Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine, who this time last year was ensconced in comfortable roles as an analyst for ESPN and as the director of public safety for his hometown of Stamford, Conn.

WSJ: Humber Pie and Other Tasty Treats From the Sports World

The Red Sox brought in Bobby Valentine, the ESPN commentator and alleged inventor of the wrap sandwich.

WSJ: Jason Gay: Red Sox Now Order Shirley Temples

If anything is going to enliven the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry, it's the strange mind of one man: Bobby Valentine.

WSJ: Jason Gay: Time to Light a Fire Under a Tired Rivalry

Maybe the Boston Red Sox will actually show up now that their plan to get rid of Bobby Valentine play as poorly as possible so he'll get fired worked out better than anyone could have envisioned.

WSJ: Yankees putting on Old-Timer's Day all season long