Red Sox President Says Bobby Valentine Won't Be Fired During This Season

Boston Red Sox president Larry Lucchino has declared that manager Bobby Valentine is safe for the rest of the club's 2012 campaign, via ESPN.

The news comes after Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports reported on Tuesday that several Red Sox players, including Dustin Pedroia and Adrian Gonzalez, voiced frustration about Valentine to Red Sox ownership.

Valentine has had more than a few players in the clubhouse bristling ever since he questioned former Red Sox veteran Kevin Youkilis' desire early in the season. After he left ace Jon Lester in the game during an embarrassing 11-run outing against the Toronto Blue Jays on July 22, things got even more uncomfortable in the clubhouse.

The Red Sox, despite having the third-highest payroll in baseball, are 57-61 this season and 13.5 games behind their rival, the New York Yankees, in the AL East. They are 6.5 games behind the American League's second wild-card team thus far. And they have gone 4-10 in August after going 12-14 in July.

The club ranks 22nd in team ERA (4.32), while the starters have combined for a 4.83 ERA, 26th in baseball. This has countered the fact that the Red Sox have scored 577 runs so far, third most in the majors.

Valentine, as well as the players, have been blamed during the disappointing debacle. Some believe Valentine is not the right man for the job, while others point to a high-paid roster failing to deliver.

Valentine's decision to leave Lester in the game on July 22 was interesting in that he may have been trying to prove a point. Leaving Lester in may have been a way of telling the players to tough things out and take accountability for their poor play.

On the other hand, his decision appeared to divide the team even further. Passan reported that there were even some players taking Valentine's side and going against the grain.

Whoever is to blame, it appears management is going to tough things out with Valentine, at least until the end of the season.