Bobby Valentine in.

Bobby Valentine is the newest Red Sox manager. Although I am still miffed that Terry Francona was so mistreated, I am happy that Valentine will be given the oppertunity to manage the team going forward.

Valentine is a no nonsense type manager that demands the utmost respect from his players. With Bobby, the Red Sox get an experienced man who has not only passion for the game, but a deep need for success. What I admire about the signing is that it shows that the owners are not as self absorbed and power hungry as they may have been depicted. Because Valentine is such a hands on type manager, he will demand that things be ran his way as long as he has control in the team.

Now that the Sox have a manager, I would expect there to be drastic changes in the player personel. I trust Bobby's judgment in player make up as he will be studying each and every individual on the team in the next few weeks. I would expect that any player labeled as a toxin will be traded, released, or left unsigned. Valentine is an extraordinary people person that knows not only how to motivate people, but wise enough to know who he cannot. I think it is safe to say that the chicken eating, beer drinking, conditioning skipping days are long over in beantown. I am very pleased that Bobby V. will be leading the new look Sox in 2012.

If you are still uncertain about Valentine, take a look at his first action as manager. To ensure that Sox frontman David Ortiz knew his place and importance in the organization, Valentine took the time to personally visit him in the Dominican Republic, amidst all the excitement following the announcement. With signing Ortiz, the Red Sox are proving to the fans that they still mean business. Let's hope that they start getting to that pitching staff soon. Without Papelbon and with that depleated rotation, things are looking a little grim. Anyone out there wondering if Al Leiter is going to join the staff as pitching coach? Just a thought.

Other news, Francona publicly announced that the allegations of painkiller abuse followed him to St. Louis while pursuing their managerial job. It explains a lot as to how former player Mike Matheny, who has no prior managerial experience, could out do Francona in interviews. Although Francona obviously faces much scrutiny, it is safe to say that he will have no problem earning a long term gig sometime in the near future.