HE'S NOT HELPING

Most of the writers and analysts are saying that you can't blame the Red Sox' poor start and recent embarrassment on Bobby Valentine. It is true that he has inherited a basically mediocre team and has had to weather the injuries of some very key players. No team would be able to overcome the loss of Carl Crawford, Jacoby Ellsbury Diasuke Matsuzaka and closer Andrew Bailey all at once. I agree that this is a tough row to hoe, but you have to play the hand you're dealt and this is where Valentine falls apart. He manages every game like it's the 7th game of the World Series, with little regard to what's happening tomorrow.

Case in point: Giradi said before the game that David Robertson would be unavailable. When it became a one run game, and holding the Sox down was paramount, the use of Robertson became almost imperative. Almost! Girardi still refused to use him...and Mariano Rivera either. He was willing to live or die with the rest of the bullpen. Valentine, on the other hand, was mixing and matching relievers in spite of the fact that he was already six runs behind. He better hope that tonight's game gets rained out, because he's blown out his bullpen. Granted, they aren't very good, but Valentine didn't help the situation any.

He hasn't made any friends in the clubhouse, either. The Kevin Youkilis comment is well-known, but it seems he severely criticized shortstop Mike Aviles during spring training in an episode that was described as a "very ugly scene." Other Red Sox players intervened and were so vocal that Valentine was forced to apologized to Aviles. These types of incidents are not easily forgotten by players. In fact, it is said that David Ortiz is the only real advocate Valentine has in the clubhouse.

When asked about the boos he hears when he steps out onto the field, Bobby said, "I've been booed in two different countries." It seems to me, that that is because he's only managed in two different countries. In my opinion, the over/under for his termination is the All-Star game. I'll take the over...because that helps the Yankees the most.

Sabathia goes against Daniel Bard tonight if the weather holds.

## Congratulations to Philip Humber for his perfect game against the Seattle Mariners yesterday.

## AJ Burnett picked up his first win Saturday against the St. Louis Cardinals. 7 innings, 3 hits, no runs, 7 strikeouts and NO wild pitches. Good for him.

***THEY SAID IT***
"Organizers of the London Olympics invited The Who drummer Keith Moon to perform at the closing ceremonies, unaware he's been dead since 1978. Just to clarify: Being dead since '78 won't necessarily disqualify you from performing at halftime of a Super Bowl." -- Brad Dickson

"The coach of our Lingerie League team has not been announced, but my money's on Bobby Petrino." -- Brad Dickson

"And anyone watching Sunday night’s “ESPN Game of the Week” will have fun watching Terry Francona try to keep that smirk off his face" -- Janice Hough

A sign held by demonstrators against Ozzie Guillen, outside the Miami Marlins Park: "BOICOT (sic) MIAMI MARLINS"


"The NBA postseason approaches. A championship team always takes its game to the next level. The price of a beer goes to $9.50." -- Alan Ray

"Kentucky's starting five has declared for the NBA draft, which should leave plenty of salary cap room for next year's UK team." -- Bill Littlejohn

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