Selig wants the Astros to keep Cooper

[otterjb]

Seems a little odd for the commissioner of baseball to be calling for one particular guy to get the job.

http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070830&content_id=2179328&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb


edit: oops, didn't see it here http://www.orangewhoopass.com/forums/index.php?topic=103697.0 until just now

[kevwun]

If he promises to tell Drayton that they can still be friends if the Astros go above slot next season with a few draft picks, he's got a deal.

[Noe]

It's an interesting dilemma of sorts.  If McLane retains him and he doesn't do well, then he's going to get criticized yet again for allowing the commissioner interfere with how his baseball business is conducted.  If Cooper does well, then the commissioner will get criticized for overstepping his bounds and helping out a less than knowledgeable owner.

Of course, we're still talking Bud Selig here, so who is going to take him seriously?

[Nate in IA]

It's an interesting dilemma of sorts.  If McLane retains him and he doesn't do well, then he's going to get criticized yet again for allowing the commissioner interfere with how his baseball business is conducted.  If Cooper does well, then the commission will get criticized for overstepping his bounds and helping out a less than knowledgeable owner.

Of course, we're still talking Bud Selig here, so who is going to take him seriously?

I read that NYCU post about Selig's comments and to be quite truthful was mightily disturbed.  I don't follow Selig at all so I am really curious if he always comes off sounding like an idiot or if it's just this one time.   What does he hope to accomplish with his comments?

[JimR]

none of his damn business if he was speaking as the Commissioner.

[Rammer33]

I didn't like the way it sounded when I heard it but I have a sneaking suspicion selig was speaking more as a friend of Cooper/wishing him well (stemming from cooper's playing days in MIL) yet the article makes it seem a little like it was an edict from the commish on high ... having thought about it it seems like harmless encouragement and wishing a former player/friend well ...

[austro]

I didn't like the way it sounded when I heard it but I have a sneaking suspicion selig was speaking more as a friend of Cooper/wishing him well (stemming from cooper's playing days in MIL) yet the article makes it seem a little like it was an edict from the commish on high ... having thought about it it seems like harmless encouragement and wishing a former player/friend well ...

Doesn't matter if he was speaking as a friend. In his position as commissioner, it's entirely inappropriate to be making such statements, even in private. Anything he says can easily be construed as tampering or coercion, thereby compromising the legitimacy of the process. Of course, it doesn't surprise me that he's too clueless to realize this.

[Taras Bulba]

Doesn't matter if he was speaking as a friend. In his position as commissioner, it's entirely inappropriate to be making such statements, even in private. Anything he says can easily be construed as tampering or coercion, thereby compromising the legitimacy of the process. Of course, it doesn't surprise me that he's too clueless to realize this.

I had dinner a few years ago with Jane Leavy, author of the Koufax book, "A Lefty's Legacy.  Leavy called Selig "the dumbest Jew in the world."

She was a brassy broad.

[JimR]

i just read the entire thing--totally inappropriate.

[BatGirl]

i was hoping someone would start this discussion...

i read it twice, and found it all so odd - including where selig said that "his heart started pounding" when drayton called and told him what his plans were.

upon first read, i assumed that he meant that he was nervous because uncle d was firing both the gm and skipper.  then, and maybe it's just my take, after re-reading, it seems that he actually meant that the palpitations were due to his excitement for coop.

every quote, in my opinion, sounds as if it's more than a former owner endorsing a former player for a job.  but i haven't quite figured out the dynamics between bud and mclane, let alone the motivation behind selig's comments.  it doesn't sit well with me.  and it does make you wonder... 

[Browneye]

Well, our favorite reporter feels the same way, but instead of answering the question he just calls his readers racists.

http://blogs.chron.com/sportsjustice/archives/2007/08/i_just_noticed.html

The best part of his response.
"God forbid, we may even have a black GM running of our teams someday. Won't that stir things up?"

Good call, Richard.

[Andyzipp]

Well, our favorite reporter feels the same way, but instead of answering the question he just calls his readers racists.

http://blogs.chron.com/sportsjustice/archives/2007/08/i_just_noticed.html

The best part of his response.
"God forbid, we may even have a black GM running of our teams someday. Won't that stir things up?"

Good call, Richard.

Bob Watson would be interested to know that the Astros need a black GM.

[Browneye]

I am still trying to figure out his quote.

''In the words of the immortal George Bamberger...''

Any guesses?

[pravata]

I am still trying to figure out his quote.

''In the words of the immortal George Bamberger...''

Any guesses?

“What you have to be able to do," Bamberger said, "is BS.” http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=220204

[pravata]

Well, our favorite reporter feels the same way, but instead of answering the question he just calls his readers racists.

http://blogs.chron.com/sportsjustice/archives/2007/08/i_just_noticed.html

The best part of his response.
"God forbid, we may even have a black GM running of our teams someday. Won't that stir things up?"

Good call, Richard.

And completely misses the point.  It's not the decision that matters, whether or not Cecil Cooper is the manager next season, he could be the best choice, maybe not.  But just like the Garner/Purpura massacre, the decision will be made for all the wrong reasons.  Once again, Mclane's decision may be swayed by listening to people with no qualifications to run a baseball team.

[mihoba]

every quote, in my opinion, sounds as if it's more than a former owner endorsing a former player for a job.  but i haven't quite figured out the dynamics between bud and mclane, let alone the motivation behind selig's comments.  it doesn't sit well with me.  and it does make you wonder... 

Bud's motive is crystal clear to me.

 "It's a big thing for us," Selig said. "I have often said Jackie Robinson's coming to the big leagues was baseball's greatest, proudest and most powerful moment. All I've said to the clubs in the past decade is, 'The pool of candidates should be wide. It should be diverse. It's in your best interest.' I'm proud of the fact that the clubs at all the levels have really been very conscientious in that regard. I've been, in the past, a bit disappointed. We were up to 10 minority managers at one time, and we've dropped back. So this is a very, very big event for baseball and for me. Cecil Cooper is finally getting the chance that he so richly deserves, but having another African-American manager is very important to Major League Baseball."

[Rebel Jew]

“What you have to be able to do," Bamberger said, "is BS.” http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=220204

Bamberger's:
http://snltranscripts.jt.org/91/91gtoilet.phtml

[David in Jackson]

Bud's motive is crystal clear to me.

 "It's a big thing for us," Selig said. "I have often said Jackie Robinson's coming to the big leagues was baseball's greatest, proudest and most powerful moment. All I've said to the clubs in the past decade is, 'The pool of candidates should be wide. It should be diverse. It's in your best interest.' I'm proud of the fact that the clubs at all the levels have really been very conscientious in that regard. I've been, in the past, a bit disappointed. We were up to 10 minority managers at one time, and we've dropped back. So this is a very, very big event for baseball and for me. Cecil Cooper is finally getting the chance that he so richly deserves, but having another African-American manager is very important to Major League Baseball."

What is he, the 17th?  Can we quit counting yet?

[Noe]

And completely misses the point.  It's not the decision that matters, whether or not Cecil Cooper is the manager next season, he could be the best choice, maybe not.  But just like the Garner/Purpura massacre, the decision will be made for all the wrong reasons.  Once again, Mclane's decision may be swayed by listening to people with no qualifications to run a baseball team.

Eggszactly!  By opening his mouth, the commissioner has clouded the whole scene.  He's put this organization now on a no win situation.  If a qualified candidate were to come around and goodness gracious what if that candidate is white (Giradi?), then what is McLane to do? Ignore them unless the qualifications are just overwhelmingly superior to Cooper?  Yeah, like Jim Leyland is available any time soon.  By opening his mouth, the commissioner has put the bullseye squarely on the back of his good friend.  He should just say "no comment" and be done with it.  And privately call Cooper and tell him how excited he is for him. 

He has a position and he needs to respect his own office.  BTW - Pinwheel finally said this:

You're saying Bud Selig shouldn't be endorsing specific candidates regardless of color. I don't have a problem with that.

Yes Richard, that is what most sane people are saying.  It's about the commissioner, not about Cecil Cooper, a great guy and someone I'd like to get his chance not muddied by this sort of crap.

[JimR]

Bud's motive is crystal clear to me.

 "It's a big thing for us," Selig said. "I have often said Jackie Robinson's coming to the big leagues was baseball's greatest, proudest and most powerful moment. All I've said to the clubs in the past decade is, 'The pool of candidates should be wide. It should be diverse. It's in your best interest.' I'm proud of the fact that the clubs at all the levels have really been very conscientious in that regard. I've been, in the past, a bit disappointed. We were up to 10 minority managers at one time, and we've dropped back. So this is a very, very big event for baseball and for me. Cecil Cooper is finally getting the chance that he so richly deserves, but having another African-American manager is very important to Major League Baseball."

Dear Bud:

no one, no matter what color, has a right to be hired. what everyone should have, no matter what color, is an equal opportunity to be hired based upon merit, talent and skills.

[Browneye]

Dear Bud:

no one, no matter what color, has a right to be hired. what everyone should have, no matter what color, is an equal opportunity to be hired based upon merit, talent and skills.

Yes Jim, but Pinwheel believes in Affirmative Action and if you disagree with him he accuses you of being a racist.

"Selig requires teams to interview minority candidates for GM and managerial openings. Some people are uncomfortable with affirmative action laws. They're frightened when people who don't look and sound just like them get jobs. The world has changed, my friend. You're going to have to deal it. God forbid, we may even have a black GM running of our teams someday. Won't that stir things up?"

Like I told him in my post, (which he didnt deny) "You strike me as one of those people who divert the real question by calling the person posing the question a racist."

[TheWizard]

Selig doing an outstanding job of keeping up his image.

[austro]

Eggszactly!  By opening his mouth, the commissioner has clouded the whole scene.  He's put this organization now on a no win situation.  If a qualified candidate were to come around and goodness gracious what if that candidate is white (Giradi?), then what is McLane to do? Ignore them unless the qualifications are just overwhelmingly superior to Cooper?  Yeah, like Jim Leyland is available any time soon.  By opening his mouth, the commissioner has put the bullseye squarely on the back of his good friend.  He should just say "no comment" and be done with it.  And privately call Cooper and tell him how excited he is for him. 

He has a position and he needs to respect his own office.  BTW - Pinwheel finally said this:

You're saying Bud Selig shouldn't be endorsing specific candidates regardless of color. I don't have a problem with that.

Yes Richard, that is what most sane people are saying.  It's about the commissioner, not about Cecil Cooper, a great guy and someone I'd like to get his chance not muddied by this sort of crap.

And what nobody else seems to be saying: now if Cooper gets the job, there will be a legitimate question whether he got the job because he's the most qualified candidate or because Selig pressured McLane into hiring him. So Selig is doing a disservice to Cooper as well as to everybody else involved in this. What a maroon.

[cougar]

Yes Jim, but Pinwheel believes in Affirmative Action and if you disagree with him he accuses you of being a racist.

"Selig requires teams to interview minority candidates for GM and managerial openings. Some people are uncomfortable with affirmative action laws. They're frightened when people who don't look and sound just like them get jobs. The world has changed, my friend. You're going to have to deal it. God forbid, we may even have a black GM running of our teams someday. Won't that stir things up?"

Like I told him in my post, (which he didnt deny) "You strike me as one of those people who divert the real question by calling the person posing the question a racist."

Well, Justice is a jackass so I don't really care about what he says.  However, I was rather insulted by his response when someone called him a liberal.  Our reisdent wit shot off this gem:

"[Liberal? You callin' me liberal? I'm a gun-totin', SUV-drivin', New York Times-hatin', snuff-dippin' ignoramous just like you. If I saw ol' Phil Donahee walkin' down the street, I'd punch him in his leftist kisser. I got squirrel and possem in the deep freeze and a pitcher of a grate Amurcan Bull Connor hangin' rat above mah far place. I shore ain't no liberal. I cain't even member last time ah read uh buk.--Richard] "

It's shit like this that makes me want to punch HIM in his rat like face.  He calls everyone who disgrees with him a racist (one who generalizes based on a characteristic of a person) and then insinuates that all conservatives are gun-nut redneck whackos.  I guess he disn't learn the word "irony" and how it applies to him in J-school.

EDIT: Jumpin' Jesus on a pogo stick!  I think he's outodne himself and he digs a deeper hole!  Later on in the comments on his drivel someone asks the rhetorical question "I want to know if he ordered Biggio to steal third with two outs."  The turd nugget drops this:

"[It's awfully peculiar that people suddenly are second-guessing
this manager, and this manager happens to be black. No one second-guessed the white guy or questioned his competence. Speaking of the white guy, I ran into him and his wife and mom at the AT&T Store on 59 yesterday. He couldn't have been nicer. Class act.--Richard]"

NO ONE SECOND-GUESSED GARNER?!  WTF is this bullshit?  I'm starting to think Hetero Doxy ghost writes for this asshat.

[homer]

Dick Justice is a cocksucker. Its best to ignore him.

[juliogotay]

And what nobody else seems to be saying: now if Cooper gets the job, there will be a legitimate question whether he got the job because he's the most qualified candidate or because Selig pressured McLane into hiring him. So Selig is doing a disservice to Cooper as well as to everybody else involved in this. What a maroon.

Yes. And Coop deserves better than this. Thanks, Bud.

[UpTooLate]

Dear Bud:

no one, no matter what color, has a right to be hired. what everyone should have, no matter what color, is an equal opportunity to be hired based upon merit, talent and skills.

Outstanding.  This is how things "should be" for every job in every field.

Not being the baseball historian, would somebody remind me what were the merits, talents, and skills that led to the hiring of Bud Selig?

[Noe]

And what nobody else seems to be saying: now if Cooper gets the job, there will be a legitimate question whether he got the job because he's the most qualified candidate or because Selig pressured McLane into hiring him. So Selig is doing a disservice to Cooper as well as to everybody else involved in this. What a maroon.

Eggszactly!

[ybbodeus]

Suspect this thread title to morph to, "Selig wants the Brewers to get Cooper."