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Heyman On Gresh & Zo: Is Bobby V. Trying To Be A Distraction For His Team

CBS Sports baseball writer Jon Heyman called in for his weekly Sox chat with 98.5 The Sports Hub's Gresh & Zo. The guys discussed Bobby Valentine's comments about human error in calling balls and strikes, Daniel Bard's possible new role and Josh Beckett correctly handling the Boston media.

Bobby V. was ejected from Sunday's game with the Washington Nationals at Fenway Park for arguing balls and strikes. On Monday the manager said he'd support using technology to help umpires call balls and strikes, even though he admits he has no idea how to do so.

"I want a ball called a ball and a strike called a strike," Valentine said in Maimi before Monday's Marlins-Red Sox game. "Figure out how. I don't know how to do it. I know you can do it. It's 2012."

He praised umpires for their training and job they try to do, but believes that things need to change.

"I think (umpires) are very well-trained and I think they're very good at what they do. It's impossible to do what they do, so why do we ask them to do the impossible?"

Is Bobby deflecting here or is there a method to his madness? Is all this by just to take some of the attention off a team who is three games under .500?

The guys then moved on to discuss what's going on with Daniel Bard. In Bard's last start for the Red Sox he allowed five runs off just one hit to the Blue Jays, but issued six walks and hit two batsmen. The Sox decided after that start the starter need to be moved down to Pawtucket to try and work on things.

What if this issue can't be corrected soon and will he even return as a starter if he comes back up?

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