Author Topic: Around Baseball - 2024 (Read 177177 times)

PeteWard · « **Reply #475 on:** October 08, 2011, 08:32:55 am »

My biggest worry about Ventura at the helm is that he might be too nice of a guy to withstand all the back-alley Sox intrigue, and too nice of a guy to get tough with his players and challenge them to perform.

Didn't Ventura get into Big Frank's face in the dugout in the mid-90's when he thought he was doggin' it?

WshflThinking · « **Reply #476 on:** October 08, 2011, 08:40:22 am »

Quote from: PeteWard on October 08, 2011, 08:30:38 am

I'd rather him be latrine cleaner

So your hoping the Cubs hire Sandberg?

I believe he was some minor league player on the north side, so yeah

AndyMacFAIL · « **Reply #477 on:** October 09, 2011, 01:57:05 am »

latest Joe Cowley 'tweet':

Quote

cst_Cowley

Mark Parent is the front-runner for the bench coach job, according to Sox sources. One said it's all but a done deal, other said not yet.

2 hours ago

AndyMacFAIL · « **Reply #478 on:** October 09, 2011, 03:26:58 am »

info on Mark Parent:

Former backup catcher for 7 different MLB teams including the Tigers and the Cubs.

After his playing career ended, he managed one year (2000) in the Mariners system, single-A Lancaster JetHawks, and was named manager of the year in the California League after his team went 89-51 to end up in 1st place in the regular season but didn't win the post-season championship.

After a four year absence from the field, he started managing again in 2005. This time in the independent Golden Baseball League where he managed the Chico Outlaws for three seasons. Won the championship in year 3 then retired again from pro ball. Took two years off then joined the Phillies system as the manager of the Lakewood BlueClaws, a Single-A team in the South Atlantic League. Lakewood won both halves of their season and went on to win the SAL Championship series.

He was then promoted to manage the 2011 Reading Phillies (Double-A franchise) who finished with the 5th best record in the Eastern League (74-68) which put them in 2nd place in their division. They went on to lose in the semi-finals of their playoffs.

http://republicanherald.com/sports/parent-fits-into-phillies-winning-mentality-1.1094353

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/parenma01.shtml

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Parent_%28baseball%29

----

As far as I can find, Mark Parent never played with Robin Ventura at any level. Nor were they ever in the same organization together. The only connection I see is that they had the same agent (John Boggs).

AndyMacFAIL · « **Reply #479 on:** October 09, 2011, 03:50:11 am »

JhonJeter is going to love this.

The Miami Marlins $2.5M answer to Milwaukee's Bernie Brewer:

Looks like something you'd find as the centerpiece at a bad Chinese restaurant buffet.

An animated version of the 'sculpture' can be found at the links below:

http://mlb.sbnation.com/2011/10/7/2474722/miami-marlins-ballpark-home-run-structure-what-is-that-gaaaaaaaaah

http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/2011/10/insanely_ugly_animatronic_home.php

Sophist · « **Reply #480 on:** October 09, 2011, 06:16:22 pm »

That's actually the hood ornament on Ozzie's new boat.

BlackSox · « **Reply #481 on:** October 10, 2011, 01:42:38 pm »

Looks like the coaching staff is just about set. Hitting coach to be either Manto or Laker.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/whitesox/chi-sources-mcewing-to-take-over-as-sox-third-base-coach-20111010,0,5096502.story

boatdrink · « **Reply #482 on:** October 10, 2011, 01:52:26 pm »

Thanks, Blackie.

I'm still trying to figure out what Baines brings to the table. I get keeping Coop on the staff, but Harold? Do we have a requirement that one position be held by a mute?

4nek8 · « **Reply #483 on:** October 10, 2011, 02:55:53 pm »

I'm still trying to figure out what Baines brings to the table. I get keeping Coop on the staff, but Harold? Do we have a requirement that one position be held by a mute?

Blasphemer.

msf · « **Reply #484 on:** October 10, 2011, 03:12:51 pm »

I am with Boat again, why Harold? I do very much like the McEwing and Parent hires.

aka Loveland · « **Reply #485 on:** October 10, 2011, 03:31:34 pm »

Hah@Sophist

boatdrink · « **Reply #486 on:** October 10, 2011, 04:10:53 pm »

I'm very interested in how Parent got the gig with no obvious lineage to the new staff. Maybe one of our crack beat reporters will ask at tomorrow's presser? I won't hold my breath.

I'm also very happy to see that the ex-Sox requirement wasn't completely enforced this go-around.

msf · « **Reply #487 on:** October 11, 2011, 08:33:41 am »

No doubt, I like that they consider so many "insiders", but it is not healthy to have all ex-Sox folks involved, you limit yourself doing that.

Shoeless · « **Reply #488 on:** October 11, 2011, 10:11:33 am »

Does Harold really need to bring anything to the table? Cripes, I think you really need like 2-3 coaches to run baseball team. Heck, when I managed I did it by myself.

aka Loveland · « **Reply #489 on:** October 11, 2011, 10:18:24 am »

The whole Venturra thing is still weird.

Sophist · « **Reply #490 on:** October 11, 2011, 01:44:28 pm »

Manto needs to go. This team cannot hit. Give me Laker.

AndyMacFAIL · « **Reply #491 on:** October 11, 2011, 02:23:11 pm »

Quote

CST_soxvan Daryl Van Schouwen

Some of what Ventura had to say today. http://blogs.suntimes.com/whitesox/.
14 minutes ago

The 'spy' pitching coach's contract is one year longer than the new manager's:

Quote

CST_soxvan Daryl Van Schouwen

Ventura's contract is for three years, no options

15 minutes ago

SoxRule · « **Reply #492 on:** October 11, 2011, 03:01:42 pm »

Some interesting tweets:

scotgregor Scot Gregor
GM Kenny Williams said #WhiteSox will "retool" in 2012, not "rebuild."

scottmerkin Scott Merkin
Kenny did consider Konerko as a player/manager but never talked to him about it. Wanted Konerko just to focus on playing

CST_soxvan Daryl Van Schouwen
Robin on Ozzie era: I enjoyed it as much as anybody else

CSNChi_Beatnik Brett Ballantini
KW deflected any question today that might be reinterpreted or spun as critical of Ozzie. The high road remains very much intact on his end

AndyMacFAIL · « **Reply #493 on:** October 11, 2011, 03:56:49 pm »

The Worst Contracts In Baseball

Dan Quisenberry said many wonderful things in his too-short life, but probably the most famous is his line about the future. “I’ve seen the future,” he said, “and it’s much like the present only longer.”

A version of that quote kept popping up in my mind throughout the first round of the playoffs. It was more like: “I’ve seen the future, and it’s much like the present in that Alex Rodriguez strikes out a lot.” Or Ryan Howard.

continued at: http://joeposnanski.si.com/2011/10/11/the-worst-contracts-in-baseball/

BlackSox · « **Reply #494 on:** October 11, 2011, 08:35:42 pm »

GM Kenny Williams said #WhiteSox will "retool" in 2012, not "rebuild."

What a tool.

SoxRule · « **Reply #495 on:** October 12, 2011, 09:29:36 am »

Looks like Epstein to the Cubs is a done deal. I'm sure he will be their savior just like Dusty was and just like Piniella was.

Seriously though, it's a good deal for them. I wouldn't mind having Theo right now with the state of our franchise.

boatdrink · « **Reply #496 on:** October 12, 2011, 09:34:52 am »

I don't get the Theo love. The guy has had the 2nd fattest checkbook in baseball for years. I'm sure KW would be more successful if he could cherry pick from top free agents every year...

aka Loveland · « **Reply #497 on:** October 12, 2011, 10:07:46 am »

Theo will be just like every other manager and GM that comes to the Cubs. They come in for their press conference, say how excited they are to be a part of such a storied franchise. 3-6 years later they find that they are eaten up by the franchise and they leave town. Sometimes they only look like shadows of their former selves - see Pinella.

Theo will be no different. Since he is GM he may have more than 6 years.

Go ahead, bookmark this post.

Method · « **Reply #498 on:** October 12, 2011, 10:07:46 am »

Theo has shown the ability to surround himself with great scouts and analytic tools.. he spends money fairly wisely... something the cubs havent done in decades.

SoxRule · « **Reply #499 on:** October 12, 2011, 10:12:45 am »

Theo has also had an open checkbook to work with. Something he will not have with the Cubs.