TLR Manger of the year?

If we make the playoffs, yes

if not, no.

Call up PJ Walters!

by Hardcore Legend on Sep 11, 2007 11:26 AM EDT reply actions

sorry

leading a .500 team to the playoffs doesn't do a whole lot for me. I've been unimpressed with the way he's handled himself, the team and PR this season.

Future Redbirds

by azruavatar on Sep 11, 2007 11:40 AM EDT reply actions

Agreed

and I don't think you get extra points in rising above a mess you created (Florida DUI).

By the way, one of the reasons I believe this team isn't in the division lead, other than the overall mediocrity of the team, is that when we have an opportunity to make up ground or tie for the division lead, or extend a winning streak against a weaker team like the Pirates or Nationals we come out flat as a team and play a very uninspiring brand of baseball. That has to fall on the manager at some point.

This just isn't a good team. We shouldn't get any awards or accolades. Tony doesn't deserve props for putting nice garnish on an entree of crap.

Let me get this straight...Rowand over Pujols??? Really, Tony?

by cardzfan24 on Sep 11, 2007 11:58 AM EDT up reply actions

If you want

to give a manager props for getting a lot out of a bad baseball team then give the award to Manny Acta in Washington. Tons of experts were picking them to lose well over a 100 games, maybe even set the record for most losses ever, and yet it looks like they won't lose 100. Think Giradi-esque.

Let me get this straight...Rowand over Pujols??? Really, Tony?

by cardzfan24 on Sep 11, 2007 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Acta

Even funnier is they aren't in last place either.
Wsh has a 65-79 .451 record and is 17.5 games out in the NL East, if they had that record in the central they would be 4th still but only 8.5 games out ahead of the Reds by .5. Acta has done a great job and I think the Giardi comparison is warranted.

by StLHugo on Sep 11, 2007 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Florida must be god awful

They have two young, absolute studs in Miguel Cabrera and Hanley Ramirez (who is having a hell of a season) and the second baseman with more homeruns than any other two bagger (Dan Uggla) and they are still mired in last place.

That my friends...takes talent.

Let me get this straight...Rowand over Pujols??? Really, Tony?

by cardzfan24 on Sep 11, 2007 12:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Their pitching staff has imploded

Dontrelle is getting shelled every time out, and he's the veteran who is supposed to be leading by example. At 25, he's already logged 1,000 innings and is probably just worn out. Scott Olsen got arrested for DUI and resisting arrest, and in every start since he's had the Anthony Reyes "big inning" syndrome, where he's been unable to get out out trouble. Their only quality starts had been coming from Sergio Mitre, who has also run out of gas in the second half.

No telling whether Girardi would have made a difference here. But yeah, the team has stalled significantly this year.

by taiko on Sep 11, 2007 12:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Tony's DUI

did not create hancock, carp, spezio, encarnacion, ankiel controversy and other countless injuries. So saying "he created" the "mess" is at best wrong, and at worst irresponsible and insensitive.

And - you say 'we're just a bad team' EXACTLY!

That's why a trip to the playoffs would be so remarkable managerially!

by cardsfaninmass on Sep 11, 2007 1:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Tony isn't completely free of blame

for the Spiezio, Hancock and Ankiel situations. Either a) he's oblivious to what were persisting problems or b) he failed to stop/prevent them.

The Cardinals have suffered some setbacks of talent but TLR continues to trot out Mike Maroth onto the mound -- that's not good managing.

Future Redbirds

by azruavatar on Sep 11, 2007 1:16 PM EDT up reply actions

I think its pretty irresponsible

to blame Tony for any of those individual problems...these are men....w/ Hancock we have evidence that Tony DID try to say something.

As for the managing - sure we question throwing Maroth out there - but the matter still stands - we are an awful team...our starter ERA or run differential should indicate an team that should be well, well under .500 and probably close to last in this division.

But, yet, here we are still 'in it' (in theory at least) Like it or not, this team as showed fight and resilience (when left for dead). It won a lot of close games, it's staged memorable comebacks....

If we were to make the playoffs, anyone who wouldn't say TLR deserves close consideration for manager of the year, just doesn't like Tony, which is fine....but...

by cardsfaninmass on Sep 11, 2007 1:28 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't think it's irresponsible at all

you don't think that TLR and all their teammates don't wonder if they could have done something different. I know I would. TLR certainly didn't hand him the keys but to think that this isn't an endemic problem is naive.

Any team that makes it to the playoffs from the Central is backing in because they're competitors finally did themselves in. There's no glory in making the playoffs that way -- once you are there it's all even but let's not pretend like it's some massive achievement to win the Central. Maroth is a terrible pitcher and TLR shouldn't be excused for his continued use (or Cairo's playing time).

I'm not a TLR basher. In fact, I'm of the opinion that managers don't have a tremendous impact on the game, but to say that he should be manager of the year because the team finished a few games over .500 strikes me as wrong.

Future Redbirds

by azruavatar on Sep 11, 2007 1:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Would you have preferred he use someone else

yesterday than Mike Maroth? The bullpen was burnt out and we weren't coming back to win that game. LaRussa gave the pen the day off for the crucial 7 game stretch we have coming up.

LaRussa, as it's becoming very clear, doesn't go out trying to win every game. It's maddening to us fans but apparently he has a method to it. He's trying to massage what little health and stamina this team has left into being ready for 'big games'.

His use of Miguel Cairo and Mike Maroth didn't cause us to lose 3 close games this weekend against the Diamondbacks. He made his mistakes, for sure (the fact that Russell Branyan gets to start or that Ryan Franklin was hung out to dry) but the personnel that we SHOULD have out there simply isn't there and the fact that this team with 2 converted relievers, a pitcher recovering from shoulder surgery and a once promising prospect who can't throw strikes is still only 3 games out with 3 weeks to play is pretty remarkable.

Call up PJ Walters!

by Hardcore Legend on Sep 11, 2007 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions

We are a bad team in a worse division

If we scrape together and somehow get into the postseason...it will not be because of the leadership of TLR. It will be because of the division generally sucking.

Let me get this straight...Rowand over Pujols??? Really, Tony?

by cardzfan24 on Sep 11, 2007 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions

definetely irresponsible..

when you make an assumption that is not based on fact. And Ankiel's problem stems from over three years ago, so how that relates to an endemic problem is a broad jump. The fact is that TLR not only values winning, but most importantly winning the right way. And to insinuate that he is willing to turn his back on these type of issues, is irresponsible.

go crazy folks..........

by wwbd on Sep 11, 2007 6:01 PM EDT up reply actions

not irresponsible at all.

ankiel, sure - i don't think az was really saying tony was responsible for ankiel taking hgh in 2004, when he was struggling in the minors. i think he meant as a group, these incidents were part of a larger problem with the club. hancock, spiezio, whatever issues chris duncan has had, tlr's dui, the rumors (which have been addressed on this very site) about ankiel's other, less-performance-enhancing drug use. yeah, these are grown men, but they're also part of a clubhouse and likely get to know each other pretty well over the course of time. one would think that a manager paying attention to his team would know that this was a problem, and one would think that a manager who knew would do whatever he had to to put a stop to it.

i'm not a big tlr basher, either. but on this particular topic, i agree with az. the people saying tlr should be MoY aren't even citing any in-game decisions they like; they're talking generally about how he "kept the team going in the face of adversity" or managed them through all the admittedly awful things that have happened to this ballclub this year, from injuries (and a death), to off-the-field distractions, to a fundamental lack of dependable talent.

when it comes to tlr's own responsibility for some of the team's problems, though, the response is, "these are men" and tlr doesn't have a responsibility for their private problems. well, i mean, ok - but they're men, and men should be plenty motivated on their own to play as hard and as well as they possibly can when they are making that much money to play the game they love, even in the face of adversity.

what i think is irresponsible is giving tlr the credit for keeping the team going the way it has (albeit to a very mediocre record), but letting him escape the blame for, you know, letting the team keep going the way it has.

The Cardinals are coming, tra la, tra la

by nycbirdo on Sep 11, 2007 6:40 PM EDT up reply actions

The Oakland Athletics

had numerous steroid problems under TLR. The Cardinals now have several persons with substance problems (be it alcohol or drugs). I'm not a rumor monger and I'm not suggesting that TLR is solely complicit in all of this but to think that he's caught off guard by these events each time requires more and more disbelief given the number of occurrences.

I'm not evaluating any of these events in the context of judging La Russa as a person. The question was whether I think he should be Manager of the year. And the answer to that is, imo, no.

Future Redbirds

by azruavatar on Sep 11, 2007 10:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Lots of

athletes have substance issues. They feel entitled to behave however they wish. This isn't "new" behavior; athletes do this even as small children, well into high school and college.

Character is an individual attribute. Generalizing a manager as even partly to blame for the personal habits of his players, especially outside of the locker room, is terribly reckless. If he's not looking the other way while they get high, if he's not setting boundaries, then that's something else. As far as we know, based on accounts of his discussions with Hancock and the club's EAP involvement with Spiezio, TLR has done what he's needed to do.

In general (and not particularly aimed at you) claiming that TLR isn't credible because of his pending charges is nonsense. If Tony had been getting shitfaced in the locker room and embarrassing himself, well, maybe his credibility would be frowned upon. But the guy had two drinks at dinner while taking an unnamed medication (probably a beta blocker, what with the high-stress job) and thought he was tired.

How many of us have driven while exhausted? Exhaustion is a form of impairment too, and not less reckless. Are we less credible in our own lives if we make mistakes? Do your children get a pass if they don't listen to you because you've messed up? What about your employees? If you mess up outside of work, are they entitled to miss deadlines, skip meetings, and develop drug habits? I don't think so.

Spantalones

by spants on Sep 12, 2007 11:03 PM EDT up reply actions

The blame game

Azruavatar I respect you about as much as any other poster but I think you are WAY off base on this topic.
Hancock
By your logic, anyone close to a person who drives drunk and dies is responsible for that person. In other words, if one of your loved one decides to drive drunk and dies tonight you are responsible. I think that statement is wrong and outrageous. We are talking about 25 ADULT males. They are responsible for their own actions. Now if Tony was throwing them down with Josh at the bar and then let him drive, he would be somewhat responsible. But the mere fact that since Tony was his manager he is responsible for his poor decisions and consequent actions is not right at all.
Ankiel
I believe it is more than possible that Tony had no knowledge that Ankiel received HGH. Firstly, Ankiel received the stuff in 2004. Well Ankiel was in the minors during that time. Therefore the only personal contact Tony had with him was maybe a day or two in the offseason and then spring training. Also, once again these are ADULT males. They are responsible for their actions. What do we expect Tony to do to stop this? Should he walk around once a week and make his roster pee in a cup or prick their fingers? Or is Tony supposed to ask each player if he is taking HGH or steroids? I'm sure we all know what every players response would be now matter what they are doing.
Spiezio
This is the only player where I think the Tony could had have knowledge of the problems that were occurring. But you know what, we were never informed of who helped Spiezio realize he had a problem and needed help. By the fact that we could assume Tony knew of Spiezio's problems we can just as easily assume that it was Tony that got Scott to realize he needed help. Without the true facts of the situation, it is wrong to blame Tony in anyway.

by stl3bagger on Sep 11, 2007 7:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Why?

is it reasonable to believe that Tony might've had knowledge of Spiezio's problems but didn't have knowledge of Hancock's problems? If he might've known of Spiezio's problems, it's reasonable to believe he might've also known of Hancock's.

I don't know that he had knowledge of either player's problems or that he necessarily should have, but if he did have knowledge of Spiezio's, then it's reasonable to think he might've had knowledge of Hancock's. And it could be argued that knowledge of 2 players' drug/alcohol problems w/o doing much to stop it (whether or not he could have) is hardly an argument for manager of the year -- particularly when those problems helped to create the problems that LaRussa is credited for helping the team overcome.

Even if LaRussa bears no responsibility here, I'm loathe to give him credit for helping a team overcome those problems if he had any knowledge whatsoever that they were going on.

by chuckb on Sep 11, 2007 8:57 PM EDT up reply actions

I see your point

and it is very valid if Hancock had a problem. However I have yet to read any information that Hancock had a problem. It was never reported that he was an alcoholic. And I doubt that Tony had any knowledge that Hancock repeatedly drove drunk. There are really only two ways to have that knowledge. One is that you would be a so-called "drinking buddy" and would have to regularly drink with him. I have little doubt that Tony and Hancock ever "got drunk together". The other way is a teammate who went out with Hancock regularly (I'm sure there were some that did)would have to tell Tony about Josh. I don't foresee that happening either (unfortunately). I'm not completely sold on the idea that this was a random act or occurrence but I definetly don't agree to the idea that Hancock had a problem that Tony was aware of.

Now I'm not vouching that Tony is a saint or should win manager of the year. But to throw the man under the bus for the tragic happenings this year is irresponsible and very wrong by all of us without the knowledge that Tony knew of these "problems". And I believe I have proven by my last post that it is more likely that he didn't have the knowledge than the liklihood that he did.

by stl3bagger on Sep 11, 2007 10:05 PM EDT up reply actions

The players are grown men, and I

wouldn't doubt that the players might lean on each other when they see too much drinking going on.....I have been more bothered by the Spezio problem with drug addiction BECAUSE he had been on the disabled list and under the club's medical supervision for his various injuries, etc. They even left him in a hospital in NY after a road trip. I have no way of knowing what they knew---but it does seem to me that someone on the club should have suspected something. Spezio had been with the club for 2 seasons-you would think that someone would notice a change in behavior/personality that comes with drug abuse.

by jillsinmo on Sep 11, 2007 10:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Well we can disagree

about how much we think that TLR knew. There's no way to verify that.

It sounds like I didn't contextualize my points well enough previously. I'm just looking at this from a manager of the year perspective -- there's nothing that's indicated to me that TLR should be manager of the year.

Future Redbirds

by azruavatar on Sep 11, 2007 10:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Speezio case in point.....agree!

As much as I disagree with Jill on the Reyes/TLR/Duncan situation/disaster, she makes a stellar point in regard to the medical history of Speez his year. Thats been as questionable as anything to do with the injuries to Carpenter, Mulder, Kennedy, Looper (etc etc on and on).

By the time of the NY hospital incident, somebody at the top of the org had to know something was up?

La Russa protects his players from the press, period....right or wrong? His history would certainly seem to support that.

Plus, his and WJs creative use of the DL as a storage space this year has rivaled that of KCs manuevering over the years.

.

Its time to play like a DFAed infield oughtta!!

by cardschinmusic on Sep 12, 2007 3:44 AM EDT up reply actions

Mgr of the year, Hell no

By all accounts we were a ~90 win team at the start of the year. Subtract the WARP for Carp and half of Rolen/Edmonds and guess what. It changes to ~80 wins. Which is, well, exactly where we are headed.

If anything not making the playoffs this year will be TLR doing. Had we shut Mulder down last year when it was obvious he was hurt, he might be back at full strength now ready for the stretch drive.

TLR needs to understand that when players are hurt, you let them heal, not push them harder and hope they can play though it.

by DriverZn on Sep 11, 2007 2:19 PM EDT reply actions

That's a good point about injuries

not being taken care of quickly and thus leaving us without key players. That certainly should be taken into consideration.

We can add Carp to that as well since he seemed to get similar information in the spring as he did in July. He was going to need surgery sometime (that's what I recall at least). If he had just done it in the spring, we'd have only lost one season. Now we're going to have problems next year. Also add Rolen's earlier surgery and Izzy's injury.

Only problem is that sometimes these players are not forthcoming and its hard to make them have surgery. They often want to keep playing no matter what.

by nycardfan on Sep 11, 2007 3:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Now remove a months worth of Juan Encarnacion

a months worth of Chris Duncan.
a months worth of David Eckstein.

How many wins does that put us at then?

Call up PJ Walters!

by Hardcore Legend on Sep 11, 2007 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions

and add the number of wins

to be had if Ryan was playing in front of Eckstein, Miles since Kennedy went down.

Future Redbirds

by azruavatar on Sep 11, 2007 4:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Two of those three

Don't really cost us anything. Losing a month of Eck, HELPED because we replaced him with Ryan.

Juan was replaced with Rick, an improvement.

Duncan, that was a real loss.

by DriverZn on Sep 11, 2007 3:46 PM EDT reply actions

The injury was certainly a loss

but since he's been in such a severe slump and performing poorly in the field for weeks because of his injury, is it a loss to have him sidelined for the season? I agree a healthy Duncan is a big loss. But is an injured Duncan a loss?

by nycardfan on Sep 11, 2007 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions

That wasn't clear at first

that I was speaking about Duncan.

I agree that Ryan and Ankiel were improvements.

by nycardfan on Sep 11, 2007 3:55 PM EDT up reply actions

They were losses because they hurt our depth

Miles and Kennedy were our starting MIF for weeks because of the Eckstein injury. Losing Juan hurts us against LHP and especially off the bench.

Call up PJ Walters!

by Hardcore Legend on Sep 11, 2007 4:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Regardless of the degree

to which LaRussa is responsible for/should be praised for his handling of the Spiezio, Hancock and other situations...there's no one more deserving in the entire NL? At best, this team is mediocre. Add Carpenter to the mix and it's just OK. Why should he be chosen among all the other NL managers for, essentially, keeping his team out of last place in a mediocre division. Hell, Jim Tracy's going to keep the Pirates out of last and he's had to deal w/ having terrible talent. Tony's got the best player on the planet and it's not that hard to write Pujols in the 3rd spot.

You could make a good argument for Bob Melvin, Randolph, Piniella, Yost or Bud Black. I think Clint Hurdle's done a hell of a job w/ the Rockies. I can't imagine Tony garnering 1 first-place vote, bad situations or not, for taking a .500 team to the NL Central title.

by chuckb on Sep 11, 2007 6:25 PM EDT reply actions

well, on the other hand

i will try to keep this one shorter, to make up for the rant i wrote above (i hate when i look at something i just posted and go, "dammit, no one is going to take the time to read that!").

there is no question in my mind that if the cards win the nl central, even as a basically .500 team, tlr will get significant support for MoY. and more than one first-place vote.

doesn't mean he'll deserve it. but it'll certainly be there, for the very reasons posters have discussed on this thread.

The Cardinals are coming, tra la, tra la

by nycbirdo on Sep 11, 2007 6:43 PM EDT up reply actions

no. no way.

its been a trying a year and it would be a real accomplishment if the team somehow made the playoffs. i dont blame tony for all of the team's failures. i can't give him much of the credit for the team's 'success' either.

i dont see tony as a catalyzing force that helped the team overcome the loss of carpenter. it appears to me the team never did. same goes for the rest of the issues of the year...hancock, tony's dui, encar, speez, etc. has the team really overcome these issues? i am not sure they are even the problem...the team has looked lethargic from day 1.

by dmb60614 on Sep 12, 2007 5:21 PM EDT reply actions

Are you kidding?

If the Central had had a 88-90 win team in '06 and '07 LaRussa wouldn't even be managing the team right now.

Ease LaDunketty out gently, thank him profusely, and... Hire Antonetti!!!

by guayzimi on Sep 12, 2007 6:38 PM EDT reply actions

I'm not advocating for MoY

But seriously, what is with the desire to see him go so badly?

Let's list off his recent accomplishments:

He delivered the first World Series championship to St. Louis in over 20 years.
Another World Series appearance in 2004.
Two 100-win juggernauts.

One of the big knocks on him is that he doesn't play the kids, but we've seen Ludwick, Ankiel(I know he's not really a kid, but as an outfielder, he basically is in a similar situation) and Ryan are all getting plenty of playing time.

Can you think of a manager that would be better with the starting pitchers we've had this year?

Maybe he's handled Reyes poorly. I'll grant that, since I agree with it. But Wainwright is pitching very well and seems to be taking a very strong step forward as a pro. Our 2nd best pitcher this year, Braden Looper, was a reliever last year, and it was our pitching coach and manager who saw him as a possible rotation candidate. If Looper were our setup man, how many wins do we potentially lose to having Wells pitch more, or Maroth pitch more?

I certainly am not buying the manager of the year when the guy got a DUI in the Spring and is in 3rd place, but there is a lot of hatred poured out on these guys.

Sometimes it's not the managers fault. Sometimes the other teams are just better.

by mtalken on Sep 12, 2007 11:23 PM EDT reply actions

Is Joe Torre a good manager?

We ran him out of town because he couldn't win. He went on to win a lot of games in NY.

I would argue that the manager doesn't have a large impact on a team. If the team has talent, they will win. If they don't, they will lose.

TLR has had an amazing amount of talent to work with. In the years the hitters and pitchers did well, the team did well. He doesn't hit or pitch for us.

All a manager can do is the following:

put the best players for a task on the field.
Motivate the players to do their best.
guide young players along as they grow.

TLR is average at #1. Good at #2. Poor at #3.

by DriverZn on Sep 13, 2007 12:25 AM EDT up reply actions

I disagree

Sometimes when you're too close and overanalyzing a team, you tend to only see the faults. Especially when the team is under .500.

Living up in Chicago and watching mostly Sox and Cubs games, due to the overwhelming coverage and the lack of funds to get a baseball package to see the Cards, I've seen Piniella and Guillen manage quite a bit. I've also talked to plenty of baseball fans up here.

They're all STILL worried more about the Cards than the Brewers and the main reason I've heard quoted is Tony La Russa.

One guy I play softball with, who is very knowledgeable about a game, having a son who is a D-2 college ump, and being a former H.S. baseball coach himself, said to me last night, "I'm more worried about the Cardinals because if you beat the Cardinals in the standings, it's because you ACTUALLY had a better team, because he gets a lot out of his players."

Now, I think we can all take that with a grain of salt as someone who probably has only seen the Cards when they've been in Chicago this year, but outside this year, that's what La Russa has been able to do.

He's not average at putting the best players for a task on the field. He's one of the best. All that micromanaging he does is because he knows the trends for about every plausible situation, and late in a season, he plays the trends, giving the players what he believes is their best opportunity to win.

I would also contend that with the success of all the positional players (Duncan, Ankiel, Ludwick, Ryan) and the success of our young stud pitcher (Wainwright), on top of last year's bullpen success in the playoffs (mostly Kinney, TJ and Wainwright), that you have to place him at the very least at average for #3. All teams have busts and if that is what Reyes turns out to be, yes, TLR will have to shoulder SOME blame, but Valatan put it very well in the thread yesterday that some of that has to fall on Reyes too.

And I would contend that Joe Torre is a good manager now. He wasn't when he was in St. Louis. He actually had a record under .500 when we let him go (and I believe also when we hired him). That's not the case with TLR.

And to say he's not the man with the right personality because this season has sucked? This season has sucked for the reasons stated above by others.

We've had one relief pitcher get in a horrible accident that took his life. We've had our staff ace go down for the whole season, outside one ineffective start. We've had arguably our 2nd best pitcher, who was a reliever last year(and only our 2nd best starter because TLR and DUncan saw the potential and went with it), go down for about a month. THe guy we were counting on to give us a July boost came back in September with good velocity but no control so far. We've had one guy leave the team to enter rehab.

I understand and I buy the argument about the fact that maybe TLR needs to do more about drugs/booze with his players, but otherwise, none of the above bad things can be in any way blamed on TLR. However, I cannot imagine a manager that under similar circumstances would have had this team anywhere NEAR sniffing distance of the playoffs, even if they had to chase the mediocre Cubs and Brewers to be this close.

by mtalken on Sep 13, 2007 8:13 AM EDT up reply actions

one last point:

DriverZn: If TLR has so little effect on the games as you suggest. If it's that they win when the team is good and lose when the team is bad, and TLR's accomplishments that I mentioned are meaningless, because it was entirely the team, then why do you want to get rid of him?

No other manager is going to make the team better if what you're saying is true, and it's the players we need to get rid of.

I'm guessing what you really are trying to say is: "Because it's TLR, and I don't like him, his accomplishments mean nothing. However, this team sucks, and it's obviously his fault." But you can't play both sides of the argument when it benefits you. He's either a good manager who is having a bad year with a bad team after 3 years of unparalleled success in most of our lifetimes, or all managers have no effect on the game, and there's really no point to HAVING a manager, but whoever you have there is just as good as the next guy.

by mtalken on Sep 13, 2007 8:16 AM EDT up reply actions

I want to get rid of him

Because we need a manager willing to work with young players. Tony is not that guy.

We need good players but don't have the budget to sign big $$$ free agents. So we must develop our own. However, is our manager insists on experience over potential, they never develop.

by DriverZn on Sep 13, 2007 1:01 PM EDT up reply actions

qualifications

its not about his qualifications, its about whether or not he is the right personality for this team. tony has acknowledged some strained relationships with the players and that some of players may not be responding too well to his style. his message may be growing stale. doesn't matter who is right and who is wrong. its a whole lot easier to change the manager than it is to change a bunch of players. i have a lot of respect for what tony has done but i dont think the players are responding to him right now so i think he should go.

by dmb60614 on Sep 13, 2007 7:55 AM EDT up reply actions