This is not what the Red Sox needed coming off a September collapse, questionable behavior in the clubhouse during games and a managerial change. But thanks to new manager Bobby Valentine, the Red Sox, only two weeks into the season, have more controversy. Valentine said of third baseman Kevin Youkilis on Sunday that “I don’t think he’s as physically or emotionally into the game as he has been in the past for some reason.”
A day later, Valentine apologized to Youkilis and said he was talking about his swing and being upset with not seeing balls being hit off the wall. Sure thing, Bobby.
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Youkilis admitted being confused by the comments. And star second baseman Dustin Pedroia strongly defended Youkilis on Monday.
“I don’t know what Bobby’s trying to do, but that’s not the way we do things here,” Pedroia told reporters before the Red Sox’s 1-0 loss to Tampa Bay. “Maybe that stuff works in Japan.”
– John Keim
