A week into the season, its about time to put out the contenders for first manager to be fired. The early contenders are: Carlos Tosca of the Blue Jays, Bob Melvin of the Mariners, and, everyone's favorite, Larry Bowa of the Phillies. Right now, I'd say Bowa has to be the strong favorite, considering his team underachieved last season and is underachieving again this year. Wouldn't be shocked if he was gone by the opener of the new Phillies ballpark. Tosca might be another bad week away from getting sent before the firing squad, and if the M's don't win soon, Melvin will have to be sacraficed. Of course, for a dark horse, I still wouldn't be surprised if Terry Francona doesn't see June in Boston. But, Bowa or Tosca probably will be gone before Francona.
(edited by redsoxnation on 11.4.04 1833) I want you to know, I agree with everything I just said.
In regards to Tosca, I remember the 1989 Jays team that was expected to contend, but was under .500 in May. They fired Jimy Williams, brought in Cito Gaston, and then won the AL East. Hopefully the same kind of spark occurs this year, since the Jays have just looked poor so far.
Originally posted by redsoxnationA week into the season, its about time to put out the contenders for first manager to be fired. The early contenders are: Carlos Tosca of the Blue Jays, Bob Melvin of the Mariners, and, everyone's favorite, Larry Bowa of the Phillies. Right now, I'd say Bowa has to be the strong favorite, considering his team underachieved last season and is underachieving again this year. Wouldn't be shocked if he was gone by the opener of the new Phillies ballpark. Tosca might be another bad week away from getting sent before the firing squad, and if the M's don't win soon, Melvin will have to be sacraficed. Of course, for a dark horse, I still wouldn't be surprised if Terry Francona doesn't see June in Boston. But, Bowa or Tosca probably will be gone before Francona.
(edited by redsoxnation on 11.4.04 1833)
I highly doubt Bowa will get fired during the season no matter what the national media says. Bowa is loved in Philly and I think the Phillies brass is very high on him as well. This is a team however that must make the playoffs and must be in first place at the end of June. If were still in 3 or even in 2nd place at the end of June I'm sure the city will turn on Bowa and he will be out the door. As far as Francona goes I hope all you Sox fans enjoy his antics such as sitting out your best players on Sunday home games.
Bowa SHOULD be fired because he's an idiot. It's nice that he's loved in Philly, but they're is spending a lot of money on the team to have it run by a bad manager. Plus he ran off the best Phillies player since Mike Schmidt. But that's the past.
I don't think the Mariners will fire Melvin this year. I think Tosca has a little more security than most people think.
Whomever gets fired, the replacement should be Mike Hargrove. His time in Baltimore had nothing to do with his ability as a manager.
Originally posted by ScottieKStonesWhomever gets fired, the replacement should be Mike Hargrove. His time in Baltimore had nothing to do with his ability as a manager.
I see Hargrove or Charlie Manuel as the prime candidates to replace Bowa in Philly because of their Thome connections. I'd give Manuel the inside track because he has some "special hitting instructor" position with the Phils already.
Originally posted by Big BadIn regards to Tosca, I remember the 1989 Jays team that was expected to contend, but was under .500 in May. They fired Jimy Williams, brought in Cito Gaston, and then won the AL East. Hopefully the same kind of spark occurs this year, since the Jays have just looked poor so far.
Holy shit, we're barely one week in and the Phillies are "underachieving" already?
If they start hitting, they'll be all right. Not champions -- I don't think anything short of divine intervention would win them the division this year, let alone the Series -- but certainly over .500, and any year that the Phightin' Phils can climb over that threshold is a very good one. If anything kills Bowa this year, it'll be this notion that the 2004 Phillies are supposed to be some kind of rampaging, world-beating juggernaut waiting to happen.
(Philly's so starved for champions that they'll latch onto any winning team as the Next Big Thing. The Eagles have been lucky to get as far as they have the last three years, yet many fans have the nerve to look surprised when they keep losing the NFC Championship games. The Flyers... well, they're the exception, since _nobody_ expects the Flyers to reach the conference finals any more.)
"I'm convinced that Alan Keyes' Renew America is simply a front group for people who got fired from their local Arby's for coming into work drunk." -- Jesse Taylor, Pandagon
Originally posted by vspHoly shit, we're barely one week in and the Phillies are "underachieving" already?
If they start hitting, they'll be all right. Not champions -- I don't think anything short of divine intervention would win them the division this year, let alone the Series -- but certainly over .500, and any year that the Phightin' Phils can climb over that threshold is a very good one. If anything kills Bowa this year, it'll be this notion that the 2004 Phillies are supposed to be some kind of rampaging, world-beating juggernaut waiting to happen.
(Philly's so starved for champions that they'll latch onto any winning team as the Next Big Thing. The Eagles have been lucky to get as far as they have the last three years, yet many fans have the nerve to look surprised when they keep losing the NFC Championship games. The Flyers... well, they're the exception, since _nobody_ expects the Flyers to reach the conference finals any more.)
Oh man, you are really trying to piss off the Philadelphia fans? Must be a Cowboys or Mets fan.
Are you a professional halfwit or talented amateur?
Originally posted by vspHoly shit, we're barely one week in and the Phillies are "underachieving" already?
If they start hitting, they'll be all right. Not champions -- I don't think anything short of divine intervention would win them the division this year, let alone the Series -- but certainly over .500, and any year that the Phightin' Phils can climb over that threshold is a very good one. If anything kills Bowa this year, it'll be this notion that the 2004 Phillies are supposed to be some kind of rampaging, world-beating juggernaut waiting to happen.
(Philly's so starved for champions that they'll latch onto any winning team as the Next Big Thing. The Eagles have been lucky to get as far as they have the last three years, yet many fans have the nerve to look surprised when they keep losing the NFC Championship games. The Flyers... well, they're the exception, since _nobody_ expects the Flyers to reach the conference finals any more.)
Oh man, you are really trying to piss off the Philadelphia fans? Must be a Cowboys or Mets fan.
Must.....rise....above it. But damn our stupidity for thinking that the #1 seeds in the NFC would have a hope of making the Superbowl.
Originally posted by evilwaldoOh man, you are really trying to piss off the Philadelphia fans? Must be a Cowboys or Mets fan.
TAKE... THAT... BACK.
Come on, now. I've lived near Philly all my life, and have witnessed the Cavalcade of Suck that's been the Phillies outside of their glory years ('76-'83) and occasional staccato bursts of respectability ('15, '50, '93). History alone tells me what to expect from the Phils in any given year. (As for this year, they have upgraded their pitching, but can they hit and score runs consistently? Haven't done it yet.)
To finish my thread derail, the Eagles had a legitimate shot against the Rams the first year; they fell one drive short of the Super Bowl, they tried, they failed, there are worse epitaphs. They got blown off the field the next two times, because a team with a gaping hole the size of New Mexico on the offensive side (no wide receivers to speak of) simply doesn't make it to the big game unless they've got an INCREDIBLE defense (see also: Baltimore Ravens that one year). The callers on WIP who were stunned by this amused me greatly. And the Flyers? After their consecutive Ottawa one-goal-a-game-but-let's-blame-Cechmanek playoff flameouts, I have no sympathy left.
"I'm convinced that Alan Keyes' Renew America is simply a front group for people who got fired from their local Arby's for coming into work drunk." -- Jesse Taylor, Pandagon
Originally posted by ScottieKStonesBowa SHOULD be fired because he's an idiot. It's nice that he's loved in Philly, but they're is spending a lot of money on the team to have it run by a bad manager. Plus he ran off the best Phillies player since Mike Schmidt. But that's the past.
Scottie is right on, brothers. If the Phillies win, it will be in spite of Larry Bowa and not because of Larry Bowa. I don't think idiot is too strong a word, either.
Originally posted by evilwaldoOh man, you are really trying to piss off the Philadelphia fans? Must be a Cowboys or Mets fan.
TAKE... THAT... BACK.
Come on, now. I've lived near Philly all my life, and have witnessed the Cavalcade of Suck that's been the Phillies outside of their glory years ('76-'83) and occasional staccato bursts of respectability ('15, '50, '93). History alone tells me what to expect from the Phils in any given year. (As for this year, they have upgraded their pitching, but can they hit and score runs consistently? Haven't done it yet.)
To finish my thread derail, the Eagles had a legitimate shot against the Rams the first year; they fell one drive short of the Super Bowl, they tried, they failed, there are worse epitaphs. They got blown off the field the next two times, because a team with a gaping hole the size of New Mexico on the offensive side (no wide receivers to speak of) simply doesn't make it to the big game unless they've got an INCREDIBLE defense (see also: Baltimore Ravens that one year). The callers on WIP who were stunned by this amused me greatly. And the Flyers? After their consecutive Ottawa one-goal-a-game-but-let's-blame-Cechmanek playoff flameouts, I have no sympathy left.
I was kidding. In actuality, I have the same feelings towards the Phils and Flyers. In fact, when my uncle emailed me about our playoff tickets for this year my reply was 'You really think they will beat the Devils in the first round or are you blindly following the crowd?' I love how they achieve their goal every year of 90+ points and a playoff exit.
For the Phils, that team and management deserves to stay in the Vet. I give them credit for trying in the last 2 years to upgrade the team but after their half hearted attempts from 1976 to 2002. But it makes you wonder why they are all of a sudden paying attention to the team? They used to draw 3 million fans in the dump that was the Vet every year but wrote a textbook on how to turn off and ignore their fanbase.
WIP callers are high comedy. They deserve their own reality TV show to show off their stupidity.
Are you a professional halfwit or talented amateur?
Oddly enough, a buddy of mine in the radio biz (who just got hitched...the fool!) relayed to me a funny story about that '83 Lee Elia tirade. Back then, he worked for a station that carried Cubs games.