THE PATRIOTS PLAYED THE NEW ORLEANS SAINTS LAST NIGHT.

IT WAS THE FIRST EXHIBITION FOOTBALL GAME FOR NEW ENGLAND AND THEY WON 7-6.

HERE IN THE HEAT OF SUMMER IT WAS WELCOME RELIEF FOR THOUSANDS OF SPORTS FANS IN OUR AREA.

FOR THE MOMENT THE SAGA OF THE RED SOX COULD BE FORGOTTEN AS BOSTON LOST IN CLEVELAND 5-3.

AND SO THE LONG, VERY LONG SEPTEMBER OF LAST YEAR CONTINUES FOR RED SOX NATION.

WE WANT SUMMER TO LAST LONGER BUT FOR THE PAIN TO GO AWAY.

THE CRY OF FIRE THE MANAGER IS HEARD IN MANY PLACES THESE DAYS.

IT'S PROBABLY THE MOST QUOTED LINE WE HEAR IN ALL SPORTS.

IT'S ALWAYS THE MANAGER OR COACHES FAULT.

IT GOT SO OUT OF HAND THIS WEEK THAT SOX OWNER JOHN HENRY, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEASON, HAD TO ISSUE A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE THIS WEEK.

HENRY SAID, CORRECTLY, THAT "IN BASEBALL, MANAGERS GET TOO MUCH CREDIT AND TOO MUCH BLAME FOR WHAT HAPPENS ON THE FIELD."

EVEN PLAYERS CHIMED IN.

ADRIAN GOLZALEZ SAID THAT BOBBY VALENTINE DIDN'T BAT, MAKE A CATCH OR THROW A PITCH.

HE SAID " IT'S ON US THE PLAYERS TO WIN GAMES."

HE'S RIGHT OF COURSE.

BOBBY VALENTINE CAN'T BE BLAMED FOR WHAT'S GOING ON.

BUT AND IT'S A BIG BUT…VALENTINE WAS NEVER A GREAT CHOICE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

HE WAS BROUGHT IN AFTER POPULAR MANAGER TERRY FRANCONIA WAS LET GO AND BLAMED FOR THE DEBACLE OF LAST SEPTEMBER INSTEAD OF THE PLAYERS WHO GOT OUT OF HAND.

FRONT OFFICE MANAGEMENT NEVER EMPOWERED VALENTINE TO DO WHAT HE WAS BROUGHT IN TO DO.

MOST OF THE COACHES HE HAS WERE HOLD OVERS FROM THE PREVIOUS ERA.

FROM THE GET-GO THE PLAYERS DIDN'T LIKE HIM AND THEY WOULDN'T CHANGE.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT BOBBY V. HAD TO CHANGE AND THAT NEVER WORKS.

BUT GETTING RID OF HIM NOW MAKES LITTLE SENSE IN A SEASON THAT IS GOING DOWN THE DRAIN IN A HURRY.

A CRITICAL HOMESTAND WAS JUST LOST WITH A RECORD OF 4 AND 6 AND THE NEXT TEN GAMES ARE ON THE ROAD.

VALENTINE IS NOT THE KIND OF MANAGER RED SOX FANS TAKE TO HEART AND NEVER WILL.

BUT LET'S GET REAL.

BOSTON HAS THE SECOND HIGHEST PAYROLL IN BASEBALL BUT HAVE NOT MADE THE PLAYOFFS SINCE 2009.

THEY ARE THREE GAMES BELOW .500 AND LOOKING LIKE THEY WILL BE OUT OF THE WILD CARD RACE.

VALENTINE HAS HAD TO DEAL WITH A TON OF INJURY PROBLEMS AND TRY TO FIX UP A BULLPEN THAT WAS MESSED UP BIG TIME WITH THE DEPARTURE OF JON PAPELBON.

IN MANY PLACES VALENTINE WOULD BE JUST FINE BUT BOSTON IS NOT THAT KIND OF TOWN.

THE PRESS CORP, DEPENDING ON YOUR POINT OF VIEW, IS EITHER THE BEST OR THE WORST IN BASEBALL.

IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE RED SOX NEED TO MAKE ROSTER CHANGES BEFORE NEXT YEAR.

THERE IS NO CHEMISTRY THAT ONE CAN DISCERN FROM THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN.

WHEN YOU ARE AT HOME AND SCORE 9 RUNS IN A LOSING EFFORT THEN SOMETHING IS WRONG.

BASEBALL MANAGERS ARE ALWAYS CONVENIENT SCAPEGOATS.

WHEN VALENTINE WAS HIRED THE CHOICE CAME DOWN TO BOBBY OR GENE LAMONT WHO HASN'T MANAGED IN YEARS.

THERE IS ONE FACT THAT ALL OF VALENTINE'S DETRACTORS CAN'T IGNORE.

OVER ONE THOUSAND AND ONE HUNDRED GAMES WERE MISSED THIS YEAR WITH PLAYERS ON THE DISABLED LIST.

THAT'S A MAJOR LEAGUE RECORD.

VALENTINE IS NOT MY FAVORITE EITHER.

BUT IN ALL FAIRNESS FIRING HIM WON'T SOLVE MUCH AT THIS POINT.

PLAYERS QUIT ON FRANCONIA LAST YEAR BUT SO FAR SEEM TO AT LEAST BE TRYING TRYING TO WIN GAMES.

I'M NOT SURE HOW TO SOLVE THE RED SOX PROBLEMS BUT I KNOW WHERE TO FIND OUT WHERE THEY ORIGINATE.

AND THAT IS THE FRONT OFFICE!

THIS IS GEORGE HALE WITH MY PERSPECTIVE ON SPORTS.

Print this Story