Life with Bobby Valentine was often like water torture. The slow, relentless, day-to-day drip of his smartest-guy-in-the-game act sapping the energy of nearly everyone around him.
But it had always taken a lot longer for Bobby V, a successful manager despite his idiosyncrasies, to completely wear out his welcome than it did this season in Boston.
A little more than 10 months after he was hired to cure all that ailed the Red Sox following their epic 2011 September collapse, Valentine was fired with a year remaining on his $5 million contract after just one last-place season. Plagued by injuries early and by the sell-off of some of their most talented — and expensive — players late, the Red Sox finished 69-93, their worst record since 1965.
Within hours of Wednesday’s season-ending drubbing by the Yankees, Valentine was gone although word of his imminent whacking had leaked before that night’s game.
Among the candidates expected to receive strong consideration to replace Valentine is Blue Jays manager John Farrell, a former Boston pitching coach who is under contract through next season. The Red Sox tried to lure Farrell away last offseason, but turned to Valentine when negotiations between the teams hit an impasse.
The Red Sox are also said to be interested in talking with Blue Jays first-base coach Torey Lovullo, and Dodgers special assistant Bill Mueller. Former Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek joined the team’s front office last month and could be a candidate.
“I’m disappointed, yeah,” a smiling Valentine told reporters after a bike ride along the Charles River yesterday afternoon. “This is not the press conference that I was expecting at the end of the season.
“A lot of things didn’t go well, but an experienced manager is supposed to put his finger in the dike and keep the water on the other side.’’
The former Mets manager and Stamford, Conn., native was an ESPN analyst before the Red Sox tabbed him to replace Terry Francona. Asked to instill discipline in a clubhouse turned frat house, Valentine immediately ran afoul of his players by announcing he was banning beer. Things only got worse.
In July, ownership met with players to discuss Valentine, but denied players called for him to be fired. Management gave up on the season in late August and unloaded Josh Beckett, Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford and $250 million in payroll.
“Our 2012 season was disappointing for many reasons,” said general manager Ben Cherington, who had Valentine shoved down his throat by team president Larry Lucchino. “No single issue is the reason, and no single individual is to blame.’’
It’s likely Valentine, 62, has managed his last major-league game. And he may not be going back to ESPN anytime soon. An ESPN spokesman said yesterday the network is happy with its current crew of baseball analysts.