Bobby Valentine blames Kevin Youkilis poor relationship

http://espn.go.com/boston/mlb/story/_/id/8168192/boston-red-sox-bobby-valentine-blames-kevin-youkilis-poor-relationship

Bobby V puts onus on Kevin Youkilis

Updated: July 16, 2012, 12:27 AM ET
By Gordon Edes | ESPNBoston.com

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine placed the onus for his strained relationship with Kevin Youkilis on the former Boston infielder Sunday morning.

"I think the comment I made early, he made a big issue out of, and I don't think he ever wanted to get over it," Valentine said in response to a question about Youkilis, who will return to Fenway Park on Monday as a member of the Chicago White Sox, the team to which he was traded June 24.
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Valentine was alluding to a comment he made to WHDH-TV's Joe Amorosino on April 15.

"I don't think he's as physically or emotionally into the game as he has been in the past for some reason," Valentine told Amorosino.

Youkilis responded angrily the next day, meeting with both Valentine and Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington.

"I'm more confused than anything, because I think everyone knows I go out and play the game as hard as I can," Youkilis said at the time.

But it was obvious the relationship never healed.

Asked Sunday if it was strained, Valentine said, "I have no idea. It was whatever he wanted it to be."

Youkilis, told of Valentine's comments before Chicago's game in Kansas City on Sunday, chose not to address them.

"I got nothing about any of that stuff," he said before a game against the Kansas City Royals. "I'm over all the Boston thing of this year. There is a lot of great past history, but the focus is on the White Sox."
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"
I think the comment I made early, he made a big issue out of, and I don't think he ever wanted to get over it.
” -- Bobby Valentine on Kevin Youkilis
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Valentine strongly disputed he had any problem with Youkilis in spring training, though he acknowledged he was aware that some teammates had issues with the infielder.

"Yeah, I was aware of that," Valentine said.

Did the manager have concerns it could morph into a bigger problem?

"Don't know," he said. "What'd you think? I inherited that situation. I didn't cause it."

Youkilis, when asked in April by ESPNBoston if pitcher Josh Beckett had accused him of being a "snitch" -- fingering Youkilis as the source of the "fried chicken and beer" talk in the aftermath of the team's 2011 collapse -- didn't deny it.

"There were tons of things going around where guys had questions," Youkilis said.

Valentine, asked if he was aware that Youkilis was accused of being a snitch, gave a vague response.

"I don't know if I heard any of that stuff," he said.

But he blasted the notion that he and Youkilis had a falling out in spring training.

"I think that's a joke," Valentine said. "I wasn't here last year. There was no friction in spring training, so I think that's a joke. I'll take that."
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Youkilis Salutes Red Sox Nation

Former Boston infielder Kevin Youkilis expressed his thanks to Red Sox Nation in a letter released to ESPNBoston.com on Sunday. Letter
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Youkilis has flourished with the White Sox since his trade. He entered Sunday hitting .316 with three home runs and 15 RBIs, and has had either a game-winning hit or a sacrifice fly in five of the 15 games in which he has played.

In 42 games this season with Boston, Youkilis was batting .233 with just 14 RBIs.

"I haven't seen him play," Valentine said. "He's gotten a lot of hits, played a lot of games. It seems like he's healthier."

Asked if he was surprised that Youkilis appeared healthier, Valentine said, "Not surprised. As a matter of fact Maggs (hitting coach Dave Magadan) said he had no doubt if (Youkilis) went somewhere else he'd play better."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

when a teacher and a student don't get along--do you dump the teacher?------when a boss and a worker don't get along--do you dump the boss? ----when a player (Diva) and a manager don't get along--do you dump the manager? (except in the NBA)----We always loved Youk, but he and Peety tried a mutiny and -----Youk had to walk the plank----give BV a fair chance---he's done great with what he's had so far!!!

Youkilis and Pedroia tried to start a mutiny?

LOL

I was laughing at that as well.

Talk about sheep, seriously.......

Yes, Diva Youk and Pedroia started the whole thing...haven't you been paying attention?

Your analogy between teacher/student Employer/Employee is a poor one at best. If the teacher is having problems with a student, the teacher doesn't publish in the School Newspaper. A Boss wouldn't send a 'Letter To The Editor' about an employee. They'd talk it out face to face, in private.
The idiot Valentine did his through the press, and continues to even with Youk playing for the White Sox.

Actually, Youk and Pedroia did start the whole thing. What Bobby said was pretty light. Lot of managers have said a lot worse than that. Youk was feeling stress and over reacted and Pedroia was simply venting because his bff (Francona) was gone. Personally, I think Pedroia was way out of line.

Should Bobby have said anything in public? Sure, why the hel l not, these are MEN making millions of dollars playing a sport. Are they so fragile that they can't handle a little criticism? Movie stars, politicians, public figures in general get criticized all of the time in public. But again, what Vallentine said was pretty dam n mild. It wasn't like he questioned Youk for living on a baseball forum with thousands of posts and not having a real life.

JHC.

Bobby Valentine needs to walk off a short pier. This has gotten completely out of control.

Could you blame them if they did, seriously?

Honest to ****ing god. What next?

Bobby Valentine = Captain Queeg

Mr. Christian. Mr. Christian.....

The funny thing about this is Youk isn't the one showing evidence that he can't put this behind him. Valentine probably thinks he's the noble warrior at this point, getting inside an opponents head. He's just injecting himself into Youk's farewell moment again from where I sit, something he has nothing real to contribute to.

I agree. Youk isn't the one who "doesn't want to get over it." Actually, if you look at his numbers, he's doing just fine. It's Bobby V. who once again cannot keep from making hmself the story. He can't help it and that's why he was the wrong guy from the start.

A little trash talkin' never hurt! Unless of course, you're Kevin Youkilis... and can dish it out to Ellsbury when he's injured, but not take it in return!

I love it. In the offseason everyone wanted Youkilis gone when the media was reporting that Youkilis was the "snitch" and a "clubhouse cancer". Now the media is portraying Youk as some kind of victim who has never criticized a teammate in his life, and labeling Bobby a bully...

And look at the Pink-Hats cry about it. You guys make me LOL.

& whoever said Bobby's comments were light is 100% right. It's not like Bobby said Youk was being lazy, and will never produce again - which is what most people seem to think he said.

I just said it wasn't trash talking and why. Push the mustache on your clown glasses back below the nose when you read.

I don't know what was going on and none of you know what was going on. We get these little snippets from people involved where they allude to stuff but never come out and say it. It sounded to me like maybe Bobby V. was still protecting someone in his clubhouse.

From what I've gathered over the last several years, Youk did seem to have a problem with other players. There was the Manny incident, the Ellsbury incident and the Beckett incident. There also seems to be a divide between the pitchers, at least the starters, and the hitters like Youk, Papi and Pedrioa.

Maybe Youk was part of the problem, maybe not. Maybe the problem(s) are still around with contracts that can't be moved. There does seem to be issues between some of these guys that have nothing to do with BV though. Perhaps that is 100% normal and happens in every clubhouse, we just don't hear about it.

Okay. I don't really pay attention to your posts.

"He's just injecting himself into Youk's farewell moment again from where I sit, something he has nothing real to contribute to."

He answered questions that the media asked him. Oh well. At least he's not afraid to be honest.

It is Monday and Kevin Youkilis is in town.

He can answer any questions about the ghost of clubhouse past by saying Youk is on the White Sox now. It's called taking the high road.