Bobby Valentine is said to be a solid strategist in the dugout, which would be a refreshing change from asleep-at-the-wheel Lou Piniella. And he is a winning manager.
So what’s not to like, right?
Wrong.
Simply put, Valentine reportedly has an ego-driven personality and is much more interested in himself than the team he’s managing.
Instead of “Bobby-V,” he should be known as “Bobby-Me!”
But how can a manager be successful on the field if he doesn’t care about winning?
Oh, but I never said that the man doesn’t want to win. He does, if for no other reason other than to highlight his “legend in his own mind” status.
Look, Piniella wanted to win too. But again, for the wrong reasons. While the reasons are much different, they are similar in the sense that both mens reasons are the wrong reasons.
In Piniella’s case, he no longer had the fire. But he saw an opportunity in which he would have a huge payroll to work with, so he could guarantee entry into the Hall of Fame, something his friends insist is very dear to his heart.
He even admitted that he never thought the job would be this difficult when he told Cubs reporters, “this is a tougher job than I thought it would be, I’m going to be honest with you.”
Likewise, Valentine wouldn’t be taking the job because he desperately wants the Cubs to win. He wants Bobby Valentine to be the talk of the town.
Unlike Lou, he loves the scrutiny, the debate, the media attention. He craves it, he eats it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
The man is so obsessed with himself that he has a large self-portrait hanging in his hallway.
OK, I made that last part up, but it wouldn’t surprise me.
Now, Valentine was loved in Japan. How big is Valentine in Japan?
Well, a free section of the team’s stadium has been christened the “Bobby Seats,” and a street near the stadium is named “Valentine Way.” He’s also the only foreigner to win the Shoriki Award for contributions made to Japanese baseball.
But they were impressed with his larger-than-life persona, as a refreshing change to the normally stoic, serious-minded Japanese culture.
Despite this obvious love, he was not asked back. Now, even his friends won’t hire him.
Valentine has had a long-running friendship with Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria and seemed to have the job nailed down.
Still, when he didn’t get the job, instead of taking the high road, he blasted his friend on national TV.
“If this is a major-league process, I hope I’m never in the process again,” Valentine said on ESPN’s Baseball Tonight. “It’s very disturbing, confusing and it was insulting at times, but it’s over.’
The Marlins reportedly balked at his demands for control over personnel decisions.
So if Jim Hendry wants a manager to do both jobs, he’ll hire Bobby. But if Hendry likes being the GM, despite most Cubs fans objections, he will hire a manager who is content to just be the manager.
Now, that isn’t necessarily an endorsement for Ryne Sandberg. I’d prefer someone with major league managing experience.
But Valentine has been fired twice in two countries for personal conflicts with the front office and ownership over a variety of issues.
Plus, I’d be concerned about his patience with the young players, like Tyler Colvin and Starlin Castro.
I just don’t see Hendry taking on a manager with any history of adversarial relationships with ownership.
Sorry Bobby.
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