Bobby Valentine

The Boston Red Sox were defeated by the New York Yankees on Saturday April 21, 2012. The loss was not a surprise for the Red Sox this season. The circumstances around the deafeat and Fenway Park crowd reaction to the Red Sox manager, Bobby Valentine, were a surprise. The Red Sox got another "quality start" from left handed pitcher Felix Dubront. Dubront has no decisions this season with a 3.94 ERA. The start was 6 innings and was beyond "quality" it was GREAT. Dubront did not start the sixth inning however, when he left the game the Red Sox had a 9-1 lead. In the seventh inning the Red Sox allowed seven runs. In the eighth inning the Red Sox gave up seven runs. The Red Sox ended up losing 15-9. This was reminiscent of the 2004 ALCS blowout loses the Red Sox had against the Gotham City Yankees. However, this loss was brutal because of the beating the Red Sox administered during the first six innings and the clubbing the Red Sox received in the last three innings. It was brutal for another reason as well. Bobby Valentine was blasted by Red Sox fans each time he came in to replace a failing relief pitcher. Red Sox fans are characterized as being some of the most knowledgeable in Major League Baseball. Booing Bobby Valentine for the players failure to perform, UPPER managements failure to construct a good bullpen and releasing fan favorite Terry Francona, and major injuries to Carl Crawford, Jacoby Ellsbury, and Bailey is completely ridiculous. It diminshes the fanbase. If you don't like the teams record boo them. If you don't like management decisions turn toward the owners boxes and boo them. If Bobby does something boo him. Do not boo Bobby for the failure of others. Bobby Valentine made unnecessary comments about Kevin Youkilis(who is injured)but were actually a compliment if interpreted correctly. Even with the Youkilis comments taken into account Bobby Valentine should not be held accountable for the players not performing on the field. The Red Sox manager could be seen on FOX Televisions national broadcast mouthing what appeared to be the words "WOW" in regards to the fan reaction when he replaced pitchers. Red Sox upper management and Red Sox players should be saying "Thank you" to Bobby Valentine "for taking one for the team" on Saturday.