The Book I Really Want to Read: New Schuerholz Book

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Link

 

 

Here's an account of something in the book:

 

 

He begins the first chapter by revealing that in March 1992, Schuerholz and Pittsburgh GM Ted Simmons negotiated a trade to bring Pirates star Barry Bonds to Atlanta in exchange for pitcher Alejandro Pena, young outfielder Keith Mitchell and a prospect to be named later.

 

"I was euphoric," Schuerholz writes. "Barry Bonds was a Brave! ... There seemed no limits to what we could achieve over our approaching several seasons."

 

The morning after the GMs agreed to terms, the Braves were setting up a news conference to announce the deal at their West Palm Beach, Fla., spring training home when Schuerholz phoned Simmons, who told him he couldn't do the deal, apparently because Pirates manager Jim Leyland was furious that Bonds was being traded with a year left on his contract.

 

Schuerholz's account of the broken deal:

 

About an hour before the announcement, I decided to call Ted Simmons just to coordinate the timing of the release.

 

"We have a problem," Ted said.

 

"What do you mean, a problem? Don't want to release it just yet? What?"

 

"I can't do the deal," he said.

 

"You can't do the deal? You did the deal! Ted, you agreed over the phone, general manager to general manager. We MADE the deal!"

 

In baseball, that's about as sacrosanct as anything gets. That had never happened to me, nor has it since, where there was a total reneging of a trade. ...

 

I guess we can say Barry Bonds was a Brave for 15 hours. At that time of his career, he didn't have the right to approve a deal, so I'm not even sure if he is aware this happened."

 

 

Link

 

I really can't wait to read this one and may move it ahead of the others on my list.

[UK1679666180]

Those of you who have read my posts, know that I think Schuerholz is the best GM in the game and has been the best GM over the last 30 years or so.

 

This sounds like a very interesting book, it goes much further in-depth than I expected it to.

 

http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/braves/stories/0310braves.html

 

He begins the first chapter by revealing that in March 1992, Schuerholz and Pittsburgh GM Ted Simmons negotiated a trade to bring Pirates star Barry Bonds to Atlanta in exchange for pitcher Alejandro Pena, young outfielder Keith Mitchell and a prospect to be named later.

 

"I was euphoric," Schuerholz writes. "Barry Bonds was a Brave! . . . There seemed no limits to what we could achieve over our approaching several seasons."

 

The morning after the GMs agreed to terms, the Braves were setting up a news conference to announce the deal at their West Palm Beach, Fla., spring training home when Schuerholz phoned Simmons, who told him he couldn't do the deal, apparently because Pirates manager Jim Leyland was furious that Bonds was being traded with a year left on his contract.

 

Schuerholz's account of the broken deal:

 

About an hour before the announcement, I decided to call Ted Simmons just to coordinate the timing of the release.

 

"We have a problem," Ted said.

 

"What do you mean, a problem? Don't want to release it just yet? What?"

 

"I can't do the deal," he said.

 

"You can't do the deal? You did the deal! Ted, you agreed over the phone, general manager to general manager. We made the deal!"

 

In baseball, that's about as sacrosanct as anything gets. That had never happened to me, nor has it since, where there was a total reneging of a trade. . . .

 

I guess we can say Barry Bonds was a Brave for 15 hours. At that time of his career, he didn't have the right to approve a deal, so I'm not even sure if he is aware this happened."

 

On Lofton and Sanders:

 

Deion and Lofton

 

Schuerholz writes that almost without exception, players brought to the Braves quickly adapt and abide by team rules and policies, and put the team ahead of themselves. Sanders and Lofton were two notable exceptions.

 

On Deion, he writes: "He always seemed to exert extraordinary effort to narrow the focus of the spotlight on him. It seemed to everyone with the club that it was important to him that the attention was directed his way and that it was all about him."

 

Schuerholz quotes Cox on Sanders: "Deion was for one thing — himself. He couldn't care less about the team. . . . It was all about Deion. And he didn't want to participate in our duties off the field — going to luncheons, fan photo days, things like that, responsibilities that come with being a Braves team member."

 

Ultimately, Schuerholz said of Sanders: "Good player. Good riddance."

 

Of another speedy leadoff man, he wrote: "After the '97 season, we similarly threw in the towel on center fielder Kenny Lofton, who also could never embrace our environment or ideals."

 

They also mention Glavine signing withe the Mets as well as John Rocker.

[UK1679666180]

Hey mods, chuck this one in the delete file. Vance won the race.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Hey mods, chuck this one in the delete file. Vance won the race.

 

Beat ya by two minutes. I think both of us are eager for this book. Maybe we should have an NSBB book club. :D

[UK1679666180]

Not a bad idea, but I have mostly coaching and scouting books.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Not a bad idea, but I have mostly coaching and scouting books.

 

I might be interested in those as that's a side of the game I haven't spent nearly enough time focusing on.

 

By the way, have you read Cal and Billy Ripken's book. I bought it for my brother to use with his son and wondered if you agreed with the techniques and such taught in it.

[UK1679666180]

Is that one called "The Ripken way?"

 

I heard about it, I haven't read it.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Is that one called "The Ripken way?"

 

I heard about it, I haven't read it.

 

Yeah. This is it.

 

They also have a DVD out now.

[brinoch]

Looks like a great read. I'll be picking that up in the near future.