Could Bobby Valentine be the best thing for the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry? (AP)

It’s just what the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry needed. At least, if you judge by the New York media that made the trek up to Boston Thursday in numbers that rivaled a pennant-stretch series between the two clubs at Fenway.

Every New York daily had representation, including multiple reporters in some cases, for the introduction of Bobby Valentine.

It was the perfect storm for the New York media. A media-savvy manager who is charismatic and frank with his judgements, a baseball lifer who understands and appreciates the rivalry. And to cap it all off, a man who recognized each and every New York writer from his seven-year tenure as Mets manager from 1996-2002.

“We [the Mets] played the Yankees six times,’’ said Valentine, when asked about looking forward to playing the Yankees 18 times in 2012. “I can’t imagine 18. Is it like playing 50 games? I think it is. Those long games are about quality hitters. The Yankees are quality top to bottom and the Red Sox are quality top to bottom, that’s why you get those wars.’’

Just ask Joe Torre, Joe Girardi and Terry Francona. All three have spoken at length about why Yankees-Red Sox is something different. Valentine – a native of Stamford, Conn. – clearly wanted to show to his New York and Boston audiences that he gets it.

“I think we are going to be able to match them,’’ Valentine said. “It’s not going to be the best team that wins, but the team that plays the best.’’

The argument certainly could be made that no hire in recent Red Sox history has had the marquee value to New Yorkers like Bobby Valentine offers.

“If Bobby Valentine pokes the bear and stokes the fire, that’s OK,’’ Red Sox President/CEO Larry Lucchino told the NY Post’s Kevin Kernan.

Kernan pointed out that it was Larry Lucchino who gave us the nickname “Evil Empire” for the Yankees.

“If this intensifies it, that’s OK with us,” Lucchino told the Post. “One thing everybody agrees upon, is that Bobby is a highly competitive, highly compassionate guy who will not be outworked,” Lucchino added. “This is the kind of guy you want leading you into battle against your dreaded rival.’’