Mission accomplished

by David Bloom on Sep 30, 2005 8:15 AM EDT

Manager Lou told Tampa Tribune baseball writer Carter Gaddis, a hard-worker, that, look, I didn't come here to retire as a manager. I came here with one purpose in mind. And that's getting this organization moving forward, working with the front office, working with everybody else in the organization--our coaching staff, our young players, our veteran players. And so far we have added 63 wins and 70 wins (in his first two seasons). It's modest, but it is an improvement. We need to continue to improve.''

Let us celebrate the manager we have seen the past few years. We agree with some of his moves, and there are some we don't agree with. Lou overall did as best as you could possibly do given the financial constraints. It did not help the ownership he signed on with changed halfway through his term, each side with different agendas. In all, Lou is doing what is best for the organzization for 2006 and beyond by walking away. He leaves with a better team than when he first arrived, and the internal changes will make it a more attractive job for the next guy. Wheather the next guy is Howard Johnson, Bill Evers, or Bobby Valentine, whoever gets this job is walking into a goldmine.

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I'm hoping its not Bobby Valentine

he doesn't seem a good fit for Rays and we'll have to pay him too much. I'm for giving one of the up and coming guys a chance. Not sure what the players think of Bill Evers but if they like him, then I think that would be the move to make. Will give the players some continuity and he will come in knowing the players already and should be able to hit the ground running.

So does this mean that Don Zimmer is out as well or do you think he will he stick around to provide input?

by BabySayGoRays on Sep 30, 2005 3:24 PM EDT reply actions

I'm still begging for Joe Girardi

I hope he at least gets an interview, he's a grinder.

by SeanDubbs on Sep 30, 2005 5:21 PM EDT reply actions

Idon't know if....

He's done the best he could. Lou has made awful decisions, and he has screwed up with the young pitchers. He's screwed over Corcoran, Gomes, Switzer, McClung, and many more that I can't think of off the top of my head. Bottom line is, he hasn't, IMO, been 'the best manager he could be'. But I do applaud him for getting out, whether it was for him or us, I doubt it was for us.

by Patrick L. Kennedy on Sep 30, 2005 5:40 PM EDT reply actions

Mismatch

I suppose in retrospect it should have been obvious all along. A cheap franchise and a manager with, shall we say, expensive tastes in players. But it took until the beginning of this season, and the parade of broken-down Proven Veterans through spring training (not to mention the herculean labors of Gomes et al to get a real shot), to make that mismatch clear.

The Zim question is interesting. It may depend on who the Rays hire for manager. Was Zim with the Yankees at the same time Girardi was there? That might pique his interest in staying as bench coach. Or if he's got any kind of decent relationship with a Tom Foley or Billy Hatcher, were they to be promoted (which I mulled in another diary thread), that might work too. A Ron Washington or Mike Maddux or another guy from outside, maybe not.

You mentioned Howard Johnson. Is that name being mooted somewhere?

by Not That Chuck on Sep 30, 2005 6:50 PM EDT reply actions

HoJo

It seems like HoJo is a guy who really gets into his work - last year in New York, he was calling David Wright all the time. Does he do that with you guys too?

If you give him the respect and he sees you work hard, he'll work hard with you. He's not going to hunt you down and make you work, but if you need anything he'll do it for you. He's just a guy who'll pick you up if you're feeling down or put you down if you're getting too high. He's a good person - he's a good coach, a good family man and a good friend.

by David Bloom on Sep 30, 2005 8:27 PM EDT reply actions