THE KISS OF DEATH

Or a vote of confidence for Boston Red Sox skipper Bobby Valentine, this coming from John Henry, owner of the club.

The team has been languishing in last place for most of the season, and has never climbed higher than 3^rd place. The fault? It lies with everyone according to Henry. The front office, the players and the manager and coaches, everyone has had a hand in this season so far, all are at fault.

Just like I have been saying: the manager is over-rated when it comes to the failure or success of the team, any team. Casey Stengel won with the best players and lost with the worst players.

But Bobby Valentine was hired with great expectations. He was hired to win, and the Bosox are expected to win, with one of the highest payrolls in baseball, somehow, last place is not good!

It is my suspicion that Bobby will be gone if he doesn’t turn this thing around and get then to the last playoff spot. Fortunately for Valentine there is still time to do something. With the Yankees looking like they are losing their grip on first, every win could take the Sox closer to a playoff birth if they can put together a win streak. This has a psychological impact on the New York club as they would fear the worst: a complete collapse!

In all fairness to the Red Sox, they have the highest rate of injuries in baseball as of this writing. But that is when a good manager is supposed to work wonders. The second highest is Washington, is it the talent or the manager?

Meanwhile I am starting to feel bad for the Yankees. They have the highest payroll in baseball and are either getting older or they may be not as talented as they thought. Cashen as he is every year is under scrutiny, and well as Girardi. Both can’t afford a collapse, especially with Boston getting into the playoffs. I can’t image the complete collapse of the Yankees and don’t think it will happen, but they can’t afford to drop out of first and have to face the Red Sox in a playoff. In any short series, I put my money on Valentine.

That’s all I wrote, folks!