ESPN-1050 has signed the outspoken Valentine to do a weekly manager's segment on "The Michael Kay Show." This will pit Kay— the voice of the YES Network's voice of the Yankees— against the controversial manager of the hated Sox.
If the station hopes to stir things up between the two rivals, they couldn't have picked a better catalyst. Valentine has already taken shots at a couple of the Yankee players including the face of the Yankees— Derek Jeter.
There may be a segment of the Yankees Universe that will not accept listening to Valentine as a matter of principle. The Red Sox are despised by New York fans and Valentine's mouthing off, even before managing a single game from the Fenway Park dugout, has made him Bronx Enemy No. 1.
ESPN is hoping— by invading their air space— some of those fans tune in to hear the man they love to hate.
Valentine's arrival at ESPN New York is the first time a manager from other than the Yankees or Mets has signed a contract to make regular appearances on a local sportstalk station.
We'll have to wait and listen to find out if it's a bases-loaded strike or a grand slam for ESPN. The station does not have radio rights for either the Yankees or the Mets and doesn't have any well-known baseball personalities under contract. This hiring changes all that.
Both local managers— the Yankees' Joe Girardi and Terry Collins of the Mets— are signed to WFAN, so ESPN reached out to Valentine as an option.
"The idea of getting Bobby intrigued them," said a source. "And since he already worked for ESPN ("Sunday Night Baseball") a relationship was already established."
The knowledgeable Valentine makes his debut today and some Yankees fans may want to cover their ears when he gives his weekly opinions, but it should make for some good radio.
That first Yankees-Red Sox series could be a doozy.
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