Bobby Valentine, on WFAN’s midday show with Joe Benigno and Evan Roberts said he sees the Mets going all the way to the World Series this year and thinks Willie Randolph will take them further than he ever did.

“I think it’s their year. I think it’s destiny for this team,” Valentine said. “I see the Yankees New York Yankees making a run, but I can see the Mets making a run that gets them to the World Series and a win in the World Series.”

Valentine said he could see himself returning to the states to coach a MLB team again but right now he’s happy where he is.

“I think Willie is going to turn that thing around and have a wonderful managerial career. Whether or not I end up back in MLB or in New York that will (be) somebody else’s offer and then my decision to have to make afterwards, but right now I am where I am and I have a job.”

I know there are mixed feelings about Valentine amongst Mets fans but I am firmly entrenched in the Bobby V fan club. I miss having him around and wish him the best of luck in Japan. I hope someday down the line he finds his way back into the Mets organization.

The way SNY portrays Willie Randolph was one of the subjects Willie spoke about in the now infamous Ian O’Conner interview. Here New York Times sports media writer Richard Sandomir reminds us that back in 1998 then Mets broadcaster Tim McCarver was likely fired because of his outspokenness from the booth.

McCarver said: “Nelson told me that Bobby Valentine said, ‘McCarver’s got to go,’ and Nelson told the manager, ‘I’ll handle it.’ ” Doubleday asked McCarver to soothe Valentine by telling him that he’s done a “hell of a job” with the players he had. “And I said, ‘If I felt that way, I would have said it already,’ ” McCarver said. “At that point, I didn’t feel real good about keeping my job.” Doubleday dallied until February 1999 to tell McCarver he was gone, saying that Valentine had nothing to do with his dismissal.

The New York Times also writes about the booing at Shea Stadium. Francis Clines piece in the Op-Ed section is a interesting read and one that I could not agree with more.

Booing, once directed only at the visiting team, has become the dagger du jour as hometown fans bestow loud, selective blame on that relief pitcher or this heavy hitter for the Mets’ thus far mediocre record. Such disloyalty is hard to witness, particularly as youngsters learn from Dad and Mom to condemn one of their own. The song goes: If they don’t win it’s a shame — not a personal affront.

Greg Berlin of NL Beast is one of many who totally disagrees.

Mike Lupica of the Daily News got it touch with Yogi Berra who, as Lupica points out holds the distinction of being fired by both NY teams. Yogi tells Lupica what we all know to be the truth…

“Yeah,” Yogi said. “Tell him to win some games.”

Lupica’s main point is if Willie wins games then all the drama, self inflicted included, will just go away. What I found interesting is Lupica revisits the notion that is accepted by almost everyone, saying that the Mets collapse last season was the worst in baseball history. Now, while I hurt just like every Mets fan I always thought the Yankee collapse in the playoffs against the Red Sox was much worse. I have found very few people, whether in the media or people that I know who agree with me. But, alas Lupica wrote this today and obviously I agree 100%.

We constantly hear that last September was The Worst Collapse in Baseball History. No, it wasn’t. The worst collapse, in context, and because of the aftermath, because of who was involved and the way it happened, was the Yankees blowing a 3-0 lead to the Boston Red Sox in the 2004 American League Championship Series.

In the Daily News Adam Rubin shares some reactions to yesterday’s smashing debut by rookie Nick Evans :

His first hit: off Jeff Francis on the first pitch he saw in the big leagues. His Binghamton Mets teammates watched that moment on the scoreboard before their game while taking batting practice. “There was no way we were going to miss that,” Double-A closer Eddie Kunz said…Said Evans: “I was very nervous. I haven’t really eaten.”

Bobby Valentine, the former Met manager, is not happy that the MLB will be kicking off its season by scheduling games in Japan that conflict with the start of the nations own league, in which he coaches. What Bobby V told the AP:

“I hope the Red Sox and A’s have a great time here and I’m sure everyone will enjoy it but it’s ludicrous that our games will be going on at the same time”

Bobby V is the manager of the Chibba Lotte Marines, his second stint with the team, and led them to the Japanese equivalent of the World Series.

Prior to leaving the country, he managed the Mets, including a trip to the World Series in 2000, and an incident in 99 when he appeared in the clubhouse in disguise. The Mets went 536-467 under Bobby, with two 90+ win seasons.

Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com reports that the Cleveland Indians are close to agreeing to a contract with Japanese relief pitcher Masahide Kobayashi. He is taking his physical for the team today.

Kobayashi, 33, has spent his entire nine-year career with the Chiba Lotte Marines, the team managed Bobby Valentine, formerly of the Mets. He has averaged 31 saves the past seven seasons.

Daisuke Matsuzaka takes the mound tonight for the Boston Red Sox as the Series moves to Colorado. Bobby Valentine, former Mets manager, who has spent the past several years coaching baseball in Japan spoke to Reuters regarding the young starter.

“It will probably be a lot colder than he’s used to and the altitude will be the highest place he’s probably ever pitched in. But he’s a first. He’s a savant. He wants to be the first, he wants to be the guy to pitch in Game Seven. That’s why he is who he is and does what he does.”

In the article Valentine also discusses how Japanese baseball officials need to step up and market the game the same way Major League Baseball does, to give players a reason to continue their careers in Japan.

Bobby Valentine shares his memory of the first Mets game back at Shea after 9/11, as told to Ken Rosenthal on Fox Sports…

When Mike (Piazza) hit the (decisive) home run (in the Mets' first
game back at Shea Stadium), it turned the emotional scale upside down,
from all the fear and despair and anxiety and depression to a feeling
of elation, a fresh start, the white knight coming in on the horse. It
was an amazing swing of the bat, an amazing day of baseball.

A
lot of those emotions carried forward. Most of the ones in my life that
stayed with me were feelings of despair, not being able to do enough
for so many people who lost so much. There just weren't enough hours. I
couldn't spread myself around as much as I felt was needed.

It
changed the priorities in my life. I give more time and effort to
things I wasn't giving time and effort to before. Without that tragedy,
I wouldn't have been blessed with the opportunity of meeting special
people who allowed me into their lives, and who have been part of my
life since then. That was a silver lining for me. A silver lining in a
very, very dark cloud.

I might have taken things for granted before (9/11). Just the game of baseball. Just normal life.

It's a great life. I probably appreciate it more now than I did then.

Keep up with Bobby V on his blog, Bobby's Way. Most recently, he got to meet Beyonce. Gotta love Bobby V.