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 couple of seasons in a broadcasting/advisory function with the Los Angeles Angels, Valentine continues 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 massive splashes made this winter by the Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers, the what-ifs concerning the Mets’ resolution 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 growing international enlargement.
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 variety of victories and induced a variety 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 based mostly on the west coast. What do you consider the Dodgers’ aggressiveness this winter?
Bobby Valentine: “Ridiculous.”
Q: Ridiculous in a great way or dangerous means?
Bobby Valentine: “I believe it’s in all probability a foul means. I do know the fellows 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 way in which. That’s a brilliant group. That’s completely different than most different groups. And I do know we’re making an attempt right here with the Mets. We’re making an attempt 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: “Certainly one of my biggest 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 completely different. I noticed him my first yr in Japan reside and we principally decided to not go together with him on reviews that someone 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 impression of Japanese gamers on Main League Baseball?
Bobby Valentine: “That was the identical yr I went to Japan, Nomo got here right here. I attempted to make a press release. I took the child that would not make the Yomiuri Giants pitching workers and had him on my workers named Takashi Kashiwada (in 1997) and he gained a recreation within the massive leagues! And he pitched OK typically. Simply to attempt to type of show a degree, {that a} man who couldn’t make a group there may make a group right here, to say that it wasn’t extra of an equal enjoying area.
“Now I don’t assume that each 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 ultimately 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, ultimately there’ll be an enlargement 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 way in which they’re doing it.
“And the way in which they’re doing it’s the means 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 could be a criminal offense.”
