While nothing has been made official, the reported hire could very possibly signal a shift in ideology and philosophy as the Sox transition from Terry Francona to Valentine.
Francona, regarded by some as the ultimate players' manager, will be evidently replaced by Valentine, someone who hasn't been afraid to put his foot down in the past.
"Discipline is not 30 whacks with a whip these days," Valentine told the Boston media on Nov. 21. "But I think everyone likes discipline. I think everyone likes structure. Everyone likes to be acknowledged when they do things properly. Discipline and rules and things like that — it's just about right and wrong."
That same personality and way of thinking may wear thin on those closest to the manager during his tenures, but Valentine could be the right fit for the Sox after a season in which things in the Boston clubhouse had reportedly run amok.
The veteran skipper does have plenty of managerial experience in the big leagues, although he hasn't had a ton of success. He did, however, guide the Mets to the World Series in 2000. They fell to the Yankees in that Subway Series, but there's no arguing that Valentine comes with more experience than Francona did in 2004, and that one turned out pretty well for the Sox.
