Valentine throws some well placed jabs postgame

By: Gordon Edes/ESPN Boston
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Bobby Valentine didn’t need an admonition from a judge to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth after Monday’s 8-4 loss to the Minnesota Twins.
The Red Sox manager spared no one, including himself, in a postgame analysis in which he skewered relief pitcher Mark Melancon with sarcasm, offered no protection to rookie shortstop Jose Iglesias for missing a sign, lamented that starting pitcher Felix Doubrontlacked a “killer pitch” and blamed his own “confusion” for an unsettled bullpen situation.
And Valentine did so without so much as a hint of anger or irritation. Just the facts, ma’am, or at least the Truth According to Bobby V.
I've got no problem with any of this.

It's getting to be that point in the spring season where guys are going to have the tendency to slack off because of the mundane nature of spring training. When in reality this should be the point where progress can be seen and players start to buckle down in preparation for the upcoming season.

A good manager knows when and how to push his players buttons. Whether or not Bobby Valentine is a good manager for the Red Sox remains to be seen but he's certainly trying to light a fire here.

With Doubront, Valentine may be absolutely right. There's a reason Felix it out of options. He just hasn't come into form the way the Red Sox have hoped. If he can't adjust then theres no reason for the Red Sox to hold on to him. They have enough supplementary, question mark pitchers.

In Iglesias' case, Bobby was just trying to make sure the youngster doesn't get complacent. Especially with all of the stories that the Red Sox may be moving towards him faster than expected. While missing a sign in a spring training game isn't the worst thing in the world it is still something that needs to be addressed and corrected. Young players can fall into habits - whether they be good or bad - very easily. So I actually like that Valentine came out and said:
“He missed a sign,’’ Valentine said. “It was a tough sign to get, [but] I told him I’d take him out of the game if he ever missed a sign again.’’ 
Mark Melancon figures to be a huge part of our bullpen this year and I'm sure that Bobby notices the uncertainty surrounding his bullpen staff so he's looking to create leaders. With Daniel Bard vying for a starting spot the elder statesmen of the bull pen right now is Fat Matt Albers. So I think that Bobby has every right to come out in the press with:
 “I’m not really happy with any of the relief,’’ he said. “I’ve said attitude filters down from the top. I’m a bit confused with the whole bullpen situation only because we haven’t been able to fit any pieces together. I think that confusion is filtering [down] and now everyone is something other than settled. That’s where we have to go from here.’’ 
This is no "Pat Knight" speech but it may just be the kick in the ass this group needs heading into the last few weeks of spring training.