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Bobby Valentine on 2012 season: 'I think it's been miserable'
Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine made his weekly appearance on WEEI's Big Show Wednesday afternoon and did little to help the perception that the magnitude of the job has gotten to him.
Valentine was asked about the season as a whole and whether or not he'd like to return for another as the team's manager.
"This is what I chose to do," said Valentine. "I think it's been miserable, but it's also been part of my life's journey. You learn from misery."
On wanting to manage the Sox next season, Valentine said, "Of course. If that's what I'm asked to do, that's what I'm going to get paid to do."
The Red Sox are 63-74 this season, a disappointing fourth place in the American League East. In addition to poor performance on the field, Valentine's relationship with his players has come under fire. During the interview, WEEI host Glenn Ordway asked Valentine if he had "checked out", a question Valentine took issue with.
"What an embarrassing thing to say," said Valentine. "If I were there right now, I'd punch you right in the mouth. Ha. How's that sound? Is that like I checked out? What an embarrassing thing.
"Why would somebody even -- that's stuff that a comic strip person would write. If someone's here, watching me go out at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, watching me put in the right relief pitchers to get a win, putting on a hit-and-run when it was necessary, talking to the guys after the game in the food room -- how could someone in real life say that?"
Valentine also took issue with a report that he arrived at the ballpark late for a game Saturday night. Valentine reportedly got to the Oakland Coliseum around 4 p.m. for a 7:10 p.m. start.
"I shouldn't have to explain that," said Valentine. "That pisses me off. Whoever wrote that knew what happened. They knew that my son was coming to see me for the first time in this lousy season and that I got to see him on the road, and that his flight was late, and that I was waiting at the airport in San Francisco for his flight to come in, and that I sent the lineup in and reported to my coaches that I was going to be a little late."
Valentine added, "Four o'clock, like that's so late for a 7:15 game. Joe Maddon gets there everyday at 4 o'clock, just for the record."