By Fitzgerald Cecilio

Boston, MA

Despite a "miserable" first season with the Boston Red Sox, Bobby Valentine said he did not regret his decision to return to managing after almost ten years of hiatus.

"Regret returning? No, life is a journey, you guys, you have to understand," Valentine told host Glenn Ordway of sports radio WEEI. "Everyone thinks that misery is something that people run away from. I think you learn from misery."

"You learn from challenges, you learn from failures as well as you learn from success. So this is what I chose to do, and I think it's been, you know, miserable, but I think it's also been part of my life's journey," he added.

During the interview, Valentine called his first season as manager of the Red Sox "miserable". The team entered Wednesday with a 63-74 record, far out of playoff contention, and on course for its worst finish since 1966.

Valentine's tenure has been marked by internal discord between players and management, leading to a trade of key players Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Beckett, Nick Punto and Carl Crawford to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Before he was shipped out, Gonzalez talked to the Red Sox ownership regarding Valentine's style of managing but team owners decided to stick with the manager.

During the interview, Valentine said he had a productive meeting with owner John Henry, saying he was not worried about job security after the end of the season. But an ESPN.com source said Valentine will be evaluated at the end of the season.

"This is not who I am, this is just what I am," Valentine said. "I am concerned with who I am."

When asked if he wants to come back next season, Valentine replied: "Of course. If that's what I am asked to do, that's what I'm going to get paid to do."

"I want to do whatever I can do to wake up every morning and do the best that I can do at whatever it is that I choose to do," Valentine added.

 

Feisty BoSox Manager Valentine has No Regrets About Return