With the Boston Red Sox coaching staff starting to take shape, we now know that the most interesting candidate for a spot on Bobby Valentine's staff is off the market.
The Chicago Cubs have reportedly hired former Red Sox first baseman Bill Buckner as their hitting coach for their Class-A affiliate, the Boise Hawks. Buckner managed the Brockton Rox of the Can-Am League last season.
Buckner, as many Red Sox fans know, is infamously known for his error in the bottom of the ninth inning in game six of the 1986 world series between the Red Sox and the New York Mets, a game the Mets ultimately won. Because of Buckner's error, it in theory cost the Red Sox the 86' World Series title.
During Bobby Valentine's introductory press conference as the new Red Sox manager, he said he has entertained the idea of having Buckner, a longtime friend, on his new coaching staff. I guess it just wasn't meant to be.
"We played together with the Dodgers," Valentine said of Buckner at his introductory press conference as manager of the Sox. "We played We played together in the Dominican Republic. I've watched his kids grow up and I respect his every opinion in baseball and in worldly matters. Whether or not Bill Buckner would be on the staff is a decision that Ben [Cherington] and I will talk about, or if anyone else will be on the staff, Ben and I will talk about to find out the right composition of a staff." (via WEEI)
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