Former Mets manager Valentine 'in play' with Red Sox: source

Joel Sherman
Blog: Hardball

GM MEETINGS CONFIDENTIAL

MILWAUKEE — The soap opera that has engulfed the Red Sox has suddenly created this possibility: that Bobby Valentine will be Boston’s next manager.

A person involved in the process described Valentine as “in play” as a serious contender as the Red Sox have turned their attention to candidates with experience.

The sudden emergence of the former Mets manager is yet another shocking turn over an 80-day period in which the Red Sox have devolved from what seemed a model franchise to one now, at the least, giving off the perception of being overwhelmed by infighting and chaos.

N.Y. Post: Charles Wenzelberg

V FOR VICTORY? Former Mets manager Bobby Valentine has jumped to the top of the list to replace Terry Francona in Boston, a source has said.

Eighty days ago, Boston had the AL’s best record, leading the Yankees by 1 1/2 games and — just in case — leading the Rays by nine games for the wild card. On Aug. 30, they were opening a three-game series in Fenway against the Yankees and Tampa Bay officials will admit privately now that they were rooting like heck for Boston to sweep.

After all, they figured the team with the greater vulnerability and chance to collapse was, by far, the Yankees.

But, instead of going for their third title in eight years, the Red Sox finished 8-21 to produce the greatest collapse in regular-season history, failing to even win the wild card. Manager Terry Francona left amid unflattering leaks about his personal life. Revelations emerged that key pitchers were eating fried chicken and drinking beer in the clubhouse during games. General manager Theo Epstein grew so disenchanted at working in what was believed to be his dream job, he left to become the Cubs’ president.

And if the acrimony of that departure already was not at the nasty, spiteful level (the Cubs and Red Sox are still bickering about compensation), it worsened yesterday when the Cubs named Dale Sveum manager. Sveum was the only person Boston interviewed twice for its managerial opening.

This is just the headline stuff. Talk to major league officials from other teams and they speak of the discord and disenchantment they are hearing about from inside the organization. The departure of Epstein has created a public sense of leadership disarray with owners John Henry and Tom Werner distracted by other ventures and powerful team president Larry Lucchino undercutting the authority of new GM Ben Cherington.

Multiple executives said Sveum was Cherington’s managerial choice, but Lucchino squelched that move. Cherington denied that was the case, saying “absolutely not. I don’t know where that comes from.” He insisted the organization simply was not ready to move forward with Sveum at a time when the Cubs were.