By Fitzgerald Cecilio

Boston, MA

Despite the Red Sox's pitiful performance this year, Bobby Valentine thinks he will return for a second year as manager of the Boston club.

The Red Sox fell to 69-87 after losing their final home game of the 2012 season Wednesday to the Tampa Bay Rays, who swept a two-game set with a 4-2 win.

That loss was the sixth in the last seven tilts for the Red Sox, who will finish under .500 for the first time at Fenway Park since 1997.

The Red Sox went 34-47 at their own ballpark, matching their worst home mark since 1965.

"Well, disappointing," said Valentine when asked about the Red Sox's play at home the season. "We didn't walk off many and we didn't score enough runs here. We have a lot stored up for next year."

His status has been on shaky ground, but the 62-year-old Valentine still continues to occupy the manager's office. His primary objective as at this point is merely to avoid the club's first 90-loss season since 1966.

When asked about factors that contributed to his team's performance this season, which included injuries and a blockbuster trade that sent some key players out of town, Valentine said: "All those variables are things I feel I'm prepared to handle. When I come back next year, I think I'm prepared to handle them. Hopefully, we'll have better results."

Valentine is under contract for one more season (and $2.5 million), and indicated that he has not yet discussed his future with the ownership.

"There hasn't been any dialogue [with front office and ownership]," said Valentine. "We've talked, but [not about the job], which makes me think I'm coming back. I don't know."

Meanwhile, Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington Thursday clarified his remarks in an interview on WEEI earlier in the day, indicating that his comment were not meant that Valentine's firing was imminent.

In the said interview on WEEI, the Red Sox's flagship station, Cherington indicated that he would like to move faster the next time he has to fill the field manager position.

"I honestly meant it very literally, like we would like to spend less time on it," Cherington said via Boston.com. "That could mean one day, that could mean no days. In my mind, it was nothing to do with Bobby or a decision about him, but I guess people are taking it the wrong way and if I need to clarify it, I'll clarify it."

Valentine was not hired until Dec. 1 last year. Valentine was brought in late in the process in the managerial search that began with five candidates.

The Red Sox are set to close the season with three games in Baltimore and three at Yankee Stadium.

 

 

Bobby V Believes He Will Return Next Season with Red Sox