Tuesday’s loss to the Yankees might have been the year’s most painful for Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine.
Sure, the blown ninth-inning lead stings. But Valentine was actually physically banged up going into the showdown in the Bronx.
The Boston skipper was involved in a minor bike accident in Central Park earlier in the day, according to The New York Times.
Adding to the oddity of the incident is that Valentine was reportedly reading a text message from Dustin Pedroia when the accident occurred. Pedroia, of course, was initially expected to sit out Tuesday and Wednesday with a broken left ring finger, but he eventually decided to give it a go. When Pedroia texted Valentine to relay the news, the second baseman apparently caught his boss at a bad time.
Valentine reportedly was riding on a slippery path. When he looked up from his phone, he had to swerve to avoid the umbrellas of two French tourists, at which point he skidded, lost his balance and went head over pedals down the side of a hill by the road.
“I shouldn’t have been reading a text while I was riding,” Valentine told The New York Times. “That’s the wrong thing to do. But at least I was wearing my helmet.”
Valentine reportedly sustained injuries to his knees and hips, but he left no doubt about his availability when asked about the incident. Rather than cry about it, he pulled a Pedroia and gave it a go on Tuesday.
“Hey, if he can play with that, I can certainly manage with this,” Valentine reportedly said while showing the bandages on his legs.
Hours later, the Sox ended up losing to the Yankees in 12 innings to secure a last-place finish. Painful, indeed.
Photo of the Day
Adam Greenberg‘s at-bat was a long time coming.
Quote of the Day
Very, very, very, very, very, very average. Yeah, I felt like, me personally, I could have played better. … (I’ve) just got to keep fighting through adversity.
–Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant — whose career has been very, very, very, very, very, very average thus far — discussing his Monday night performance against the Bears
Tweet of the Day
Insult to injury.
What do you have to do to beat the Yankees. Closer means closer right.
— Steven Tolleson (@STolleson83) October 3, 2012
Video of the Day
The Twins might be wise to bring Kevin Love aboard.
