Bobby Valentine Questioned Kevin Youkilis' Commitment, to the Media Rather Than His Face
By Ty Duffy
Valentine casually questioned Kevin Youkilis’ commitment during an interview, about the worst comment you could make about a professional baseball player.
"“I don’t think he’s as physically or emotionally into the game as he has been in the past for some reason,” Valentine said. “But [Saturday] it seemed, he’s seeing the ball well, got those two walks, said he got his on-base percentage up higher than his batting average, which is always a good thing, and he’ll move on from there.”"
Youkilis, obviously, disagreed with Valentine’s assessment.
"“I don’t know. That’s not what I see. I go out every day and play as hard as I can — take every ground ball in the morning, take every at-bat like it’s my last. I don’t think my game has changed at all. I still get upset with myself. I still get mad. That’s just not how I go about the game of baseball.”"
He then pointed out that Valentine had never discussed this with him.
"Did he make similar comments in person to you? “No. I just found out last night. My agent told me something was coming out. I just heard that.” He has never had a conversation with you suggesting there was something lacking? “No, that’s the first time I heard it.”"
This was needless, asinine and less tactful than a passive-aggressive Facebook post. Valentine apologized (to Youkilis himself) though, with his conceit, we wonder whether he even understood why blabbing this baseless assessment to the media was wrong. Counting out the Red Sox might be foolish, so is crediting these endless controversies as some sort of masterstroke.
This won’t end well and, at this rate, it will end well before October.
[Photo via Presswire]
Previously: Bobby Valentine Was Asked About Curt Schilling, and Then Things Got Awkward
Previously: Bobby Valentine is Already Irritating The Red Sox Front Office
Previously: Red Sox Manager Bobby Valentine Will Do a Weekly ESPN Radio Show in New York With Michael Kay
Previously: Ozzie Guillen Thinks Bobby Valentine Should “Go and f- – – himself”
Previously: Curt Schilling Thinks Things Are “Going Bad” With Bobby Valentine and the Red Sox