Could Valentine's Remarks Open Door for Will Middlebrooks?

On Sunday night, just hours after the Red Sox defeated the Tampa Bays Rays, 6-4, manager Bobby Valentine criticized Kevin Youkilis for his lack of investment in both organization and game as a whole.

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“I don't think he's as physically or emotionally into the game as he has been in the past for some reason. But [on Saturday] it seemed, you know, he's seeing the ball well, got those two walks, got his on-base percentage up higher than his batting average, which is always a good thing, and he'll move on from there.”

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Having won their last three games, Valentine’s comments caught the team by surprise and baffled Youkilis.  On Monday morning, the third baseman told WEEI.com:

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"I'm more confused than anything, because I think everyone knows I go out and play the game as hard as I can. That's just my style of play. I never was blessed with the raw tools … so I've always had to use playing the game as hard and with full effort my whole life. I don't know any better, so that's just the way I play."

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Youkilis, who entered Monday batting .200/.265/.233 with one extra-base hit and eight strikeouts in 30 at-bats, has every right to be confused by Valentine’s oft-putting remarks, especially when the third baseman is 5-for-13 with three walks and six runs scored in the team’s last three games.

As my colleague Steven Goldman noted earlier this morning, Youkilis is 33 years old, and in the final year of his contract.  Following the season, the Red Sox will be forced to either pick up his $13 million team option, or buy him out for $1 million.

Considering Bobby V’s apparent distaste for Youkilis—who's now about as a fragile as a China doll—it’s conceivable that this ill-timed quarrel could open the door for the team’s No. 2 prospect, third baseman Will Middlebrooks.

Playing for Triple-A Pawtucket of the International League, Middlebrooks is off to a hot start.

In his first 11 games, the Red Sox’s future third baseman is batting .364/.378/.636 with six extra-base hits and 11 RBI in 44 at-bats.  Over his last three games, Middlebrooks has been especially raking, batting .462 (6-for-13), with two home runs and eight RBI.

I have no doubt that Middlebrooks will make his Red Sox debut at some point during the 2012 season.  But given the potential schism sparked by Valentine’s remarks, as well as Youkilis’ waning physical condition, his arrival could come early than anticipated.