Casey Camilleri

What is happening at the beginning of this 2012 season?  Typically the drama happens in regards to the players.  Let’s face it, they are young and not use to being in the spotlight so it’s easy to slip up here and there when you are just entering the league.

If you haven’t heard, Bobby Valentine criticized Kevin Youkilis saying that he wasn’t “as physically or emotionally into the game.” 

Are you kidding me?

Since I have MLB.tv I watch Red Sox games regularly and have been watching Youkilis play for years now.  If you’ve read Moneyball you would know how Billy Beane spotted him when no one else gave him a second look.  Kevin Youkilis is VERY physically and emotionally into the game in my opinion, and I think if you ask anyone on the team or any Red Sox loving fan in Boston would tell you the same.

I was hesitant with the Red Sox signing on Bobby Valentine as their manager for a few reasons and now he just shows me I was correct to have my doubts about him.  This is an amazing group of guys he has here to manage.   How do you mess up a good thing? Well if you start out the season criticizing one of the staple players of the team, that’s how.

I’m glad Bobby Valentine apologized about his comment.

If he knew anything about managing players and a team though he would have never spoke about a member of his team like that.  There are many other ways to approach that individual if you are having doubts about his athletic efforts.  I hope Bobby learns from his managerial mistake and I already know Youkilis will be just fine.  He’s known for a long time that “haters are goin’ hate.”