FORT MYERS, Fla. — By being everywhere, Bobby Valentine is counting on the Red Sox going somewhere this season.
The man was in constant motion from the time he rode his bike on an hour-long loop just to get to JetBlue Park early yesterday morning. He bounced from field to field to work with players, meet with team personnel and even ran into a part of his history.
The new Red Sox manager encountered retired high school football coach Joe Anzalone. Valentine was a football legend at Rippowam High in Stamford. Anzalone coached at rival Stamford Catholic.
Anzalone said Valentine was the best player he ever saw, saying he was like a Ray Rice, “but Bobby was faster.’’
It wasn’t just the way Valentine played the game; it was how he carried himself. The day after Stamford Catholic beat Valentine’s squad, 16-12, the coach got a phone call at home. It was Valentine.
“Coach, I want to apologize for not shaking your hand after the game,’’ Valentine told Anzalone.
Valentine was so distraught with the loss after nearly making the play of the game, flying over from his safety position to try to knock down a late touchdown pass from future NBA official Bennett Salvatore, that he left the field without shaking hands with the opposing coach.
“I was ticked off that was a devastating loss,’’ Valentine said, recalling the game from 45 years ago as if it were yesterday. “I had to call out of respect for the game.’’
“How many high school kids would do that?’’ Anzalone asked. “I have all the respect in the world for Bobby. He knows how to manage people. He’s going to do a great job managing the Red Sox.’’
Bobby V. is going to give it all he’s got. The Red Sox are coming off the historic collapse and have not won a postseason game since Oct. 18, 2008. Walk into the new clubhouse here and there are six flat-screen TVs in the middle of the room. Two of the screens were playing the same highlights yesterday, catchers throwing out runners at second and picking off runners at first and third. The reel then shows pitchers making plays around the mound.
Valentine had Red Sox video coordinator Billy Broadbent produce different “training films’’ to reinforce whatever the subject of the day will be — from pitchers’ fielding practice to relays to hit and runs to the bunting game.
Valentine has smartly tapped into this YouTube generation of ballplayers, knowing a highlight reel is worth a thousand of his words. It’s another way to get the players’ attention.
“I like video as a teacher,’’ Valentine said, praising Broadbent’s work.
Bench coach Tim Bogar’s meticulous schedule for the day is posted on two flat-screens as well. Yes, it is a clubhouse, but it is a workplace, too, and there is always work to be done. This is not a country club.
“Tim has done a remarkable job of working with me for six weeks to figure out how crazy I am … and he actually has implemented all my crazy stuff, it’s really amazing,’’ Valentine said of the schedule.
The Red Sox were somewhat entitled last season as a team and as a front office, and it came back to bite them in more ways than just chicken and beer. Slugger David Ortiz said Valentine is off to a great start.
“He’s changing things around and has some great ideas,’’ Big Papi said. “We’re here to do what we are told. We’ve got a good group of guys. I think people made a bigger deal with of what happened last year, but I understand too we have to get things right. Bobby is going to be a great fit for all of us and all he asks from us is play the game right and be prepared.’’
By the end of this spring training, Bobby V. will have his Red Sox prepared.