BOSTON — Bobby Valentine still believes he is the best man for the job, and last night his Red Sox provided him with a rare highlight, a walk-off victory over the Yankees at Fenway Park.
The Red Sox season is ruined, but they ruined the Yankees’ night when birthday boy Jacoby Ellsbury singled home Pedro Ciriaco in the ninth for a 4-3 win and on-field celebration.
Beating the Yankees is always a good thing for the Red Sox.
“I told the guys before the game,” Valentine said, “the fans are still pulling for us and they want to see us play well and the season is not over. … We owe it to them, the organization, to give it everything we have, and I think we did tonight.’’
This is a nightmare season in which the Boston organization finally realized the problems run much deeper than last September’s collapse. Right off the bat in his packed pregame press conference, Valentine was asked about his job status and what he would say to fans on why he should remain manager of the Red Sox next year.
“I feel bad for those fans,” Valentine said. “I don’t have to make a case to them, though, I’ve suffered with them.’’
Pressed what case he would make to the fans about keeping his job, Valentine answered, “I’m the best man for the job.’’
Bobby Valentine has not checked out on the season, and he has not checked out on the Red Sox. If anything, he has a much better understanding of the problems this franchise faces. Valentine has one year left on his contract and is going down fighting, even “getting on’’ his own starting pitcher Jon Lester not to lose his focus in the third inning because of calls by home plate umpire Chad Fairchild.
It appeared Valentine said to Lester, “You throw it, let him call it.’’
“I never speak to the umpires,’’ Valentine said after the win. “I might have been speaking to Jon about the umpire. The umpire might have heard me. I thought [Lester] was throwing some good pitches and I didn’t want him to get distracted. I wanted him to focus on the hitters.’’
Noted Lester of Valentine’s words, “That really wasn’t directed at me.’’
This was no ordinary day, of course. When Valentine was asked about the impact 9/11 had on him and continues to have on America, Valentine — who tried to do so much during that terrible time as manager of the Mets — gave this heartfelt answer.
“For people who are still healing, who are personally grieved by this tragic event, every day is an anniversary; every day is another day that they’re reminded that their lives have changed,’’ he said. “On an anniversary, all I can say is that I thank all the people who without a doubt gave more than others. People stepped up and did a yeoman’s job of filling voids in people’s lives, filling voids in the community of New York and D.C. and Pennsylvania and filling voids in the country.
“I am grateful that I worked side by side with a lot of people who gave a damn, and I think they made a little bit of a difference and I think we should never forget and I don’t think it’s ever going to be the same. All I can say is that I continue to try and do everything I can, and I don’t think it’s enough.’’
As for baseball, the Red Sox have a litany of issues. They are on pace to have their worst record since 1966. They wear a patch on their right sleeve commemorating 100 years of Fenway Park.
This season feels like 100 years.
Valentine is adamant he thinks he will be back next year, saying, “Why wouldn’t I think it until I’m told otherwise?’’
Would you like to know sooner or later? “Oh, much later,’’ he replied in Bobby V. fashion. “Four or five years from now, I would say, at least.’’
Such is life in the Green Monster.