to manage. (Chip Hale? Well, yeah, that makes more sense...)

Frayed Knot Oct 22 2010 11:34 AM Re: Our Daily Bobby

I'm not sure that it's money that GM Alderson objects to when it comes to managers (maybe the Wilpons would) so much as it is having one who sets his own philosophy or agenda for game time decisions that conflict with those he feels are correct. Maybe their personalities would clash (I have no idea) but I don't see mgr Bobby being the type that would make him a non-starter in the eyes of Alderson.

Benjamin Grimm Oct 22 2010 11:45 AM Re: Our Daily Bobby

I'd also hate to think that the new GM would be intimidated by a strong manager. If he's that insecure then he's not the guy that I want GMing the Mets.

Edgy DC Oct 22 2010 11:51 AM Re: Our Daily Bobby

Stilll, it's understandable if he doesn't want a manager with the juice to ask for five mills per year and five years. Personally, I think managers are woefully underpaid, relative to the players they lead. But Billy Beane seems to think he can swap 'em out whenever, and perhaps not over-committing to one is part of Alderson's philospohy.

Frayed Knot Oct 22 2010 11:59 AM Re: Our Daily Bobby

Oakland's budget situation was very different too.

themetfairy Oct 22 2010 12:15 PM Re: Our Daily Bobby

I would think that Bobby is the one potential manager who could put fans back in the seats. People would buy tickets to see Bobby back in New York. I know I would. He's the one manager whose salary could be offset by increased ticket sales.

Edgy DC Oct 22 2010 12:20 PM Re: Our Daily Bobby

I don't know if it'd be meaninful to Alderson, but it's a worthwhile point. Among managerial candidates (using the term loosely), one could also build a sales campaign around Backman, Mookie Wilson, or Gary Carter. Probably Mazzilli too.

Gwreck Oct 23 2010 12:09 AM Re: Our Daily Bobby

themetfairy wrote: I would think that Bobby is the one potential manager who could put fans back in the seats. People would buy tickets to see Bobby back in New York. I know I would. I probably would too, but I have my doubts that it would be a significant difference for Valentine's presence alone. Aside from a marquee star (of which there are about a dozen in all of MLB), the only meaningful factor that will influence the Mets attendance in the next few years is won-lost record. Now, does Valentine mean more wins than with a different manager? If so, sure, he might put butts-in-seats, but that would also mean he's the right person for the job independent of attendance factors.

Valadius Oct 29 2010 07:11 PM Re: Our Daily Bobby

I had no idea that it was Robin Ventura's idea for Bobby to go back out in the glasses and the mustache. My opinion of him just soared. [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jowwMKG5kYc

Edgy DC Nov 01 2010 06:52 AM Re: Our Daily Bobby

Jon Heyman is reporting in Sports Illustrated that Valentine is the leading candidate for the Brewers. Brewers denying they have a lead candidate. USA Today reports that they hope to hire somebody Monday or Tuesday.

metirish Nov 02 2010 01:41 PM Re: Our Daily Bobby

Bobby will not be Brewers manager....... Dare I dream a dream Susan Boyle?

Edgy DC Nov 02 2010 01:50 PM Re: Our Daily Bobby

Dream on.

metirish Nov 02 2010 01:50 PM Re: Our Daily Bobby

Edgy DC wrote: Dream on. That's Steven Tyler I do believe

TransMonk Nov 02 2010 01:51 PM Re: Our Daily Bobby

You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one.

Benjamin Grimm Nov 02 2010 01:52 PM Re: Our Daily Bobby

WHOA! So, based on Frayed Knot's chart in the other thread, and the earlier failed courtships between Bobby and the Marlins (and the likelihood of Ron Washington's return to the Rangers) it looks like if Bobby is going to major league spring training as a manager next February, it will either be with the Pirates or the Mets. I can't see him in Pittsburgh. We should find out within a week, I'd think, whether or not the Mets are interested.

Frayed Knot Nov 02 2010 01:52 PM Re: Our Daily Bobby

TransMonk wrote: You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. When did Aerosmith cover that one?

John Cougar Lunchbucket Nov 02 2010 01:55 PM Re: Our Daily Bobby

TransMonk wrote: You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. Can you put your hands in your head? Oh, no?

soupcan Nov 02 2010 02:45 PM Re: Our Daily Bobby

Cross the highways of fantasy, help me to forget today's pain.

G-Fafif Nov 02 2010 02:46 PM Re: Our Daily Bobby

When it comes to Bobby V, how long must I dream?

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Nov 02 2010 07:00 PM Re: Our Daily Bobby

Think Ninety-Nine and think, "Whee!" But hold on tight and don't get all antsy While staring at that vacancy Dream a little dream of V

Edgy DC Nov 02 2010 08:11 PM Re: Our Daily Bobby

Tonight makes love to all your kind Tomorrow's pickin' Valentines

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Nov 02 2010 08:27 PM Re: Our Daily Bobby

I'm not going to get too sentimental 'bout another stint with Valentine, 'cause I don't know if he's talking with somebody I only know he isn't thine.

soupcan Nov 03 2010 07:24 AM Re: Our Daily Bobby

Come home Bobby! Brewers hire Roenicke as manager Posted: Wednesday, November 3, 2010 12:00 am Brewers hire Roenicke as skipper, source says The Milwaukee Brewers have hired Los Angeles Angels bench coach Ron Roenicke to be their new manager, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Tuesday. An announcement could come this week. Roenicke, 54, has been on the Angels' coaching staff for 11 seasons, including the past five as bench coach. He will replace Ken Macha, who was fired after two disappointing seasons.

A Boy Named Seo Nov 03 2010 09:09 AM Re: Our Daily Bobby

Benjamin Grimm wrote: WHOA! So, based on Frayed Knot's chart in the other thread, and the earlier failed courtships between Bobby and the Marlins (and the likelihood of Ron Washington's return to the Rangers) it looks like if Bobby is going to major league spring training as a manager next February, it will either be with the Pirates or the Mets. I can't see him in Pittsburgh. We should find out within a week, I'd think, whether or not the Mets are interested. Where's this chart? In the new skipper thread?

TransMonk Nov 03 2010 09:51 AM Re: Our Daily Bobby

Hired

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Nov 04 2010 03:10 AM Re: Our Daily Bobby

Well, harumph. Valentine is said to have had a bad parting with Mets owner Fred Wilpon, and one Mets executive said months ago that he believed Valentine would have a hurdle to clear to have a chance to get the Mets job. Now with Sandy Alderson in as the Mets' new GM, it appears Valentine's chances would be next to nil. Alderson is the mentor to Moneyball, and while associates expect him to seek some managerial experience, being that it's New York, they don't think he'll go for someone as strong-willed as Valentine (one of Moneyball's tenets is that the manager is seen as middle management, which might be part of the reason Bochy didn't last in San Diego too long after Anderson got there). He also raises an interesting half-formed point about the invasive New York press creating a "damaged goods" vibe around "three ex-Mets managers with winning records," citing this as reasons why Bobby V, Willie and Jerry have gotten exactly one firm offer in the last 2-3 years.

Edgy DC Nov 04 2010 06:17 AM Re: Our Daily Bobby

The whole thing seems a little half-formed, though, doesn't it. Strongly plausible, but...

Edgy DC Nov 04 2010 07:49 AM Re: Our Daily Bobby

Really, isn't it a little overbroad to describe Alderson as the "mentor to Moneyball"? He was a mentor to Billy Beane and an article about Beane was written and a subsequent book came out of that article called Moneyball. But it seems to be a stretch to suggest Alderson was trying to establish a rigid ideology with hard concrete tenets. He was trying to find a way to corner the market on undervalued assets after a new ownershipship group ordered him to slash payroll. That led to a system --- and an evolving one that can be applied differently as circumstances warrant --- but not such an orthodox ideology as is implied there.

Frayed Knot Nov 04 2010 08:02 AM Re: Our Daily Bobby

'Moneyball' continues to be both the most oft-cited and the most mis-cited book in sports history. The idea that the club didn't want a manager with a separate and distinct philosophy from that of mgmt is quite different from the concept what they wanted was a soul-less and idea-less automaton. As far as Bobby's parting with Fred, what I recall from the time was that he was upset that he was the lone one getting the ax and not Phillips instead/also. Whether he expressed that to Fred in some kind of screaming, cursing, 'a pox on you and all your ancestors' fashion on the way out the door is certainly possible although I don't remember such a rant becoming public. But, clearly, the main source of friction there was between Bobby & Stevie.

metirish Nov 04 2010 08:10 AM Re: Our Daily Bobby

I distinctly remember a few years back both Bobby and the Wilpon's talked about any animosity being long in the past, it was at a charity event they both attended, IIRC it was a Valentine event.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Nov 04 2010 08:47 AM Re: Our Daily Bobby

Fair enough, Irish. But there's "I don't want to tear your face off of your face when I see a photo of you in the paper" in-the-past... and there's "I would hire you back without reservation, with a guaranteed contract, and at a higher rate if need be" in-the-past. Frayed Knot wrote: 'Moneyball' continues to be both the most oft-cited and the most mis-cited book in sports history. You know, you could make a really [crossout]boring[/crossout] fun tween-to-adult activity book out of erroneous Moneyball citations/guessing from each passage how little of the book the author's actually read; you could sell it in airport newsstands next to, like, baseball-themed Sudoku (hell, I've bought BP Annuals there).

Edgy DC Nov 07 2010 02:51 PM Re: Our Daily Bobby

Chiba Lotte wins the Japan League title, proving to the world that there's life after Bobby.

seawolf17 Nov 08 2010 07:52 AM Re: Our Daily Bobby

Edgy DC wrote: Chiba Lotte wins the Japan League title, proving to the world that there's life after Bobby. Well, then let's hire him, Buck Showalter-style.