If I remember correctly, it had been mentioned about Ilitch that sometimes he was too loyal to his employees. I have to think that was the case with Randy Smith.
If they quit on the manager because a relief pitcher that is clearly in need of a demotion got a stern talking to from the manager, then what are we even doing here? Ship ‘em all out.
I thin it was more of a monologue than a dialogue. It was immediately shocking to see Hinch strolling to the mound given it was the first visit by a coach for Lange and he wasn't accompanied by a trainer. That first visit is always Fetter.
Who knows what's going on behind the scenes. Maybe its purely mechanics. Maybe its more than just that. But I am reading into yesterday's visit and thinking the demotion is not purely mechanics.
I don't know. I've never owned my own pizza corporation that I built from the ground up and two pro sports teams at the same time. It might be easy pay more attention to the one or two that are successful at the time and trust the third to those that I've hired to run it. Its not an excuse, but I'm just guessing how that mid 90s to mid 00s played out.
Well, there's also more pitcher availability to take Lange's place than there is shortstop availability to replace Baez.
Baez isn't going to make it to the end of his contract. He'll be cut if this continues. It'll be a matter of when and not if.
As far as the "star" trades, we don't know what was offered. So, that part is just an unknown to me.
But we do know this organization struggled to develop players. That aspect of the organization in general falls on Avila and others.
That brings up a point. What if the new president of basketball operations decides its best for the organization to move Cunningham (as well as other moves) as part of a rehaul.
Hinch was presented with a question about this being the first uncompetitive series of the season. He said he took exception to that. He's lying, but he probably has to save some face after his mound visit, albeit that probably wasn't an obvious butt chewing per body language.
I'm going to guess the flight back home had some critiques to go along with the snacks. Maybe Leyland could have addressed them on the tarmac.