Lotte not to give Valentine contract extension

Sunday 21st December, 04:14 PM JST

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

› Login to comment

11 Comments

Ninjazilla at 06:29 PM JST - 21st December

Their loss.
pathat at 11:04 PM JST - 21st December

The years from 2010 will see the Marines return to their former status as CL cellar dwellers.

You'd better enjoy next season, Chiba Lotte Marines fans.
Taka313 at 01:25 AM JST - 22nd December

The "wa" is more important than the win at Lotte.

Taka
stener at 04:07 AM JST - 22nd December

Valentine has only had 3 good seasons and 3 bad seasons. Despite all the hype his record proves that he is pretty mediocre.
pathat at 05:59 AM JST - 22nd December

"Despite all the hype his record proves that he is pretty mediocre."

Well, it sure didn't help last year that two of his best relievers went to MLB.

As a criticism of Bobby V, I thought he made a huge mistake keeping buddies like Benny Agbayani around for another year when it was pretty obvious the year before that he didn't have much left-in terms of ability and desire. (And I said as much on JT several months ago.)

He also has considerable responsibility for bringing in Julio Zuleta, who has been a big flop.

I'm not a Bobby V fan at all. However, I do think he deserves a lot of credit for not only winning the Japan Series, but also for making the team competitive every year.

Taka's comment above is right on the money.

After reading some of Robert Whiting's books on Japanese baseball, including a section on Bobby V's first go-round in NPB, I'm rather surprised he's lasted as long as he has this time, the Japan Series championship notwithstanding.

Good luck to Bobby V with the Marines in 2009.
stener at 06:37 AM JST - 22nd December

I'm not a Bobby V fan at all. However, I do think he deserves a lot of credit for not only winning the Japan Series, but also for making the team competitive every year.

If you end in the bottom half 3 of the 6 years then the team is not competitive. With the salary that he is making he should make his team competitive every year. Bobby V is getting the same treatment as every manager with mediocre success. There is no controversy here, only in the eyes of an American with a gaijin complex on their shoulders such as Robert Whiting.
tomico at 08:11 AM JST - 22nd December

Do you think the Marines would change their minds to keep him if he pulls them into the playoffs and or let alone win the Japan Series?

If they don't change their minds, this is going to be a dark day for the Chiba Lotte Marines fans and probably Chiba in general after the 2009 season. Watch the Zen of Bobby V you'll see what I mean. If not here's a link for some insight: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/13/sports/baseball/13sandomir.html?em&ex=1210910400&en=d8fffe4445732f92&ei=5087%0A

Best continued success to Bobby V and the Chiba Lotte Marines in 2009 and beyond.
Ninjazilla at 05:58 PM JST - 22nd December

Itd be great if another Pacific league takes him.
stener at 06:42 PM JST - 22nd December

I have wanted to see the Zen of Bobby V for a very long time. But do not live in the States and do not know how to be able to watch it. It is a known fact that Bobby V is one of the greatest advocates for Japanese baseball. That could be the reason many foreingers on the internet dislike Bobby V because he seems to be in love with the country and the baseball played in Japan where as others seem to be stuck in a place which they dispise.

Do you think the Marines would change their minds to keep him if he pulls them into the playoffs and or let alone win the Japan Series?

Very possible. Bobby V will end his was that 4 or 5 year contract after next season. He has been an expensive manager for Lotte. Will Bobby agree to take a pay cut even if Lotte win the Japan Series? Will Bobby agree not to take a pay rise and have the same salary? If Lotte ends this season in the bottom half of the table like this past season then the team will think that he is not worth that amount of money with good reasons. A team that does well tend to be expensive team for the owners. Owners want a strong team without costing too much. From a team point of view the question becomes how much money are they willing to pay in order for the team to be competitive?
tomico at 11:12 PM JST - 23rd December

From a team point of view the question becomes how much money are they willing to pay in order for the team to be competitive?

Ask the Giants on that one. That's why I hear Bobby V is not a fan of them. They are to Japanese baseball what the NY Yankees are to the MLB. He looks at it as instead of trying to buy a championship, how about doing more for the league in general.

It is a known fact that Bobby V is one of the greatest advocates for Japanese baseball.

That's true and one of the things touched upon in the Zen of Bobby V. He would like to see more of a way to keep the best players in Japan, while also expanding the league. Even opening some or if not more minor league divisions for baseball.

I heard rumor that Bobby may end up back with the NY Mets after his contract expires. If it is true, it'll probably great news for Mets fans, however it'll be bad news for Marines fans. Plus if he were to go he wouldn't have the same type of following he has with the Marines.

I would like to see him stay there to hopefully to one day open the doors more for Japanese baseball. It's a matter of getting the higher ups to wake up on this subject.

You might be able to find the Zen of Bobby V on youtube not sure of they have the whole film posted though.

Itd be great if another Pacific league takes him.

The question is who? I'm not sure I could see him with another Japanese team other than the Marines. Although it would be interesting to see the outcome of it.
itcher74 at 05:57 AM JST - 28th December

Looks like personal conflict between the owner and Valentine is the reason for not extending the contract. Can read more about it in Bobby´s blog.

http://www.bobbysway.jp/

The owner wanted to squeeze Valentine out of his future plans. It is too bad.