Grady Little - Yea or Nay?

[AI]

I have seen Grady Little's name mentioned a ton as it relates to the manager position for next season. There appears to be mixed feelings about him on this board. What I hope this thread accomplishes is a decent discussion about whether or not he is a good fit and a good manager, but most importantly, WHY or WHY NOT. As I said I have seen a lot of "hire Little" or "don't hire Little", but not enough explanations and evidence.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Proceed...

[CubinNY]

Nay

 

No more retreads plz.

 

Edit- Except for Larry Derkier.

Edited August 9, 2005 by CubinNY

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I think there are much better options available out there than Grady Little. It's not that I think Little would be a bad choice, just that there are better options available.

[CuseCubFan69]

I said yes to Baker last time so I have no idea who would be a good manager for the Cubs.

[halplm]

Grady Little makes moves that make no sense. We've had enough of that.

 

He has his good points, but I want someone that knows how to both fill out a lineup card AND make good moves in game...

 

Little isn't that person.

[Roast]

I think he's better than Baker. But, he has had his problems also. Im sure there are better options.

[NorthsideAvenger]

I have seen Grady Little's name mentioned a ton as it relates to the manager position for next season. There appears to be mixed feelings about him on this board. What I hope this thread accomplishes is a decent discussion about whether or not he is a good fit and a good manager, but most importantly, WHY or WHY NOT. As I said I have seen a lot of "hire Little" or "don't hire Little", but not enough explanations and evidence.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Proceed...

 

Why do we want Boston's equal to Steve Bartman running the Cubs?

[UK1679666180]

Little is very similar to Baker as far as being laid back, he's also considered a "player's" manager (one of the most overused terms around). He'd likely be more willing to use younger players in more important roles, but like Baker is horrible as far a tactician.

 

Better options out there, Hendry didn't settle for 2nd best when going after Baker, he had Baker at the top of his list. I think Little is in the 2nd tier as far as avail. managers, but if Hendry could put Baker at the top, he could very well put Little at the top as well. Which just leads to a flawed thought process, rather than a learned from mistake (Baker).

[ctcf]

Like Cuse, I was for Baker so I do not feel I can contribute a suitable opinion on this matter.

[Outshined_One]

I think there are much better options available out there than Grady Little. It's not that I think Little would be a bad choice, just that there are better options available.

 

QFT.

[lacamat]

I'm not sure he's available...but what about Lou Piniella? He'd certainly make the team play more fundamentally sound baseball. Of course, if that couldn't be accomplished, he'd have a heart attack along one of the base paths from screaming.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I'm not sure he's available...but what about Lou Piniella? He'd certainly make the team play more fundamentally sound baseball. Of course, if that couldn't be accomplished, he'd have a heart attack along one of the base paths from screaming.

 

Lou has a stronger fetish for veterans than Dusty does.

[CuseCubFan69]

I wanted to be hired in 2003:

 

Machas (Oakland Manager)

Sweet Lou

Randolph

 

And then Baker when he became available.

[USSoccer]

I'm not sure he's available...but what about Lou Piniella? He'd certainly make the team play more fundamentally sound baseball. Of course, if that couldn't be accomplished, he'd have a heart attack along one of the base paths from screaming.

 

Lou has a stronger fetish for veterans than Dusty does.

 

Oh God no...not Lou Pinellia.

 

half eaten breakfast>Dusty>>>>Lou.

 

Translated: I'd rather have a half eaten breakfast manage the Cubs than Baker, but Pinellia is possibly the only manager I would consider to be worse than Baker.

[ToupeeOnFire]

Nay on Little.

 

I say we bring in Terry Bevington.

 

joking

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Once again my list:

 

1. Fredi Gonzalez

2. Davey Johnson

3. Larry Dierker

[CuseCubFan69]

Once again my list:

 

1. Fredi Gonzalez

2. Davey Johnson

3. Larry Dierker

 

I have no problem with that list except for I'm not sure what kind of shape Johnson is in to manage again.

[dalgreen]

I don't care who manages the Cubs. There is no manager alive or dead who would make this collection of 25 players any better. We need a new manager, GM and players. Or at least two of the three.

 

No to Little. I don't think Baker is a horrible manager and I don't think Little is a horrible manager. Remember, Little got fired more so because he wasn't Theo Epstein's hire - the GM before him hired Little. The excuse is the 2003 ALCS, but had he been hired by Epstein, you better believe he wouldn't have been fired.

[dalgreen]

Once again my list:

 

1. Fredi Gonzalez

2. Davey Johnson

3. Larry Dierker

 

Can you give us Fredi Gonzalez's baseball philosophy? I know about his affection of young players, but that can't be the only baseball skill he has.

[YearofDaCubs]

I wish we could interview the candidates for the position :) First ? I will ask is if they will play the youngsters.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Once again my list:

 

1. Fredi Gonzalez

2. Davey Johnson

3. Larry Dierker

 

Can you give us Fredi Gonzalez's baseball philosophy? I know about his affection of young players, but that can't be the only baseball skill he has.

 

He's been a successful minor league manager and has worked in what I believe is the best run organization in baseball. Like any young manager getting his first shot to run a MLB team, we can't be entirely certain what he will do. On the other hand, he has learned under Cox and I expect that much of Cox's philosophies have rubbed off on him. Since we can't get Cox, I'll settle for the next best thing in one of his lieutenants.

 

I've posted this before, but here's a quote from his bio on the Braves page.

 

Fredi Gonzalez is in his third season as the Braves third base coach after spending 2002 as manager of their Triple-A Richmond affiliate. Gonzalez, 41, was the Florida Marlins third base coach from 1999 through 2001. Before joining the Marlins major league club, he managed in the minor leagues for nine years, earning league manager of the year honors from Baseball America three times: in 1993 when High Desert finished 82-52 in the regular season and won the Class-A California League championship; in 1994, when Brevard County went 78-61 in the Class-A Florida State League; and in 1997, when he guided Portland (ME) to a 79-63 record and first place in the AA Eastern League. Gonzalez began his managerial career in 1990, taking over the unaffiliated Miami Miracle of the Florida State League with 20 games to play. He continued with the Miracle in 1991 before becoming the first minor league manager in Marlins franchise history in 1992, leading Erie to the New York-Penn League championship series. After spending 1993 with High Desert, he managed Brevard County from 1994 through 1996, and then moved up to Portland in 1997 and Charlotte of the AAA International League in 1998. Selected by the New York Yankees in the 16th round of the 1982 June draft, Gonzalez spent six seasons as a catcher in their farm system.

[ToupeeOnFire]

Once again my list:

 

1. Fredi Gonzalez

2. Davey Johnson

3. Larry Dierker

 

Can you give us Fredi Gonzalez's baseball philosophy? I know about his affection of young players, but that can't be the only baseball skill he has.

 

He's been a successful minor league manager and has worked in what I believe is the best run organization in baseball. Like any young manager getting his first shot to run a MLB team, we can't be entirely certain what he will do. On the other hand, he has learned under Cox and I expect that much of Cox's philosophies have rubbed off on him. Since we can't get Cox, I'll settle for the next best thing in one of his lieutenants.

 

Yeah, but you can say the same thing about Grady Little. He also came up in the Braves orginization. The reason he got hired was that he was also a successful manager of the Richmond Braves and was considered a "lieutenant" of Bobby Cox and John Schuerholz.

 

Of course, it is entirely possible that he got a raw deal in Boston. After all, he did take them into the play-offs and almost to the World Series.

Edited August 9, 2005 by ToupeeOnFire

[XZero771679666304]

I don't care who manages the Cubs. There is no manager alive or dead who would make this collection of 25 players any better. We need a new manager, GM and players. Or at least two of the three.

 

No to Little. I don't think Baker is a horrible manager and I don't think Little is a horrible manager. Remember, Little got fired more so because he wasn't Theo Epstein's hire - the GM before him hired Little. The excuse is the 2003 ALCS, but had he been hired by Epstein, you better believe he wouldn't have been fired.

 

At this point, the team is a lost cause. Had there been a better manager in charge from day one, things would likely be quite different.

 

As for managers, I like Jim Leyland ans Larry Dierker.

[Buford T Justice]

I vote for this guy..

http://www.djpeterbilt.com/messageboards/lou.jpg

[Ram1380]

I vote for this guy..

http://www.djpeterbilt.com/messageboards/lou.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

"CMON Dorrrnn, whats with this ole sh.....!"