He’s a mercurial personality who will clash with Don Genovese Lucchino in no time flat.  The press will have a field day exacerbating the situation.  Prediction: pain.

I really hope this happens. It basically guarantees the Sox will be. A travelling circus for years. Plus I hate Bobby V but came to respect Francona. This would be perfect.

[1] I don’t see a Don Larry, but there’s a Larry Don.  In agreement with [2], I’m going to pray to my Lares that this happens.

[3] Pray to your Lares and Penates, Rilkus.

Verlander? Better than the BoSox fellers I guess but i feel sorry for Jose Bautista.

[6] I’m not sure why this is here, but I nearly fell out of my seat laughing.

I just do not understand the media. How in the fuck does Bobby valentine replacing Terry Francona make the team any better? I mean, if the old manager was terrible and the new manager was legendary, I guess I could sort of see it (sort of). But a very good manager being replaced by a dude who hasn’t even managed since 2002? And that’s some major improvement? For reals?

[8] Yeah, especially since the one thing a manager can do that will actually impact his team’s performance is giving unwarranted playing time to bad players when a better option exists in the organization. I don’t remember that ever coming up with Francona. So how exactly would Valentine improve the team? With a magic mustache?

Have you guys seen this google stories ad on Brian Kingrey / MLB 2011?

http://www.google.com/insidesearch/stories.html

I’m surprised he pitched against the Astros and not WOE.

[9] It did with Aceves.

Okay, I couldn’t help myself.  I went to That Blog.  From one of the comments:

“The type of player that I’ve always dreaded in a tight spot has been the Johnny Damon type.”

I see.  So the kind of hitter that worries you is the borderline Hall of Famer.  Carry on.

[8] Per the media (yes, I know, but SSF I think agreed), a bunch of players quit on Francona.  Maybe Valentine will break out the waterboards if necessary.

Verlander MVP.  Granderson 4th, Robbie 6th.  Two 6th place votes for Sabathia and one 7th place vote for Teixera from somebody who loves RBIs.

A 10th place vote for Robertson. 

I blame Joba for all of this.

Actually, I am afraid.  I’m afraid that with Bobby V and Buck going against each other 18 times a year, somebody is going to get killed.

A 10th place vote for Robertson.

Absurd. I think even Schteeve would agree.

6 Where’s Owen CJ Wilson?

So, was Robbie’s 6th place finish in recognition of his RBI or his Home Run Derby performance ?

It did with Aceves.

Eh. I would agree except that I remember them saying that they considered it but they didn’t feel like they could stretch him out with so little of the season remaining. Lackey was pitching OK, so they didn’t bump him, and they were hoping Bucholz was coming back. Then lackey’s OK stretch ended and Bucholz couldn’t return in time, but by then there wasn’t enough time to make the move. He pitched 15 high leverage innings in the final two weeks of the season, and he couldn’t possibly have pitched more if he was a starter. So it didn’t really matter.

[19]  Wow, you followed that closely.  I know I read that some of the Sox were unhappy that he wasn’t in the rotation.  Maybe Francona didn’t make the case effectively to the players, or maybe they already were past listening.

[20] Yeah, one of my best friends is a die hard Sox fan. It came up a lot. At first it seemed like starting Aceves was the one thing that the Sox could have done differently, and it was Ortiz who called the Sox out on not starting Aceves (which is kind of a dick move, but whatever). But there was only a couple of weeks left in the season at that point, and it really wouldn’t have made sense. Aceves pitched 25 innings in September, with a 1.80 ERA. Lackey and Beckett only pitched 23. Lester pitched 31. Wakefield only pitched 24. Bedard pitched 12. It really didn’t make a difference. If you are pitching a reliever that much, he is more valuable than a starter.

The best AL MVP ballot was the Texas writer who put Michael Young #1.

Awesome.

[22] Someone seriously put Curtis Granderson 7th. 7th!

That is weird. At least Granderson is a heck of a lot closer to 7th than Young is to 1st!

[17]