Stupid fucking John Henry (baseball ramblings).

[yendi]

Okay, it's bad enough that John Henry basically helped fuck over two franchises two winters ago (one still managed to win the World Series a year later, in spite of his best efforts). Now he's just fucked over a third one. Firing Grady Little is the dumbest concept I've heard since, well, since a bunch of Cub fans decided that they lost the playoffs because of a foul ball that was in the stands.

Look, the guy fucked up. He left Pedro in the game for one inning too many. Fine.

But you know what? Almost any other manager, with his future HoF ace on the mound saying that he still had his best stuff, and no contradictions from his top-notch pitching coach, would have done the same thing. If Pedro had pitched out of the inning, no one would have anything bad to say about it, any more than they'd have had anything bad to say about Tom Kelly letting Jack Morris go 10 innings in 1991.

And in the meantime, Little got his team 93 wins last year, and 95 this year. He got a team filled with egos (more than the Yankees and Braves, even) to game 7 of the ALCS. He did this with players like Bill fucking Mueller. Mueller winning the AL batting title caused an actual rift in the space-time continuum, it was that unexpected and improbable. He turned Kevin Millar into a fucking power hitter. He pushed this team, and fucking made them win 95 games.

This is a Steinbrenner-level firing. Then again, Henry is a Steinbrenner-esque owner.

Comments

Completely unrelated.

[envoy.livejournal.com]

Winslow! WhoooooT!

[aussie-nyc.livejournal.com]

If they now hire Larry Dierker, it's been a good move.

[yendi]

I haven't heard his name mentioned at all. And considering his own history and firing, I can't imagine that he'd want to step into this situation. I've heard Mark Hargrove and Bud Black mentioned as contenders.

[stratfordbabe.livejournal.com]

Speaking as a Baltimore Oriole fan (pity me!), I wish to thank John Henry (he's a mad firin' man!) for failing to renew Grady Little's contract. The organization that originally hired Little to manage (the above mentioned Orioles) might actually have the intelligence to bring him back now. I feel sorry for Grady, but I think he could be good for the team.

And as someone who watched him manage in Hagerstown, MD, it would be good to have him around again.

Re: Completely unrelated.

[yendi]

At one time, I think I had five Foglio icons. :-)

[yendi]

Of course, since Baltimore's owner completes the AL East Trifecta of Asshole Owners, I wouldn't count on him doing anything this cool.

[gladstone.livejournal.com]

John Henry (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000002HFL/) is my favorite They Might Be Giants album!

[jerel.livejournal.com]

Speaking as a life-long BoSox fan, I can say that I was pissed as anyone for Pedro being left in the game. I still think Grady should have taken him out, but hey, too late to do anything about it now.

However, I am pissed off as all hell about Grady being fired. Just because they lost game 7 is no reason to fire a manager. Hell, they got to Game 7. He should get a medal just for that!

[technoshaman.livejournal.com]

Speaking of Steinbrenner, it looks like the man hisself might be cleaning house.... Joe Torre will probably stay, but the rest of'em are either fed up and quitting or about to be canned...

Of course, without the Rocket next year, the pinstripes are going to have to have a shakeup in the trenches rather than in the management if the expect to get back to anywhere near this level... Petit will not be able to pull them there by himself.

I get the feeling the Mariners are in for a rebuilding year, too; we're out a GM and more than likely a DH, and Edgar is the rock on which this team is built...

At least I don't hear any rumblings of wanting Bob Melvin's head. Getting within two of a wildcard in your first year, particularly given the disaster that was the second half, isn't bad... deserving of a second chance.

It'll be interesting to see what happens. I get the feeling the hot stove league this year is gonna be some kinda firecracker...

[yendi]

That's another reason to hate him -- he ruined a perfectly good name!

[yendi]

Just because they lost game 7 is no reason to fire a manager. Hell, they got to Game 7. He should get a medal just for that!

Exactly!

[yendi]

You may be right about the Yanks, but I've learned never to write them or the Braves off (okay, I right off the Braves for the postseason, but not the regular season), no matter who they lose.

It'll be interesting to see what happens with the Mariners this off-season.