Comments on: Kirk Gibson pushing the right buttons in Arizona

By: Old Gator

Old Gator — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 18:24:37 +0000

After the famous “shoe polish” incident in spring training back in 1988, Gibson threw such a fit that everyone on that team was scared shitless of him. His message was, basically, hey, that’s the kind of thing a bunch of losers do. You can’t win ballgames but you can play stupid tricks. Well, I don’t intend to play with or for losers. And his message sank in – he led by example as well as with his blessed irascibility. And by the time David Cone shot his mouth off and made his famous “little league” comment heading into the playoffs that year, Gibson had helped mold a bunch of off-the-corner scrappers and roughhousers who crammed his contempt down his, and the Mutts’, throats. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the World Champion 1988 Dodgers. If there’s a manager alive who can take the Snakes all the way, he’s it.

By: vols84

vols84 — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 03:08:14 +0000

mgflolox-I think you are right

By: js20011041

js20011041 — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 02:54:37 +0000

The idea idea of players needing to know their role is a joke. I understand that a large part of the job is managing egos, but whenever a player tells a manager that he needs to know his role, the standard response should be “your role is to sit your ass on the bench today.” Why does it even matter where you bat? A batter’s “role” no matter where he is hitting is to get on base. The same goes for relief pitchers. If you can’t possibly be expected to pitch without knowing beforehand which inning you’re going to be coming in to, you probably shouldn’t be playing professional sports.

By: mgflolox

mgflolox — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 00:19:53 +0000

Gibson’s players certainly respect him, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they also feared him a little bit. He’s always been a tough, intense sonuvabitch.

By: vanmorrissey

vanmorrissey — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 23:29:03 +0000

Dbacks will be tough and should win the West again. That’s a really good team flying under the radar and would not be surprised they with the NL crown this year. Two games, whoopee, I get it, but they got better over the winter and with that coaching staff they’ll be in it the whole year.

By: nauhurdler

nauhurdler — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 21:04:14 +0000

D-backs!!!! Defend that NL West title!