I will be the first one to admit, I’ve never understood the animosity, rancor or flat out hatred for Jimy Williams. He struck me as a pretty good baseball mind. Stop your snickering.
Speaking of snickering, why is it acceptable for a “lead columnist” writing a story for a paper in the 4th largest city in the country to suddenly start including parenthetical statements about topics completely unrelated to the column? I’d expect this if it was in the diary of a thirteen-year old girl with a crush on that crotch sweat that married Jessica Simpson. But from a 40-something year old “professional”, it just smacks of “look how original and cute I am! That’s why I got a promotion and John Lopez got sent to Sacramento during the All-Star festivities.” It’s not cute, and it’s not original. Dave Berry did it first and better. You, on the other hand, have sucked in print for as long as the Astros have on the field this year.
I think Williams was brillant at utilizing his all of his team, keeping all 25 guys together and preparing everyone for the opponent and the game situations. In contrast to his predecessor, he actually tried to manage the team, and was very hands-on in terms of running the game. He also kept all issues in house, and unlike Larry Dierker never argued with his players through the media.
Some of these strengths on the field were weaknesses in the public eye. Williams was too quick to pull his starting pitchers the last 2 years. He relied too heavily on his bullpen. He juggled the lineup on what seemed to be every third day. He let his bench players play too often. He didn’t let certain bench players play enough.
While it may have something to do with the father issues I labor under, I don’t get a lot of satisfaction from second guessing managers; bitching and moaning about moves when I don’t have the rheems of information on the different variables involved that a major league manager does. God bless you if that’s your gig, it’s just not mine. I will say that a good 75% of the criticism lobbed in Williams’ direction was unwarranted and uncalled for, started by the Madden Baseball talk radio fans who understand nothing of big picture, chemistry and attrition.
Things like a constant lineup, starting pitchers working deep into games, light bullpen usage are all nice-to-haves, but the abscence of these things weren’t Williams’ fault. That sits squarely at the feet of the players and general manager Gerry Hunsicker. Williams did the best he knew how with the hand he was dealt.
Williams’ main problem, besides an entire team pitching and hitting well below expectations, was his relationship with the local mediots. In today’s Chronicle, Richard Justice lists Williams’ reluctance to talk to non-baseball people as the number one problem during Jimy’s tenure, claiming that Williams “refused to play the game.” I personally can’t fathom the arrogance and gall it takes to put yourself on a pedestal like this. Interacting with reporters is part of his job, and Williams could have done better at it, but his reticence to do so didn’t take away from his skills as a manager.
Justice, Jesus Ortiz, Lopez, Rich Lord and others got Jimy fired in the court of public opinion not too long after he was hired because he didn’t think they were worth talking to. For nearly three years, they wouldn’t let an opportunity to harp on Williams pass. They created the problem by backstabbing and undermining Williams at every opportunity, and instead of trying to understand what the actual issues were with the team as constructed, fed the talk radio monster by pandering to the Madden crowd. Ultimately when the team underperformed this year, owner Drayton McLane was left with very little choice, especially after the classless display at the All-Star game by several thousand of those in attendance. Not that the media is off the hook for this one either. Yeah the fans should have known better, and hopefully someone will show up and boo their children in the future, but the media let Williams become the heavy for the first half of the season and then they have the nerve to be surprised that the booing was going to happen? Hey this parenthetical stuff is fun.
I’m not sad that Williams has been shown the door. At this point of a very disappointing half season, short of a fire sale, the players forced this situation on themselves and this was the next change that could be made. Was it the right change? At this point, who knows? If Phil Garner‘s appointment breathes life into this mud and blood colored corpse, then it will be.
If new hitting coach Gary Gaetti whom I still hate…”lookame, I’m unfrozen cave man batting coach. Your stance frightens and confuses me” can scare Adam Everett into taking a pitch every now and Morgan Ensberg into not being a such a girl about everything. I have no idea what he’s going to say to a Jeff Bagwell, other than you’re batting 6th, good luck with that.
The reality of the situation doesn’t look great. 10.5 games off the division pace, 4.5 out of the wildcard spot, behind eight other teams and so many players having bad years it makes the Carter administration look like Peppermint Park. o?ne thing appears to be certain, this is the last shot for this roster as it’s currently constructed. Williams, Octavio Dotel, and Richard Hidalgo are already gone. Carlos Beltran, Roger Clemens and Jeff Kent are certain to be gone. Bagwell, Craig Biggio, Wade Miller and Jose Vizciano might be be gone too.
On the other hand, it might be much easier to get good seats at Minute Maid real soon.
If you want to gripe at Andy about this article or anything else, go see Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy instead. It’s good, wholesome, stupid fun. Or just e-mail me.