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Who Is Campaigning Harder: Obama, McCain Or Floyd Reese?
I have heard William Clay Ford described a number of ways. While he is personable enough in conversation, I’ve never thought of him as a "delight" - like Floyd Reese. The former Tennessee Titans general manager and ESPN commentator is shamelessly campaigning for Matt Millen’s job and kissing up to Ford unlike anyone since Wayne Fontes, seemingly monthly, would proclaim Ford as, "The best owner in sports." Hey, it worked for Wayneo...
Thing is, Ford and the Lions have to be careful here. Reese and Charlie Casserly of the NFL Network are on television and making themselves sound smart. But isn’t that how Millen got the Lions’ job?
Random Thoughts
- So Jim Leyland is going to be back as Tigers manager, but it appears less likely Chuck Hernandez will return as pitching coach. The Tigers pitching staff did tank badly this season, but that was as much because of poor staff selection by general manager Dave Dombrowski as any other factor - including Hernandez. So I guess it wouldn’t be fair to Hernandez in a way, but this point is indefensible on his behalf - his message clearly wasn’t getting through to Tiger pitchers, either.
- What an embarrassment it would be for the Tigers to have to play the last game Monday in Chicago to decide the American League Central title - as the division’s last place team.
- Two old football sages the Lions should consider as consultants to evaluate their organization: Former Dallas Cowboys player personnel director Gil Brandt and former Bills coach Marv Levy. They should not turn to anybody for this with even a remote interest in becoming their general manager. The last thing the Lions need is someone with their own agenda.
Thing is, Ford and the Lions have to be careful here. Reese and Charlie Casserly of the NFL Network are on television and making themselves sound smart. But isn’t that how Millen got the Lions’ job?
Random Thoughts
- So Jim Leyland is going to be back as Tigers manager, but it appears less likely Chuck Hernandez will return as pitching coach. The Tigers pitching staff did tank badly this season, but that was as much because of poor staff selection by general manager Dave Dombrowski as any other factor - including Hernandez. So I guess it wouldn’t be fair to Hernandez in a way, but this point is indefensible on his behalf - his message clearly wasn’t getting through to Tiger pitchers, either.
- What an embarrassment it would be for the Tigers to have to play the last game Monday in Chicago to decide the American League Central title - as the division’s last place team.
- Two old football sages the Lions should consider as consultants to evaluate their organization: Former Dallas Cowboys player personnel director Gil Brandt and former Bills coach Marv Levy. They should not turn to anybody for this with even a remote interest in becoming their general manager. The last thing the Lions need is someone with their own agenda.
posted by Pat Caputo at
12:02 PM
13 Comments:
Pat,
One thing I learned long ago is that anyone who feels they have to tell you how good they are, isn't. Also, anyone who has complete conviction in what they are saying is always wrong, because they don't allow for any thoughts of doubt. Complete confidence is always a precursor to failure.
-Marty
Gil Brandt and Marv Levy? Gil walks around Media Row every year during Super Bowl week looking for someone who wants to put him on the air because he is Gil Brandt. Marv Levy is 83 years old and let his contract expire with his beloved Bills because it was just time to go. Great football minds in their time, but I really hope the Lions turn to someone born after the forward pass was invented for the hire that will most likely decide the direction of the franchise for at least the next 10 years.
I hear Lewand is bucking very hard for it and if hired, he will be bringing on someone in the personnell dept that will STUN everybody. Someone who doesn't even work for a team or the league right now.
Hey Pat, enough is an enough. Tiger management which includes JL built this club backwards. They choose offense over pitching, offensive ss over defensive ss, starting pitching over relief pitching. Now the latest, Inge is going to be their 3B. His position is C. Inge is no Brooks Robinson. You want good defensive ss such as Jack Wilson and powerhitting 3B. If they are moving Guillen to LF, which is not a bad idea, to me Maggs is gone. I hope they do not trade him a day after the W.S. Let the market develop for Maggs which includes July trading deadline. A new pitching coach is not a bad idea. Time for the Tigers to cut their losses with management.
Book, as to the comment of how embarrassing for the Tigers to have to play Monday in Chicago - yes ... and no.
I wrote on Wednesday on my own little blurb of a blog that Tampa is a shoe-in to win the AL East because they were playing our boys four times to end a pathetic excuse of a season.
And for the first time I felt really bad about what I was writing - as I was writing it. Then our boys went out and took three off Tampa Bay. I have never been so happy to be so wrong.
Now I know Tampa still won the East despite the losses - but until that clinch was achieved by Boston's losses - you have to believe The (Devil) Ray's were still tryng.
I would love to see the Tigers beat the White Sox and give that AL season to the Twins - who never seem to go away - who seem to really deserve it.
Marty - I'm really good at knowing when somebody is right - and I have complete confidence in my conviction to stand behind the truth in your statement.
Hey ...er... wait a minute!
You're going to blame Dombrowski because the pitching staff can't or won't throw strikes??! One need look only to Minnesota and the job Rick Anderson does to see the impact a legitimate pitching coach can have throughout the entire organization. The Tigers don't throw strikes, they don't develop pitchers and improvement seems to be wish rather than a plan. Someone must be held accountable and it's clear that 2007 and 2008 are far more indicative of Hernandez' influence than 2006. Tigers pitching needs a new approach and undoubtedly a new voice.
Marty,
I agree with you on this, plus, if you notice, Reese doesn't talk about what he'd do to help the Lions. He just kisses up to the Fords.
Caputo
Joe,
I'm not talking about being the football guy, but advising on the football guy.
Caputo
Anonymous,
Well, "stunning" everyone doesn't matter. Finding the right person matters, and putting together a proper organizational structure matters.
Caputo
Anonymous,
Well, "stunning" everyone doesn't matter. Finding the right person matters, and putting together a proper organizational structure matters.
Caputo
Barry,
I agree about the mistakes, but would stick with this management team. They've earned a shot at turning it around, and I don't see anybody out there better at this point.
Caputo
Anonymous,
You may get your wish. Seems like Hernandez's job is in peril.
Caputo
Fred,
That is exactly my point. When you leave no room for error, you paint yourself into a corner, and generally fail. You have to be flexible, and adjust as things change, and people who have complete conviction in what they are doing usually lack that flexibility until catastrophy forces it upon them.
Of course, I am probably wrong. I am good at that.
I am one of the people that believe that the Tigers can be a team like the White Sox next year, and have a bounce back year. Their season mirrors the White Sox from last year, with most of the same failures and same perceived strengths going into to the respective seasons. But, I don't count on it. The bullpen is something that doesn't look like it will get fixed by next year. The starting pitching may, if some of the pitchers goes back to form, but that is no guarantee, just more likely than the relief getting better.
-Marty
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