The Mark Graham Sports Blog's posts tagged Larry Lucchino

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• BREAKING: Red Sox Dismiss Manager Bobby Valentine

  October 04, 2012

  

  The Boston Red Sox has announced that manager Bobby Valentine would not return for the 2013 season.

  This comes as no surprise as the Red Sox struggled mightily this season and Valentine clashed with veterans, coaches, and front office officials. The Red Sox finished last in the AL East and had the team's worst record since 1964.

  Red Sox team president Larry Lucchino said this season "begs for changes (and) more will come."

  The team also announced that executive vice president and general manager Ben Cherington will spearhead the search for Valentine's replacement.

  "Our 2012 season was disappointing for many reasons,” said Cherington, who made the announcement and who will lead the search. “No single issue is the reason, and no single individual is to blame. We've been making personnel changes since August, and we will continue to do so as we build a contending club. With an historic number of injuries, Bobby was dealt a difficult hand. He did the best he could under seriously adverse circumstances, and I am thankful to him."

  Bobby Valentine said, "I understand this decision. This year in Boston has been an incredible experience for me, but I am as disappointed in the results as are ownership and the great fans of Red Sox Nation.

  "It was a privilege to be part of the 100 year anniversary of Fenway Park and an honor to be in uniform with such great players and coaches. My best to the organization. I’m sure next year will be a turnaround year."

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• Five Ways to Salvage the Boston Red Sox for 2013

  September 23, 2012

  

  As Red Sox fans know, this season has been, for lack of a better word, a disappointment. A huge disappointment. From upper management to coaches to the players, the Sox need some major shakeups and I have some ideas that maybe Mr. Lucchino should listen to.

  1. Fire Bobby Valentine and bring in a player's manager
  

  The hiring of Bobby V to run the Sox was mixed. Some people thought it was a good move to bring in a disciplinarian, while some thought Bobby V's track record was less than stellar to run a franchise of this caliber. The fact is this: Bobby V has been a HUGE failure in Boston and it is time for a change. The Sox should take a look at former Astros manager Brad Mills who was Terry Francona's right hand man and was a much liked figure in Boston. Another person to take a look at is the Rays' bench coach Dave Martinez, who has helped Joe Maddon turn a once hapless Rays organization into a playoff contender. Martinez is also a young coach who can better relate to an increasing younger Red Sox team.

  2. The ownership group needs to focus on Red Sox and not Liverpool

  John Henry and company has seemlingly been less and less involved with the team since its acquisition of Liverpool FC in 2010. Liverpool has the same problems the Sox have, both have overppaid for players and both teams have underachieved. The owners need to figure out which team they need to focus more on or both the Red Sox and Liverpool FC will continue to fail.

  3. Sign Melky Cabrera
  

  This may seem like a risky move, but the Red Sox should take a look at suspended outfielder Melky Cabrera. I still believe he is a talented player and he wouldn't command as much money as he would have before the suspension. Ryan Kalish is not the long term solution for the Sox and Cabrera's signing would be a low risk, high reward, something the Red Sox have had success in the past.

  4. Ignore the temptation to sign Zack Greinke
  

  Zack Greinke would be a great pickup for the Sox and their much maligned pitching staff, but Cherington shouldn't take the bait. Greinke is going to be commanding top dollar and rightfully so, but, after the money the Sox freed up, they shouldn't waste all of it on one player. Instead the Sox should sign solid middle of the road veterans who can mesh well with the younger Sox players.

  5. Re-sign Cody Ross

  The 2012 season wasn't entirely bad. We discovered that Cody Ross can be a great player in Boston. Ross has been the MVP on an otherwise infelicitous Red Sox team. He has hit .270, 21 dingers, and driven in 77 runs and has certainly put a disconcerting 2011 season behind him. Outside of Josh Hamilton, there really isn't much better on the free agent market, so you might as well keep a player that has performed very well for you.

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• Lucchino: Red Sox Are Not For Sale

  September 13, 2012

  

  According to the FOX Business Network, the Boston Red Sox ownership group has considered selling the team and are quietly shopping around for potential suitors.

  Red Sox president and CEO Larry Lucchino has told WEEI's "Dennis & Callahan" that the runors are simply not true.

  "Nonsense," Lucchino said on WEEI. "As I said, they feel the same kind of competitive juices that the fans feel, that I feel. There's an opportunity here to put the team back on the track it was on for a decade. … There has not been one word, one word of discussion regarding that. We are committed, better or worse."

  The Red Sox would be looking for about $1.2 billion for the team, according to the FOX Business Network. Since the Dodgers sold for $2 billion, the Red Sox would look to match and even surpass that total. Forbes has the Red Sox valued at $1 billion. If NESN, the cable home of the Boston Red Sox, is including in the bidding war, the cost could climb as high as $1.6 billion, according to a source familiar with sports deals.

  John Henry & Co., Red Sox co-owner John Henry's investment firm, has had a dismal year. The firm specializes in the futures market and its Global Analytics fund has lost 16% this year.

  The Red Sox ownership group also owns soccer club Liverpool who have the same problems as the Red Sox in terms of overpaying athletes who have underachieved. Henry wrote a letter to Liverpool fans saying that the group will no longer overspend on the team and stay with what they have.

  If Henry's group does indeed sell the Red Sox, Henry would have more time and resources to devote to the once proud English soccer team.

  The current ownership led by Henry and Tom Werner has owned the Red Sox since 2001 and have led the Sox to two World Series titles and one AL East crown in 2007.

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