The Old Professor

In Lost Ballparks, Lawrence Ritter relates a joke that stemmed from an ad on the outfield wall at Baker Bowl:  “The Phillies use Lifebuoy [Soap], but they still stink.”  So do the White Sox, with a record of 8-14 after losing four straight in Minnesota to the Twins.

But how the players want to protect their manager.  “I really love to play for Robin [Ventura] because he’s a friend, he’s a brother, he’s like a father in some situations,” first baseman Jose Abreu told the Tribune through an interpreter.  “He lets you play your game.”  In which case, the record speaks for itself.

By all means, start getting rid of players if the losing continues.  If the front office is convinced they’re not the problem, then get rid of the manager.  And make sure he has at least a grain of Casey Stengel about him (sorry, I just don’t think it’s going to be a woman).  The Old Professor believed, “The secret of successful managing is to keep the five guys who hate you away from the four guys who haven’t made up their minds.”    But everybody loves Robin.  Hmm….