[Doc Savage]

Listen, it was easy to manage these morons when they were all home-run, dead-fastball, golden-glove murderers row. I pity Valentine. He took over from a guy who allowed these prima donnas to drink during games, play golf, eat chicken, and didn't hustle on the field. He was given a decrepit pitching staff that couldn't throw a strike if their lives depended on it.

But you're so right. It was Valentine who didn't run out that ground ball. It was Valentine who came in in relief and gave up the walk-off home-run. It Valentine who missed signals, struck out 400 times, dropped an easy fly ball, got thrown out over-running a base, etc., etc., etc. Yeah, it's easy to see why Valentine lost the season for them. He should have been able to meld this crew of arrogant, contentious self-centered multi-millionaires. Yeh, I see it now!

[JoeDetweiler]

I agree that Valentine is being made a scapgoat. But after a season as bad as this one you gotta make some changes. From what I’m hearing (Pete Abraham) the office didn’t really like Valentine very much to start with. I think everybody is better off with him gone. Especially him.

Of course, I’m a Yankee fan :)