Bobby Valentine to Red Sox: Analyzing the Pros and Cons of Bobby V as Manager

The Boston Red Sox have found their new manager. According to Gordon Edes of ESPN Boston, the Red Sox have chosen to hire Bobby Valentine.

Valentine played in the major leagues for 10 seasons and retired in 1979. He then took his first managerial job in 1985.

He was chosen to manage the Texas Rangers when he was just 35 years old. The first season did not go well for Valentine, but he stuck with the team for seven more years. He was fired during the 1992 season.

After his tenure with the Rangers, Valentine went to Japan in 1995 to manage the Chiba Lotte Marines. He led the team to a surprising second place finish, but was fired after a conflict with the team's GM.

The New York Mets hired Bobby Valentine to manage them for the following season. He had a memorable tenure with the Mets and led them to the World Series in 2000.

Valentine was fired after the 2002 season and eventually found his way back to Japan. He once again managed the Marines, and he became a cult icon. Valentine would go on to lead the Marines to their first Pacific League pennant in 31 years, as well as victories in both the Japan Series and Asia Series.

Pro: Experience

Bobby Valentine has managed 2,189 games in the MLB in addition to the games that he has manged in Japan. He has a wealth of baseball knowledge that can be applied on a day-to-day basis.

There are few substitutes to this level of experience. Valentine knows what it takes to manage a team to a victory and into the playoffs.

Cons: He Hasn't Managed in the MLB Since 2002

While Bobby V has a lot of major league experience, he has not managed in the major leagues since 2002. He was in Japan during that time frame, but the game in Japan is different than the one in the US.

The MLB game has change in the 10 years between Valentine's two managerial tenures. There could potentially be a point early on in the season where Valentine is not caught up with the new intricacies in the game.

Pro: He Can Get the Most out of His Players

Taking a look back at the roster of the 2000 New York Mets team that Bobby Valentine managed to the World Series, it very impressive what he was able to do.

The starting outfield for that team was Benny Agbayani, Jay Payton and Derek Bell, and the team's No. 3 pitcher was Glendon Rusch. It took a lot from Valentine to manage the team the success that they had.

Con: He Has Not Needed to Deal with the Egos That Today's Players Have

While Bobby Valentine managed some stars during his career, he has not had to deal with the egos that players today have. There could be a disconnect between Valentine and some of his players.

The Boston Red Sox do not have too many players with big egos, but they certainly have a number of players, such as David Ortiz, that have their own quirks.

Pro: He Will Take the Attention off of His Players

There are few managers that have been in the majors in the last few years that have been as visible as Bobby Valentine.

One of the most remembered moments from Bobby V's time with the New York Mets is when he wore a fake mustache after he was ejected from a game in 1999. Valentine is also known for not being afraid to speak to the media.

Con: He Has Had Issues with Members of Upper Management

Bobby Valentine saw conflicts during his time in both New York and Japan. He had problems with the management of both teams.

With the Mets, Valentine had some issues after the "Whartongate Affair," where he mentioned insider information to students at Wharton Business School. This caused some issues with the Mets management. He also had a volatile relationship with GM Steve Phillips, who made decisions about the coaching staff.

Following his success in Japan, Bobby V was let go after a smear campaign by Marines club president Ryuzo Setoyama. Fans showed their support for Valentine, and over 100,000 signed a petition in hopes to keep him. This did not work, and Valentine was fired.

Pro: He Is a Big Name

The American League East is filled with a number of big name managers. From Buck Showalter to Joe Maddon and Joe Girardi, most AL East teams are led by a easily recognizable name.

Bobby Valentine is a big noticeable figure. He is an upgrade over Terry Francona, and he should help lead the Red Sox back into the playoffs.