At the risk of
repeating myself, I think that Chuck Tanner is the best manager ever to work in
Chicago. That may change if the Cubs hire
Joe Maddon, as rumored.
From all accounts,
Maddon both motivates and innovates.
He’ll quote just about anybody; had out cologne to hide the stink of bad
team play; and channel Lou Boudreau to employ defensive shifts. (Boudreau did it to Ted Williams back in the
‘40s). Of course, Maddon could fail just
like Dusty Baker and Lou Pinella did on the North Side. Chicago is a lot bigger pond than Tampa;
media and fans will burden any savior with crushing expectations. Maddon also will be challenged to reach young
Latin players, far more so than on the Rays.
Still, I’d rather it was Robin Ventura getting sold down the river by
management than incumbent Cubs’ skipper Rick Renteria.
No doubt Royals’ fans
feel pretty much the same way after KC’s 3-2 game-seven loss to the Giants. Tying run on second base, one out in the bottom
of the fifth, and Ned Yost elects to have Nori Aoki face Madison Bumgarner: slapping
lefty vs. overpowering lefty.
We all know how that
went, don’t we?
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