The quotable Bobby Valentine

There will undoubtedly be many opportunities to share interesting or even inflammatory Bobby Valentine quotes this season so let’s get an early jump on it today with what he’s been saying about his newly acquired rivals.

In either an attempt to win the hearts of Red Sox fans or just because it’s how he really feels, we’ve already been entertained by a few quotes about the Yankees that some down in the Bronx might not forget any time soon.

In regard to the famous Derek Jeter “flip” in the 2001 ALDS, Bobby had this to say:

“We’ll never practice that. And I think (Jeter) was out of position and I think the ball gets (Giambi) out if he doesn’t touch it, personally.  That was amazing that he was there. Then it was more amazing to say they practiced it. I don’t believe it.”

When you’re the new manager of the rival of the team that made that play, well you’re going to get some heat for saying how you feel about it publicly.  Which is why soon after Valentine came out with an apology of sorts to Jeter and the Yankees.

“Total mistake on my part, because they do practice it, that’s for sure, it’s hard to practice that, because why are we going to practice a bad throw? That’s not what we’re doing here. But I get it. I get it.”

What he didn’t apologize for was his quote in that same interview about Jason Varitek, that included a historically accurate dig at Alex Rodriguez:

“He is a man’s man. He was a big hitter when needed. He was a leader of the pitching staff. He was able to beat up Alex. All that stuff is good stuff.”

Then the Red Sox and Yankees went on to play each other in a spring training game and the Red Sox won and all went along in the world as it should.  Until veteran Yankees pitcher and admitted human growth hormone user Andy Pettitte announced he was coming out of retirement to pitch for the Yankees again.  Of course the media asked Bobby V about it and of COURSE he had a response:

“I don’t think he’s coming back to where he was,” Valentine said. “Call it a hunch”

Now Valentine also said some very complimentary things about Pettitte, but the focus will once again be on the new Red Sox manager tweaking the rival New York Yankees.  Some think he should just be quiet and manage the team but I am certainly looking forward to a bit of color and spark coming from the manager’s office this season.

(Originally published on Examiner.com)