Full Count
A Furiously Updated Red Sox Blog
WEEI.com Blog Network
RSS
He said what? A history of Red Sox managerial introductions 10.23.12 at 8:32 am ET
By Alex Speier

With John Farrell’s introduction as the 46th Red Sox manager set for Tuesday at noon, a trip into the archives seemed in order. Here are some memorable takeaways from the introductions of Farrell’s six predecessors over the past two decades:

Former Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine smiles at his introduction with Larry Lucchino, Ben Cherington and John Henry. (AP)

BOBBY VALENTINE, Dec. 1, 2011

• “I am honored, I’m humbled and I’m pretty damn excited. This day is a special day, and it’s more than a special day. It’s the beginning of a life that I think is going to extend beyond anything else that I thought of doing. The talent level and the players that we have in this organization, I think, is a gift to anyone. And I’m the receiver of that gift.”

• “Polarizing is a tough one. I’ve had a lot of adjectives about me. I can’t describe them all, and I won’t defend them all. It’s about reputation vs. character. People who know me take the time to get to know me, understand I have some qualities to my character that are OK. I am not the genius that I’ve heard people refer to me as. I am not the polarizing guy the people refer to me as.

• “I’m not the monster that breathes fire that some people have referred to me as. I’m a regular human being with regular feelings and regular attributes that make me what I am. Some of them, as I’ve been told by people who know me, are OK. I don’t know if I’m polarizing or any of those other things. It’s just what I am.”

TERRY FRANCONA, Dec. 4, 2003

• “I’m very excited about those expectations. We’re supposed to win here. In talking to Theo [Epstein] and Larry [Lucchino] and Josh [Byrnes], we’re trying to win next year, but we’re trying to win for a lot of years after that. The whole idea is to build a team that can win and keep it together and win consistently. That is wonderful pressure.”

• “I’ve been released from six teams, I’ve been fired as a manager, I’ve got no hair. I have a nose that is three sizes too big for my face. And I grew up in a major league clubhouse. My skin is pretty thick. I’ll be OK. I’ll be all right.”

GRADY LITTLE, March 12, 2002

• On the applause he received from players when he walked into the Red Sox clubhouse: “That was touching. We’ll see what kind of reception I get when I leave in October.”

• On what he said to players in setting expectations: “Just buckle up. We’re getting ready to have a good ride.”

JOE KERRIGAN, Aug. 16, 2001

• “I think it’s a tremendous job, one of the best jobs in sports, to be able to come here and chase away the curse. I look forward to that challenge. I think any prospective manager that dreams about managing, this is one of the places he wants to come and manage.”

• “Everybody thinks they can manage better than anybody else.”

JIMY WILLIAMS, Nov. 19, 1996

• “I know if a frog had wings, he wouldn’t bump his booty.”

• “I know what we want. You guys know what we want. It’s called a championship. That’s what you want. That will satisfy a lot of problems.”

• “That’s why they put pencils on erasers. I know I’m not perfect.”

KEVIN KENNEDY, Oct. 19, 1994

• “I’m glad I’ve got the right name for this town, and I’m just happy to be with an organization that has such a long winning tradition in baseball.”

• “I’m probably too honest sometimes. … People don’t want to look in the mirror. Sometimes I’d say, ‘We stunk,’ or things like that, when we did. Mostly, though, I tried to put that on us as a group, not on individuals.”

Read More: Bobby Valentine, Grady Little, John Farrell, Terry Francona Print  |  Email  |  Bark It Up!  |  Digg It
  • Chonor0713

    I dont get why they screw around with Wes.  Even though he’s dropped some big passes of late.  He’s still more important to them than anyone else.  Why risk losing him.  They just continue to piss him off all the time.  It wouldn’t surprise me if he leaves for less money just to tell Bill to stick it.  It makes absolutely no sense how they have treated this guy.

  • tribethumpers

    As if everyone knows exactly what’s going on here.  My guess is they are allowing him to get a value from other teams before establishing a value and signing with the Pats.

  • JC

    what a fu&^%ing joke.  ”we want him hee for life”….what a crock of sheeeeet.  How about, for starters, making him an offer?

  • Chonor0713

     All this crap does is piss Wes off.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1460714516 Patrick D. Murray

    overrated (stomp stomp stomp stomp stomp on the bleachers)

  • JC

    doubt it.  They are taking a page from the Sox book- “go ahead and test the market and come back to us”….they know, as do you and I that there are 4-5 other quality teams who can use him and have the cap space and are willing to pay him 1 dollar more than the patriots.  This is a joke- being played on the fans so they can come back and say ” he wanted too much, more than what we were willing to offer”

  • Tom L.

    Welker had stated he was going to wait until he tested the market and not sign regardless if they gave him an offer. Why should the Pats show the league their offer so they can all just make sure they better it??

  • Boston_Sports

    The NFL is a business for both the owners and the players. It’s that simple. Look around the league. Pro Bowlers and being released and traded. It all comes down to business.

  • PatsguyAZ

    Luck to welker first down, field goal good my Viniteri and the Colts upset the Pats on the AFC Chamionship game 38-35  i see our future,

  • Jimmy Freeze

    Knucklehead…if Welker doesn’t catch the other 100-something passes all year, there is no AFC Championship Game…no SuperBowl…just 10 extra rounds of golf with players from the Jaguars, Raiders, Browns and other also-rans…

  • Sdfasd

    Everyone wants to re-sign him until they let him go and then it’s the lemmings, “In Bill We Trust”

  • Dee-fense, dee-fense!

    jj you have a weak memory.  The reason he drops a few is that a lot are thrown to him.  Troll. 

  • Dee-fense, dee-fense!

    Well, maybe not ANYONE else.  TB, Gronk and Vince are certainly more important. If we lose Welker instead of Gronk last season, I believe the Super Bowl is won.  

  • Anonymous

    Amen, also he takes a helluva pounding every game and more so in the playoffs, yet he’s in virtually every offensive play – amazingly durable, tough guy. Not resigning Welker would be a huge mistake by Double B. 

  • Anonymous

    Amen, also he takes a helluva pounding every game and more so in the playoffs, yet he’s in virtually every offensive play – amazingly durable, tough guy. Not resigning Welker would be a huge mistake by Double B. 

  • Mcnally

    Forget the freakin offense.  Yeah its fun to watch until these great offenses get shut down in conference championships and the superbowls.  Can we get a defense and then maybe we wont have to score 30-40 points a game to win.  There was a reason Brady was so successful early in his career.  He wasn’t asked to do it all in the playoffs because the defense played great and shut down all those vaunted colt offense’s. 

  • Donalmcl27

    Must be taking Larry Lessons.

  • Anonymous

    mind error: re-signing not resigning – oops!

  • jj

    Did they not make and win the Superbowl with lesser recievers? Their defense SUCKS. Period. Thats the issue and has been for 8 years.

  • jj

    Even if this team made the Superbowl they would not have beat the 49ers or ANY OTHER team from the NFC because their defense STILL can’t stop anyone when it counts, and their receivers can’t catch the ball when it counts. Thats reality coming from a family who has had season tickets for 35 years.

  • Bvbdan1

    I hear it coming in the backround at Coach Bill’s press conference on why they did not make an offer. Wait for it… (We did what was best for the team).. Ugh…It’s going to be the Woodhead, Vereen, Edleman if they sign him show from now on. At least sign Talib.

  • Anonymous

    welker wil not catch 100 passes any where else

  • Pfr33

    If he leaves for less to “stick it” to the Patriots I am glad he left

  • Anonymous

    It’s a business!!!!  Why would the Pats sign a free agent without knowing what the market will bear??  And why would Welker sign without knowing his true value on the open market.  It is risky for both sides, although Welker will get his money, here or elsewhere is the big question.  With Ballard coming back to  lineup with Hernandez and Gronk, the need for a slot receiver isnt critical. 

  • Schwank

    I hope they aren’t dumb enough to think Josh Cribbs is his replacement.  Let me rephrase …. of course they aren’t, but I think they are looking at Cribbs as a return man….non guaranteed and let him compete with Demps.  Cribbs is 29 and was only targetred 11 times so basically all he did was return punts and KO’s. 

    Regarding Welker….they want him …..but not if it cost too much….real profound right?  They figure if he’s too rich for them then they’ll go out and find cheaper alternatives.  The other domino is Lloyd as his guarantee kicks in on 3/16. 

    It’s going to be interesting, but it’s clear they are keeping them close to the vest….I’m sure they know the numbers but until Wes comes back with a bona fide offer why should they.  It’s just poker game….Michael it was just business…

  • Schwank

    no no no trading Hernandez. 

  • George

    who really knows what the Patriots are doing. In the last decade I’ll put my money on them to do what’s best for the team . It seems like everybody overlooks the fact that Welker got paid every year he play , I don’t think he’ll be filing for welfare any time soon. If he goes he goes I’m sure they’ll find someone to take his place

  • Mal Tempo

    Kraft’s comments were meant to deflect fan anger when they let him walk. 

  • Judith Johnson

    Jeremiah. even though Dennis`s c0mment is really cool… on monday I
    got Lotus Carlton when I got my check for $8402 this past five weeks
    and-just over, ten thousand this past munth. this is actually the
    easiest-job Ive had. I actually started seven months/ago and almost
    straight away got at least $76… p/h. I went to this website,, jump15.comCHECK IT OUT

Red Sox Box Score
Red Sox Schedule
Baseball Analytics Blog
Red Sox Headlines
Red Sox Minor League News
Red Sox Team Leaders
MLB Headlines
Tips & Feedback

Verify