Few males have witnessed as a lot baseball across the globe as Bobby Valentine, who stays as bicoastal and worldwide as ever at age 74.
Whereas he’s spent the previous few seasons in a broadcasting/advisory position with the Los Angeles Angels, Valentine remains to be a well-liked presence in New York, the place he led the Mets to the World Collection in 2000, and Japan, the place he led the Chiba Lotte Marines to the Japan Collection title in 2005.
Valentine appeared on the Mets’ inaugural Amazin’ Day fan fest, when he provided his sometimes candid tackle the large splashes made this winter by the Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers, the what-ifs concerning the Mets’ determination to not signal Ichiro Suzuki following the 2000 season and what Suzuki’s election to the Baseball Corridor of Fame signifies for the sport’s rising world growth.
Right here is the unique Q&A with SportsLens.
Q: As a supervisor with loads of expertise within the Subway Collection, what’d you consider the Juan Soto signing?
Bobby Valentine: “The point out of Ichiro after which A-Rod after which some others who’ve come alongside and the Mets swung and missed at, I believe price (them) a number of victories and induced a number of heartaches for followers. I believe hitting this one out of the park is strictly what the Mets wanted. I really like him as a hitter and I really like what Steve Cohen and Dave (Stearns) are doing right here with this group.”
Q: Now you’re principally primarily based on the west coast. What do you consider the Dodgers’ aggressiveness this winter?
Bobby Valentine: “Ridiculous.”
Q: Ridiculous in a great way or dangerous method?
Bobby Valentine: “I believe it’s most likely a foul method. I do know the blokes there, I do know the homeowners and I do know the entrance workplace and I do know what they’re doing and I’m in that market principally advising the final supervisor throughout the best way. That’s an excellent workforce. That’s totally different than most different groups. And I do know we’re attempting right here with the Mets. We’re attempting to maintain tempo. However I believe it’s troublesome.”
Q: Are you involved the Dodgers’ spending spree may result in a piece stoppage when the CBA expires in 2026?
Bobby Valentine: “There’ll be a stoppage. Relies on how lengthy and for what causes. There’ll be some issues with the CBA, as a result of there’s issues with Main League Baseball.”
Q: What are your ideas on Ichiro Suzuki making the Corridor of Fame?
Bobby Valentine: “One in every of my best regrets (as Mets supervisor is) that I didn’t say ‘I’ll stroll out if we don’t signal him.’ I assumed we have been going to signal him. Somebody thought totally different. I noticed him my first 12 months in Japan stay and we principally decided to not go together with him on reviews that any person else gave. And I by no means may determine that out. I used to be advised ‘Why do we wish a singles hitter within the outfield?’”
Q: Labored out OK.
Bobby Valentine: “For him!”
Q: What does Ichiro making the Corridor of Fame on the thirtieth anniversary of Hideo Nomo successful the Rookie of the 12 months say in regards to the influence of Japanese gamers on Main League Baseball?
Bobby Valentine: “That was the identical 12 months I went to Japan, Nomo got here right here. I attempted to make a press release. I took the child that might not make the Yomiuri Giants pitching employees and had him on my employees named Takashi Kashiwada (in 1997) and he received a sport within the massive leagues! And he pitched OK generally. Simply to attempt to type of show some extent, {that a} man who couldn’t make a workforce there may make a workforce right here, to say that it wasn’t extra of an equal taking part in area.
“Now I don’t assume that every one the gamers in Japan need to play within the States. Why would you need to disrupt your entire world? Only for extra money? I believe what Japan will finally do is change their mannequin and produce up their salaries. They’re now constructing new stadiums for extra income, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera, to maintain their gamers there. And in the event that they maintain their gamers there, finally there’ll be an growth to Asia with a division of baseball. That’s my thought and it’s been my thought for a very long time. And since Main League Baseball didn’t provide you with the thought, I believe that they’ve determined to do it the best way they’re doing it.
“And the best way they’re doing it’s the method Main League Baseball did it with the Negro Leagues — that they took their greatest gamers, after which they took their different gamers. And when that occurs, the league folds. And I don’t need that to occur in Japan, as a result of (in) Japan, baseball is the No. 1 sport in that nation. And to take their skilled leagues away from them can be a criminal offense.”
