TAMPA — If you talk long enough to Joe Girardi about Bobby Valentine guiding the Red Sox, you get the feeling the Yankees’ manager would like the subject to change.
Sitting in the Yankees’ dugout early last night before a meaningless 1-0 loss to the Red Sox at George M. Steinbrenner Field, Girardi was swamped with questions about the new Red Sox manager, who is never shy about sharing an opinion.
“That’s part of my job, right? To answer questions,’’ Girardi said. “I am sure it’s going to be a different flavor because it’s a different manager. I am sure people thought it was different when I came than when Joe [Torre] was here because I am a different human being.’’
AP
LAUGH IT UP: Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine (left) chats with players Mike Aviles (center) and Jacoby Ellsbury at George M. Steinbrenner Field yesterday before an exhibition game vs. the Yankees.
Valentine was hired by the Yankees’ blood rivals after Terry Francona wasn’t brought back following a shocking collapse by the Red Sox last September, when they went from a virtual wild-card lock to missing the playoffs. Shortly after, reports surfaced of starting pitchers drinking beer in the clubhouse during games they weren’t working.
With his attention to detail and outsized personality, Valentine brings a different look to Fenway Park, but he is following a manager who directed the Red Sox to two World Series titles.
“I don’t know what kind of spice it’s going to add, but we are going to find out,’’ Girardi said of adding Valentine to the best rivalry in sports.
Though Valentine has the personality that likely will embrace the craziness of Red Sox-Yankees, Girardi’s low-key attitude dictates he avoid letting it affect his personality.
“You understand the importance of the game,’’ Girardi said. “I do everything I can not to get caught up in it. Players can feed off your attitude. So as a manager you try to keep the same attitude every day. It’s a long year, and you don’t want to make your club think one game is more important than the other. You do your best to keep it as level as you can.’’
Valentine, a very good game manager, will be a new face for Girardi to work against.
“Some managers are more predictable than others, some less. Some are going to have a better idea what they are going to do because you managed against them,’’ Girardi said. “I never managed against Bobby Valentine. I am sure there are going to be things that are different.
“But one thing that hasn’t changed a whole lot is the players, and their talents haven’t changed. He might do some different things with them that we will get a chance to see during the course of the year. But I look at my club, it’s not like I can make some of my guys 80 stolen base guys.’’
In addition to Francona being out of the dugout, closer Jonathan Papelbon is in Philadelphia and starter John Lackey will miss the season due to surgery. Andrew Bailey is the closer and Daniel Bard is getting a chance to start after being an eighth-inning arm.
So, what Red Sox team does Girardi expect to surface? The one that was arguably the best team in baseball for the first five months last year? Or the one who flushed a postseason spot in the last four weeks?
“I think they are the team from April to August with how talented they are,’’ Girardi said. “I don’t think what happened in September is a reflection of the talent level.’’
Now that talent has a new director who, unlike the old manager, has no problem injecting himself into the spotlight that burns brightly over Red Sox-Yankees.
george.king@nypost.com
Red Sox, Joe Girardi, Girardi, Bobby Valentine, Bobby Valentine, Red Sox, George M. Steinbrenner Field, Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine, the Yankees, Terry Francona, Valentine
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