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... I trust that you are aware that the disclaimer has zero to do with you. :- )
.... DaddyO, could you re-post?
Wakamatsu's 'Terry Collins Moment' ? (part 1)
Legal disclaimer: This article is nothing more than opinion, supposition, and hearsay. It might or might not bear relation to the truth. Rumors of rumors of rumors aren't meant to be construed as factual testimony. -- Jeff
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Q. Who is Inside Pitch?
A. Angels fan.
.... for those just joining us, Pitch has been one of Russ' (Silentpadna's), Mikey's, Terry's (TopCat's) and Jemanji's best 'net amigos for 10-15 years. He's one of the original 1995 AOL STATS pack, doin' the roto thang with us since shortly after it was invented ...
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Q. What's with the sources?
A. Though a lot of 'net rats claim sources, Pitch's have consistently steered us straight. He insists that his baseball background stay incognito, but he's got better sources for deep back-channel stuff than anybody I've ever seen.
He was the one who (in the first two months) alerted the Seattle blog-o-sphere, for example, that Bill Bavasi was an assistant (not full) GM his first couple of years here, calling our attention to several players that Bavasi wanted and was rebuked for from above, several players that the M's tried to sign and in fact did wind up signing.
I don't recall whether it's been 100.00% -- maybe it has, just don't remember -- but IP's intel has certainly been on target more frequently than intel from anyplace in the M's blogosphere, with the possible exception of Geoff Baker.
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Q. So what's the story on Figgins and Wakamatsu?
A. Chance relaying Figgins' side of the story as told to a mutual friend:
Here is the Readers Digest condensed version.
Basically, he called him a loafer in front of everyone and questioned his effort. That sent Fig into a rage. According to the source... Figgy was already ticked at himself for being out of position and screwing up, he knew he had missplayed the ball - basically he got caught being stupid... A mental lapse.
When he got into the dugout his manager is calling him lazy in front of his teammates and questioning his effort... THAT was the gasoline. Say what you will about Figgy, he's a proudful guy and a lack of effort is never going to be an issue. To be called out in front of the guys you play with, well.. That's not something that anyone wants, and certainly nothing he's ever seen in his days with the Angels.
I mention Terry Collins cause that's the sort of junk he was famous for -- even more annoying he was such a coward he would at times send other coaches out to berate a player and embarrass them in front of the team. Terry Collins lost the clubhouse because he didn't know how to lead, he thought demeaning players was a way of motivating them, and he wanted guys to run into walls in April because he wanted to see EFFORT above all else.. Failure to do so meant you lacked guts.
I dont think Wak is Terry Collins by any stretch but calling a guy out like that, a guy that's a known work ethic guy, is pretty stupid.
There are other factors there that may or may not exist. Figgy is a black guy from GA, being called Lazy there is often associated with uglier language attributied to people of color. Fig clearly overreacted, he even admitted that to my source, but, he did feel that questioning his effort was completely insulting.The direct quote that was given to me was.. Had he called me stupid, or moron, or retard I'd have had no defense, but to call me lazy like that in front of my teammates when I've been putting extra time to get myself right is a slap in the face and Im not going to take it...Again, that's not a quote from Figgy but rather a quote from the person relaying the information.
I don't know much about Wak, I know everything was hugs and kisses and smiles last year and the old adage of winning cures all ills. But, the measure of a great manager isn't (IMO) how he handles a team that's winning, but rather how he handles a team that's losing.Terry Collins failed miserably there, Wak needs to show he can keep the ship together when its taking on water, when the manager starts going off half cocked, it tends to trickle down to the players.I doubt the guy is there beyond this season.They have already taken Bud Black and Joe Maddon from us -- anyone interested in Ron Reonike?
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Comments
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Good riddence to bad fits. Wak didn't seem particularly comfortable with managing a young team, didn't seem able to handle personality conflicts in the clubhouse, and didn't seem to be able to keep the Mariners playing professionally after things started going wrong. He was not the right man fort the job. Here's hoping we find someone who is.
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Sorry, don't remember what I posted. Health issues have left my memory in a shambles.