HippoPress -- The Hippo -- Guide to Manchester NH

John Valentin, Red Sox Alum

by Robert Greene

In 1992, his rookie year, John Valentin’s first major-league homer — a grand slam off Mike Schooler — helped the Sox sink the visiting Marlins, 10-8.

In 1994, playing shortstop, Valentin turned in the 10th unassisted triple play in major league history, catching a line drive off the bat of Marc Newfield, stepping on second base to retire Mike Blowers, then tagging a runner who was heading for second. Valentin then homered in the bottom of the second. In 1995, Valentin had one of the best hitting days a shortstop ever had, going five-for-five, with three home runs and four runs scored. He was only the eighth Red Sox player to collect three homers in a game. On Oct. 10, 1999, the Sox set an all-time post-season play record by scoring 23 runs to defeat the Indians, 23-7. Boston got 24 hits in the contest, including five by Mike Stanley and four each by Valentin and Jason Varitek. Valentin hit a pair of homers and drove home seven runs.

Valentin spent 2002 with the Mets, then signed a minor-league contract with the Houston Astros. The 37-year-old infielder was released by the Astros before spring training.

So what’s he doing in Manchester? He’s the Fisher Cats’ new hitting coach.

Are you ready to start riding on buses again?

(Laughs) Actually, you know, I’m kind of looking forward to the experience, you know. Because it is new for me and it’s a different stage in my life ... so I’m looking forward to it.

What do you think about Randy Johnson getting picked up by the Yankees?

Well, I’m not surprised. I’m not surprised. I thought it would happen a lot earlier but, you know, they were embarrassed this fall so I’m sure George [Steinbrenner] is going to try to do, you know, everything in his power to come back.

[Editor’s note: The Johnson deal, involving three teams, had not been finalized at the time of this interview. It involves Johnson going from the Diamondbacks to the Yankees, Shawn Green from the Dodgers to Arizona and Javier Vazquez from New York to Los Angeles.]

I was just talking to a mailman down the block and he was saying that Pedro [Martinez] must be a little steamed by it because he thought he’d be the big dog in New York for a while.

Yeah, but different league, you know.

OK, well, considering the Fisher Cats won the league last season, how are you going to improve the team?

Ah, I haven’t seen the team, yet. I won’t see the team until spring training and I’m sure the guys who have done well this year — well, this past year — are probably not going to be here. You know, because if you do well, you are going to the next level and hopefully that team can win it in Triple A. You know, hopefully, we won’t see those same guys here. You’re probably going to see a couple, because not everybody is going to move up to Triple A. But mostly, you may see some A-ball guys coming up to Double A and a whole new experience. Basically, until, you know, I can sit down and evaluate these guys in spring training, I mean, it’s a wait-and-see.

How is it going to feel, considering your years on the field, for you to be kind of the ‘old guy’ that these new players are taking cues from?

I’m comfortable, you know ... I analyzed, TV-wise, the last couple of years and it was rewarding as hell. You know, to actually talk about baseball on TV and how the game is played and the mistakes that are made and so on. You know, the Monday morning quarterback, there’s nothing better than that. It’s an easy thing to do in a sense. But, you know, it was kind of rewarding but not enough.

It’s something, you know, I do clinics at home. I teach little kids. I’ve done clinics my whole career, you know, while I was playing. And teaching is something that, if you can provide somebody something, it’s rewarding. If you can provide something to somebody who really can use the help, it’s not only rewarding to you but it’s a ... it’s a good situation. Because, you know, if you have something to teach, you should offer it.

You know, I’m at a stage in my career where, obviously, I could probably still play. But in a capacity that I don’t want to. I don’t really necessarily want to be a part-time player, anymore. I did it for one year with the Mets and, although I got released from the Astros this past season in spring training, I could have easily went to Triple A and hung out for a month to hook on for another team, to be a part-time player. That’s something I really didn’t want to do after playing 10 seasons in the grind with the Red Sox every day. You know, when you play every day and you play in a market like New York or Boston, it’s pretty stressful, you know. So, I didn’t want to watch the game as a player anymore. Being with the New York Mets part time and pinch hitting and watching Bobby [Valentine] — how he handled the team and watched players — I found myself coaching within the dugout in a sense. In my mind, in my head, as well as talking to players in and out of the innings about, you know, how they are approaching this guy, what they should be looking for. I’m upstairs watching TV and film, while they are playing, I’m having coffee upstairs watching, you know, the game. Also, in between innings and stuff, it was exciting to actually be on that side, to really find out what the hell was going on on that side.

What is it about you that is going to make you a good coach?

Well, I don’t think ... who cares, in a sense ... If I can provide a service to the young kids. My experience, you know, my experience and desire, as well as, you know, my dedication to having success and preparation. This is probably my biggest attribute that I can give to a kid. And it’s not really all about me anymore, I’ve had my day. It’s really more about, you know, making sure these kids can have success any way they can.

Can you think back in life, to someone who helped you out like that?

I’ve had many good coaches. From, even my high-school basketball days ... you know, I played for Bobby Hurley at St. Anthony’s High School in Jersey City, for basketball. And I learned quickly to prepare myself in a basketball situation as well as dedication and hard work. Because, you know, they work hard. They are a very talented high-school basketball program. I learned very early and then I went to Seton Hall [University, in Orange, N.J.] where I played for Mike Shepherd, who was very tough. He was an ex-Marine who took over, you know, the Seton Hall program a long time ago and basically had some talent come out of there. The minor league system is ... you got to realize that when I played in the minor leagues it was more “the cream rises to the top.” You weren’t really coached. You weren’t really coached a whole lot.

Is that because there is more money in minor league now than there used to be?

Well, yeah, it’s filtered down from the big leagues. It’s such a business right now and there is a lot of attention being placed in the minor leagues, you know, right now. Because [general managers] are realizing that, you know, you gotta put money ... they’re putting a lot more money into their players ... if they want that investment to do well for them.

And the minor league games are selling out right now, a team like the Lowell Spinners has a full stadium for every game.

That’s a tribute to the way the big leagues are now, you know, in a sense they’re packed all the time and tickets are expensive and players are expensive. You know, when you sign a player now you’re spending two or three million dollars. You want to — not pamper him — but you want give him all the needs that he needs, good coaches, a good program and so on and so forth.

Is this going to be kind of step one to a manager career for you, you think?

You know, I don’t know. I kind of say that I’d like to manage. I have said it over the last couple of days as well as in the past. I think I would like to manage. But, you know, this is a brand-new experience for me and I’m happy to be — I could’ve took a manager’s position in A ball but I decided that I didn’t want to manage that quickly and that raw a talent. I wanted to try to help guys in Triple A. And right now, they’re getting closer to the major leagues and I can, you know, help them see the game a little differently there. But they’re a little bit more experienced and less raw ... but a Triple A position didn’t come my way because Triple A managers just don’t happen that easily.

Did you pick Manchester or did Manchester pick you?

Toronto picked me. They offered me the position and I chose to take it.

Were you aware of what a big sports town Manchester is? Manchester loves its hockey. Manchester loves its baseball.

That’s good. That’s good. That means we will have some support here. I’m hoping that more people come to the games. If [the new stadium] is a good facility and a fun atmosphere, and the product is good. It’s going to be an interesting season. It will be fun. We’ll see what happens. I’ll let you know how it is toward the end of the season.

One last question, and I have to ask it. In your eyes, who is the best hitter of all time?

Best hitter of all time ... there are a lot of good hitters out there. Tough to say. You know, they say Ted Williams was the best hitter of all time. Let’s go with that.

— Robert Greene

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