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Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Valentine returning to television

Former Rangers and Mets manager Bobby Valentine, on the verge of completing his final season with the Chiba Lotte Marines of Japan’s Pacific League, is close to signing a multiyear deal to return to television with ESPN.

The New York Daily News, citing television industry and baseball sources, reported Wednesday that Valentine, who worked on the “Baseball Tonight” show in 2003, the year after he was dismissed by the Mets, is expected to return to the show during the postseason next month.

“It’s a done deal,” a source told the Daily News. “And it should be announced soon.”

Valentine, 59, left television after the 2003 season and managed the Marines for the past six seasons. He led them in 2005 to the Japan Series championship, their first title in 31 years. He also managed the Marines in 1995, the year before he was hired by the Mets.

Wonder what the buy-out in that contract i, because something tells me he’ll use it.

Gamingboy Posted: September 23, 2009 at 02:23 PM | 12 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: international, japan, television

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1. HowardMegdal

Posted: September 23, 2009 at 04:18 PM (#3329927)

Let's hope Valentine replaces Steve Phillips on Sunday night.

2. JJ1986 Posted: September 23, 2009 at 04:19 PM (#3329932)

I hope he joins Phillips somewhere.

3. The Yankee Clapper Posted: September 23, 2009 at 07:15 PM (#3330237)

Wonder what the buy-out in that contract is, because something tells me he’ll use it.

I suspect there is an opt-out clause that allows Valentine to leave to take a MLB manager job. ESPN gains by having a buzz about Valentine being a leading candidate for managerial vacancies, and maybe they pay him a bit less than they'd otherwise have to.

4. Sheer Tim Foli

Posted: September 23, 2009 at 07:32 PM (#3330269)

I had hoped this would be about Ellis.

5. Old Matt Posted: September 24, 2009 at 03:57 AM (#3330730)

Dammit. Fire Manuel.

6. Lassus Posted: September 24, 2009 at 04:40 AM (#3330750)

I hope he ~~joins~~ kicks Phillips somewhere.

Fixed.

7. rLr Is King Of The Romans And Above Grammar Posted: September 24, 2009 at 05:09 AM (#3330768)

As long as he brings his mustache with him.

8. Jeff K. Posted: September 24, 2009 at 05:18 AM (#3330773)

Leaving my distaste for the man personally aside, every time Bobby's name comes up, people assume that he'll be a hot commodity as a potential manager. This is the 7th full season since he managed in the bigs, people. Be it because of personality (he did run away in a landslide in that Sporting News poll of MLB players in 2001, on the question "Which manager would you least like to play for?") or whatever else, at this point this is not something to be ignored. There's a reason he's been out of MLB for that long, and it ain't because the man prefers Japan, trust me.

9. Tripon Posted: September 24, 2009 at 05:21 AM (#3330777)

Except the man who fired Valentine was Steve Phillips.

10. Lassus Posted: September 24, 2009 at 06:54 AM (#3330796)

There's a reason he's been out of MLB for that long, and it ain't because the man prefers Japan, trust me.

Somewhat presumptuous, considering how revered he's been over there - I believe he really HAS preferred it.

11. Jeff K. Posted: September 24, 2009 at 07:20 AM (#3330798)

Somewhat presumptuous, considering how revered he's been over there - I believe he really HAS preferred it.

It's not presumption. Unless his opinion has changed dramatically since the last time I heard him talk about Japan, he has not. The adulation is one thing in its favor, and it's not like I ever heard him say he hated the place, but there is very close to zero doubt in my mind that he would greatly prefer to have been managing in MLB instead of NPB.

One of the more amusing random days was in the '00-'01 offseason when a Japanese TV crew showed up to interview Bobby, presumably about the Series just past, though I was more interested in getting off work than paying too much attention to the conversation. Joint was virtually empty, more so than your average day at that time, the barfly regulars there at the time weren't any of the idolators, and the (criminally hot) hostess had less than zero interest. So court was held, opinions were bloviated, but the interviewer and camera guy didn't much care what he said, and I sure didn't, and the three of us were the only ones in earshot.

12. Flynn Posted: September 24, 2009 at 09:05 AM (#3330803)

I remember him being pretty good on ESPN...he'll be a vast improvement over Steve Phillips.

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Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Valentine returning to television

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