Chacon, Wade both need a timeout
Chacon, Wade both need a timeout
view story
Tags:
Wed Jul 2, 2008 10:35:09 CDT
Viewed 104 times
0 responses 6 comments
| Reply or Comment | Send to a Friend | Report a Violation |
My reply wasn't just to you, but also to Mike's comments.
Sorry for the factual error in my column. The demotion to the bullpen was what led to the incident.
But if you want real diatribe on what I think of the Astros TV/radio announcers, just give me a call sometime.
The team has responded by winning 2/3 from the Rangers,2/3 from Flordia,2/3 from Boston,and 1/2 from the Dodgers... I don't know how it relates to team morale. The players that were interviewed said they don't pay attention to that stuff, they just play ball.. That could be all talk.
Interesting reply, Coy, especially this segment:
"As far as reports from the Astros Radio Network and TV/radio personalities, who do you think signs their checks? Of course, they're going to defend management.
"The Astros TV/radio announcers are recognized by the rest of the league as the biggest homers in the majors, so they are hardly credible sources, in my opinion."
I said nothing about the Astros TV announcers because I did not watch any of the Rangers series (during which Chacon assualted Wade), but I did listen on radio. Interesting that you brought the Astros TV announcers into the picture (no pun itended).
In my first post, the only issue I take with your column is the factual error, that led you to a perceptual error. You said Wade came to the Astros' clubhouse to tell Chacon he was being taken out of the starting rotation, when, in fact, that message had been delivered by Cecil Cooper several days before.
Other than that, I agree wholeheartedly with your column.
Yet, no where in your reply do you acknowledge my point. Instead we get a diatribe against the alleged lack of credibilty of the announcers on the Astros Radio and TV networks and reiteration of your column points, points, as I said, I agree with.
Wade has a long history of strained relationships with his players.
As far as reports from the Astros Radio Network and TV/radio personalities, who do you think signs their checks? Of course, they're going to defend management.
The Astros TV/radio announcers are recognized by the rest of the league as the biggest homers in the majors, so they are hardly credible sources, in my opinion.
I'm not defending Chacon. He deserved what he got. But Wade is certainly no saint.
If Chacon refused to meet with Wade or Cooper, then Wade had every right to put Chacon on waivers and have security usher his butt out of Minute Maid Park. The Astros weren't going to find any team to take Chacon off their hands.
You refuse to meet with your boss when he calls you into his office and see how long you remain employeed.
Wade's "power play" in front of the players was nothing more than that - a "power play." It backfired and did not score him any brownie points with the players. Meanwhile, Wade's actions probably diminished Cecil Cooper's credibility among the team.
The players' perception has to be that Cooper is losing control of this team and the GM has to come into the clubhouse to mop up the mess. Chacon's actions were incredibly stupid, but don't underestimate the powerful bond professional athletes share and their animosity toward management.
In my opinion, it was a lose-lose situation all the way around because it was handled poorly by Wade.
It will be interesting to see how the team reacts to this on and off the field. I have read reports from beat writers around the league that the Astros' team chemistry was already eroding each day before the Chacon-Wade incident.
According to news reports, the reason for Wade's venture into the clubhouse was a meeting with Chacon and Cecil Cooper after Chacon refused a one-to-one meeting with Cooper. This purpose of this meeting, according to published news reports, and accounts on the Astros Radio Network, was to tell Chacon the ballclub would do all it could to accommodate his request for a trade and to urge him to keep his frustration out of the media spotlight. According to Wade, Chacon's demand for a trade came only through the media.
I agree that Wade should have continued to take the high road and not berate the player, especially in the clubhouse in front of his teammates. Astros management was in the right all the way in the decision to remove Chacon from the rotation and then to accommodate his "request" for a trade; therefore, Wade's cursing rage in the clubhouse exacerbated rather than solved a problem.