Bobby Valentine has been interacting with his Red Sox players for about 40 or 50 days now, so it probably makes sense that he openly questioned the physical and emotional focus of Kevin Youkilis. What's that? It doesn't make sense at all unless Valentine thought he was giving an interview to himself in a mirror, like he does every night? Yeah, I can see that. It really doesn't make sense.

Youkilis responded to the comments through Tim Britton of the Providence Journal:

"I don't know. That's not what I see. I go out every day and play as hard as I can -- take every ground ball in the morning, take every at-bat like it's my last. I don't think my game has changed at all. I still get upset with myself. I still get mad. That's just not how I go about the game of baseball."

Youkilis also reveals that the comments to the media marked the first time he heard Valentine's opinion, and that the subject of being "into the game" wasn't something with which his manager had approached him.

Michael Silverman has a list of Valentine quotes in response to the hubbub and rigamarole in his timeline.

Bobby V on ripping reputation: "It wasn't unfair, it was an understanding. It's what it is. Until people want to understand what' (cont)

— Michael Silverman (@MikeSilvermanBB) April 16, 2012

Just say you made a mistake and move on.

Bobby V: (cont) 'it really is instead of making it up what they want it to be, there'll be confusion. I think eventually everyone' (cont)

— Michael Silverman (@MikeSilvermanBB) April 16, 2012

Just say you made a mistake and move on.

Bobby V (cont): 'will understand what it really is.''

— Michael Silverman (@MikeSilvermanBB) April 16, 2012

Man.