Comments on: The Cardinals will interview Terry Francona today

By: paperlions

paperlions — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 22:56:38 +0000

Oh….there was no doubt about who was in charge when TLR was around….and that was a good thing, he wasn’t the best at managing inter-personal relationships or getting guys to buy in…but you always knew who was 100% charge.

By: Francisco (FC)

Francisco (FC) — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 22:19:48 +0000

Wow man. Chill, bask in the glory of your World Series Championship. It’s not even Christmas yet and you’re already hyperventilating about next season. What’s the point of that great post-season run if it wears off in less than a week?

By: okwhitefalcon

okwhitefalcon — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 21:21:50 +0000

For sure spud, would love to see Oquendo although I’m just certain he has the presence that his team will take on and be a reflection of.

Love or hate TLR, he was the undeniable leader of the franchise.

Big shoes to fill but hardly unfillable.

By: okwhitefalcon

okwhitefalcon — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 21:10:08 +0000

That may very will be my next avenue, I’ve youtubed almost every fan shot vid of “Freese walkoff homer” possible along with “Rangers fan reaction” – those two ease the anxiety to a degree.

I always come back to Dewitt and Mo sitting in an office mulling over that 110 million dollar payroll they’re projecting and what ‘”low hanging fruit” they’ll have as the next field manager.

By: spudchukar

spudchukar — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 19:45:59 +0000

My only concern with Oquendo will be how tough he will be when the situation arises. You are correct about the make-up of their stars, but whether you like TLR or not his presence was not something you challenged. Oquendo still has to prove himself. Hope he gets the chance.

By: lovesmesomeme

lovesmesomeme — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 19:13:01 +0000

Halladays right JB he has been both of the clubhouses in Boston and Philly and is intimate with the inner workings of the buffet scene as well as the reason Tito was let go in Philly. Leave him alone and stop starting stuff

By: paperlions

paperlions — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 19:01:45 +0000

I would like to see this situation as well….though the Cardinal veterans (as a group) seem to be more team first than me first.

By: spudchukar

spudchukar — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 18:04:18 +0000

Pretty much in agreement here. Hope Oquendo is the new skipper. Keeping Duncan and Pettini might also be wise. A little stability, some sage advice, and gravitas. Plus it would take some of the pressure off a 48 year old who will have to exert himself, with the strong presence of established stars, Holliday, Berkman, Pujols and Molina.

By: halladaysbiceps

halladaysbiceps — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 17:09:13 +0000

JBerardi,

Simple question: Why are you trying to start shit again?

By: JBerardi

JBerardi — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 17:06:53 +0000

“You do know he managed the Phillies for four years?”

And he wasn’t a good tactical manager then, either.

By: JBerardi

JBerardi — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 17:04:24 +0000

“I know for a fact from the Phillies beat reporters”

I’m not sure you even know what a fact is.

By: paperlions

paperlions — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 17:04:15 +0000

Agreed 100%….I try not to think about it. It helps to go to MLB.com and watch the condensed versions of games 6 and 7.

By: cur68

cur68 — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 17:02:15 +0000

Fair enough. But I’m sure you’ll appreciate that “1 game of a 1 game playoff/playin” doesn’t exactly roll off the old keyboard?

By: okwhitefalcon

okwhitefalcon — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:57:48 +0000

I’ve got to say this process (along with the Albert situation) has me a bit unsettled – leaving Mo and Dewitt to their own devices scares the hell outta me.

By: 78mu

78mu — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:42:50 +0000

Yeah, if they aren’t going to ask the Rays for permission to speak to Maddon they should go with Jose.

By: lovesmesomeme

lovesmesomeme — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:40:15 +0000

Your absolutely right let’s get on the phone with him and tell him not to show up for the interview. Let’s drag TLR out of the bar and beg him to get into his white van and come back or we hire the Latin guy who coaches third base Jose something or other

By: uyf1950

uyf1950 — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:36:43 +0000

He came within 2 games. One game only would have gotten the Sox into a “play in” game against the Rays.

By: halladaysbiceps

halladaysbiceps — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:35:50 +0000

paper,

Every team has a buffet in the clubhouse? Not then. I know for a fact from the Phillies beat reporters that Tito was the one who pushed the buffet issue in the clubhouse. Before him, this was non-existent. And this was from the guys that followed the team for years.

Besides that, I could have had a monkey manage that Red Sox team and they would have won. Are you kidding me? With all that talent they had/have.

Tito is a milk toast manager. Everyone knows it. Philly knew it and got rid of him. The Phillies had to hire Larry Bowa to gain control back in the clubhouse. Now, Boston fans know it. He lost control of his clubhouse, and allowed guys to drink during the game and screw around. This is irrefutable.

By: paperlions

paperlions — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:34:30 +0000

I have no problem with them having a thorough process to choose a manager…..though, like you, I am strongly rooting for Jose to get the job at the end of the process….in the end, they will have had infinitely more information on which to base their decision than we will have to judge it….so…even though I have my biased preferences…I am just hoping they make a good decision.

By: stlouis1baseball

stlouis1baseball — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:33:38 +0000

I couldn’t agree more. My guess…after the time spent in Boston (and the subsequent fallout)…he is still a little “punch drunk” so to speak. The time off could do him some good. If he manages though…I am hoping he follows Theo to Chicago.

By: paperlions

paperlions — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:32:07 +0000

It used to be common practice to give players 1 yr contracts, because no other team was allowed to offer them one. A lot of things used to be common practice because people couldn’t do anything about it….in today’s game, a 1 yr deal for a new manager is like slapping an interim tag on his title.

By: stlouis1baseball

stlouis1baseball — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:31:02 +0000

Your right Smack Saw. TLR also operated on (1) year deals for about the last 5 – 7 years he was in in St. Louis. I think in this case however, you need to show your confidence in Oquendo by signing him to a 3 year deal. If it doesn’t work out…so be it. But there is a reason he has been groomed for this over the last several years. Do the right thing and promote the Man. If it helps with signing A.P. great. But regardless…I think it needs to be done. Really hoping all these intereviews are mere formalities and Jose ultimately gets the job.

By: paperlions

paperlions — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:27:45 +0000

Dude….every team has a buffet after every game…that isn’t the manager’s domain….and regular season losses are no big deal…every team is going to have at least 50 of them and probably more than 60…you can’t approach every game like it is life and death…that will wear out a team mentally/emotionally.

In Boston there were zero reported problems for 7.8 yrs…then the team collapses (mostly due to injuries), and suddenly he can’t manage a clubhouse.

By: stlouis1baseball

stlouis1baseball — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:27:05 +0000

This is getting ridiculous. PROMOTE THE CURRENT THRID BASE COACH AND SIGN HIM TO A THREE YEAR CONTRACT!!! I am really hoping the Organization is ultimately going to do this and all this other stuff is just window dressing. DO IT NOW!

By: SmackSaw

SmackSaw — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:24:10 +0000

You know that it used to be normal practice to give managers only one year contracts? Walter Alston had 23 one year contracts.

By: paperlions

paperlions — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:23:59 +0000

Yes…it was sarcasm…but sincere sarcasm.

By: halladaysbiceps

halladaysbiceps — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:22:59 +0000

I am very familiar with Tito. He managed the Phillies for a few years, as you know. He lets players get away with murder in the clubhouse. I can remember hearing the reports in Philly that win or lose, he had a relaxed clubhouse, with large buffets. Players joking around. Didn’t matter if they lost. He wanted to be everybody’s buddy.

Not my kind of manager. If I were the Cards, I wouldn’t want any part of him.

By: SmackSaw

SmackSaw — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:21:13 +0000

And he knows the difference between sac bunts, double switches, and IBBs and pinch hitters. I’m going to assume you’re being sarcastic. Yeah, that’s it. Nobody’s that stupid. LOL! Good one.

By: paperlions

paperlions — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:19:45 +0000

I would also like to see Oquendo get a shot….but you can’t sign a guy to a 1 yr deal as his first contract….that immediately undermines your authority…players have to view managers/coaches as permanent fixtures.

By: cur68

cur68 — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:18:02 +0000

Guy came within 1 win of the post season with a rotation that had Lackey & Matsuzaka in it; an infield where his 3rd baseman had a growing sports hernia, his 1st baseman was not exactly spry; and the bullpen had and a set up man who thought the strike zone was hitting the Durham Bull between the horns. I bet he’d be thrilled to work with an organization like the Cards. He’s got all off season to get over the Sox. I hope he gets the job.