A few things struck me in the article. One is how the fans rallied around a cause with signs and t-shirts. MetsGrrl, are you listening? The other, and bigger one, is what Bobby V. has done in Chiba.
- In his seventh season with the Marines, the charismatic Valentine has long been a fan favorite in Japan. That's not only for what he's done on the field -- the Marines won the Japan Series championship in 2005 -- but also because he's made significant progress in making Japanese baseball more fan-friendly.
Valentine's presence is felt everywhere at Chiba Marine Stadium. There is a special section of the stadium where kids can sit in the "Bobby Seats" free of charge and a street near the stadium has been renamed Valentine Way.
A lot of fans wanted to see him back with the Mets, but his fan-friendly ways would never work in the dysfunctional world of Fred and Jeff Wilpon. I don't see much coincidence in that Fred Wilpon took over as the sole owner of the Mets the same year that Bobby V. was fired (and replaced with Art Howe).
Logging you in...