Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine, on WHDH's Sports Xtra show Sunday night, said Kevin Youkilis isn't as into baseball as he has been in the past.
"I don't think he's as physically or emotionally into the game as he has been in the past for some reason," Valentine said. Bobby V has long been a difficult motivator to understand intellectually, but this tactic seems particularly bizarre. Voicing concern over the idea of motivation will likely offend Youkilis far more than critiquing his on-field performance. Such a strategy might work with a rookie, but it's hard to envision it forcing Youk to reconsider the way in which he's currently approaching both his life and profession. Youkilis is hitting .200/.265/.233 thus far. He's more likely to turn things around based on his athletic ability than his wacky manager's poke-the-bear machinations.