Kevin Youkilis still has fond memories of his time in Boston


It’s no surprise on the day former Red Sox third/first baseman Kevin Youkilis reported to Yankees spring training the first words out of his mouth to the media were about the Red Sox. What may surprise you to know is that those words were spoken with high regard for his former organization.

Youkilis spent 9 years with the Red Sox organization (2004-2012) and was a vital member of the 2008 World Series championship team. After being traded to the Chicago White Sox during the 2012 season (thank you Mr. Valentine) Youkilis signed a 1-year $12 million deal with the New York Yankees this past off-season. Even though "Youks" will be sporting those ugly pinstripes for the foreseeable future, he still considers himself a Red Sock at heart.   

"I'll always be a Red Sock," Youkilis said. "To negate all the years I played for the Boston Red Sox, and all the tradition, you look at all the stuff I have piled up at my house and to say I'd just throw it out the window, it's not true.”

I'll feel bad this season seeing Youkilis in a Yankees uniform and wishing "ill will" towards him, but that's my duty as a Red Sox fan. Nonetheless I'll always remember Youkilis' nine years at third and first base with fond (shoulder decompressing) memories - I won't be the only one either.

"Those were great years in Boston. One bad half-year doesn't take away from all the great years I had there."

Yes, thank you Bobby Valentine for blowing up an entire team and riding into the sunset unscathed  Thank you for creating so much tension and animosity on this team that the only option was to trade key players. Thank you sir, for nothing.

Follow Scott Levesque on Twitter at @scottlevesque.