Pollyellon banned me

[morpheus]

Today, Pollyellon provided this nugget in a blog entry about managers who resigned "shockingly". 

http://mlb.sbnation.com/2011/6/23/2240084/jim-riggleman-resigns-washington-nationals-news-five-shocking-managerial-resignations

"June 1991, Don Zimmer, Chicago Cubs: Zimmer's Cubs were struggling, two years past the time when he led them to the NL East title. In a move presaging Riggleman's, Zimmer demanded to know his contract status from GM Jim Frey -- one of Zim's predecessors as Cubs' manager. Frey, who was out of his element in the front office, dithered, and so Zimmer resigned with the team record 18-19. Though he coached for several teams for years after that, he never managed again. His replacement, Jim Essian, finished the 1991 season -- and also never managed in the majors again. Slogan: "The Cubs managing job: get it, and it'll be your last."

Now 20 years has a way of deteriorating brain cells.  But does anyone here recall Zimmer going away as part of a  "shocking resignation"?  And wasn't it in May of 1991, and not June?

Am I drunk here?  Or is Al just being Al?

May 22, 1991

Where is Andy Bagnatto?

As I recall it he was fired.  And that's what the LA Times says too.

http://articles.latimes.com/1991-10-19/sports/sp-602_1_cubs-essian

[PANK!]

Today, Pollyellon provided this nugget in a blog entry about managers who resigned "shockingly".  

http://mlb.sbnation.com/2011/6/23/2240084/jim-riggleman-resigns-washington-nationals-news-five-shocking-managerial-resignations

"June 1991, Don Zimmer, Chicago Cubs: Zimmer's Cubs were struggling, two years past the time when he led them to the NL East title. In a move presaging Riggleman's, Zimmer demanded to know his contract status from GM Jim Frey -- one of Zim's predecessors as Cubs' manager. Frey, who was out of his element in the front office, dithered, and so Zimmer resigned with the team record 18-19. Though he coached for several teams for years after that, he never managed again. His replacement, Jim Essian, finished the 1991 season -- and also never managed in the majors again. Slogan: "The Cubs managing job: get it, and it'll be your last."

Now 20 years has a way of deteriorating brain cells.  But does anyone here recall Zimmer going away as part of a  "shocking resignation"?  And wasn't it in May of 1991, and not June?

Am I drunk here?  Or is Al just being Al?

May 22, 1991

Where is Andy Bagnatto?

As I recall it he was fired.  And that's what the LA Times says too.

http://articles.latimes.com/1991-10-19/sports/sp-602_1_cubs-essian

Not only that, but Zimmer's issue was not with Jim Frey, who not only hired Zimmer but was a boyhood friend of his from Cincinnati-- but, rather, Don Grenesko aka "The Crane Kenney of his Day" who was the "suit" half of the General Mangement team (Frey being the "baseball" half).  I may have thought that Eric Dickerson had been traded for Jim Everett but believe me when I state that I can recall with absolute clarity that Zimmer ripped Grenesko--who was the one who effectively tossed Zimmer out on his metal-plated head-- on his way out the door.

After it was clear the the Free Agent signings of Dave Smith and Danny Jackson had gone *BLAMMO*, Jim Frey was nothing more than a lame duck by late May.

Holy shit Al's turning senile.

[Lance Dicksons Arm]

Al has acknowledged the error.

[Internet Apex]

Didn't Harry and Steve go on a rant during a rain delay ripping the entire team and the management? If I'm right they got credit from some for expediting Zim's exit and replied that announcers don't get managers fired or somesuch. Or was that 1986? Fuck.

[PANK!]

Didn't Harry and Steve go on a rant during a rain delay ripping the entire team and the management? If I'm right they got credit from some for expediting Zim's exit and replied that announcers don't get managers fired or somesuch. Or was that 1986? Fuck.

Piece of rhino-scat George Frazier was all asshurt after he got traded or released or shot into the center of the sun or what have you when he suggested that the players were more concerned about what Harry Caray said than anything.  Pretty sure what prompted it was Harry ripping on Frazier for being bad at baseball and I'm pretty sure that Frazier's remarks prompted Harry to rip him again.  That happened in 1986, perhaps that's what you were thinking of?

[Brownie]

Didn't Harry and Steve go on a rant during a rain delay ripping the entire team and the management? If I'm right they got credit from some for expediting Zim's exit and replied that announcers don't get managers fired or somesuch. Or was that 1986? Fuck.

Five games into Jim Essian's tenure, not-quite-16-year-old T.J. and three of his sophomor(ic)e friends spent Memorial Day at Wrigley Field for a matchup against Les Expos. Essian was showing no evidence that his tenure wouldn't be 35 years and feature at least 30 World Championships with the Cubs at that point. Anyway, the game had three rain delays, some drunk dude from Davenport and his pornstache lost his friends and sat next to us during the delay, buying us beers. I am sure that Harry was three sheets to the wind at that point, and Stone was probably still butthurt that Grenesko didn't fire Frey too and make Stone GM. So unless they were showing the 1971 World Series highlights again (in LUXURIOUS, FUTURISTIC THREE RIVERS STADIUM!) , they would have the opposing team's announcers in the booth. But the Expos announcers probably couldn't speak English, so what else is there to do?

[PANK!]

Didn't Harry and Steve go on a rant during a rain delay ripping the entire team and the management? If I'm right they got credit from some for expediting Zim's exit and replied that announcers don't get managers fired or somesuch. Or was that 1986? Fuck.

Piece of rhino-scat George Frazier was all asshurt after he got traded or released or shot into the center of the sun or what have you when he suggested that the players were more concerned about what Harry Caray said than anything.  Pretty sure what prompted it was Harry ripping on Frazier for being bad at baseball and I'm pretty sure that Frazier's remarks prompted Harry to rip him again.  That happened in 1986, perhaps that's what you were thinking of?

Self-quoting douche...

Here's some good stuff I found on the interwebs.

From the first article:

Regarding his former teammates, Frazier added:

``The guys in the clubhouse are more worried about what Harry Caray says on television than what Dallas Green says, because Harry`s bigger. Harry has a bigger influence on the fans.``

Frazier said he heard about the trade on the radio on his way to O`Hare last Wednesday.

``I was slower than normal leaving the clubhouse,`` said Frazier. ``I decided to zip by the apartment because I forgot my briefcase. I was in a traffic jam downtown as I got on the interstate, so I turned on the radio, and WGN said there was a news flash: `The Cubs have traded Fontenot and Frazier for Ron Davis.` So I pulled off the freeway and zig-zagged back to the ballpark. Yosh Kawano (the Cubs` clubhouse man) had already cleaned out my locker.

``I talked to (assistant GM) John Cox for about five minutes that night. I`ve yet to talk to Dallas Green. He never did call.

Harry's retort (second link)

CUBS BROADCASTER Harry Caray after pitcher George Frazier joined outfielders Bob Dernier and pitcher Steve Trout in blaming Caray for their problems: ''Somebody should teach that guy (Frazier) how to pitch. How did he last two years as one of the most inept pitchers we have ever seen in Wrigley Field? If you made a graph of his work he probably has the highest mark of inefficiency of any pitcher in baseball.''

God damn does that quote make me miss Harry.

Finally, a détente in the third link:

Everyone is glad to see Harry Caray back broadcasting Cubs games - even George Frazier.

Last season Frazier accused Caray of a smear campaign after the Cubs dealt Frazier to the Minnesota Twins. But Frazier, who has pitched better for the Twins than he ever did for the Cubs, has decided to bury the hatchet some place besides Caray's back.

"When I left here, I ripped Harry pretty good," said Frazier, who blamed Caray for his unpopularity with fans. "I think that was more frustration than anything."

Also, the fact that Harry was right, you scum-sucking bucket of shit, George.

[Internet Apex]

Awesome. Thanks.

[CBStew]

Didn't Harry and Steve go on a rant during a rain delay ripping the entire team and the management? If I'm right they got credit from some for expediting Zim's exit and replied that announcers don't get managers fired or somesuch. Or was that 1986? Fuck.

Piece of rhino-scat George Frazier was all asshurt after he got traded or released or shot into the center of the sun or what have you when he suggested that the players were more concerned about what Harry Caray said than anything.  Pretty sure what prompted it was Harry ripping on Frazier for being bad at baseball and I'm pretty sure that Frazier's remarks prompted Harry to rip him again.  That happened in 1986, perhaps that's what you were thinking of?

Self-quoting douche...

Here's some good stuff I found on the interwebs.

From the first article:

Regarding his former teammates, Frazier added:

``The guys in the clubhouse are more worried about what Harry Caray says on television than what Dallas Green says, because Harry`s bigger. Harry has a bigger influence on the fans.``

Frazier said he heard about the trade on the radio on his way to O`Hare last Wednesday.

``I was slower than normal leaving the clubhouse,`` said Frazier. ``I decided to zip by the apartment because I forgot my briefcase. I was in a traffic jam downtown as I got on the interstate, so I turned on the radio, and WGN said there was a news flash: `The Cubs have traded Fontenot and Frazier for Ron Davis.` So I pulled off the freeway and zig-zagged back to the ballpark. Yosh Kawano (the Cubs` clubhouse man) had already cleaned out my locker.

``I talked to (assistant GM) John Cox for about five minutes that night. I`ve yet to talk to Dallas Green. He never did call.

Harry's retort (second link)

CUBS BROADCASTER Harry Caray after pitcher George Frazier joined outfielders Bob Dernier and pitcher Steve Trout in blaming Caray for their problems: ''Somebody should teach that guy (Frazier) how to pitch. How did he last two years as one of the most inept pitchers we have ever seen in Wrigley Field? If you made a graph of his work he probably has the highest mark of inefficiency of any pitcher in baseball.''

God damn does that quote make me miss Harry.

Finally, a détente in the third link:

Everyone is glad to see Harry Caray back broadcasting Cubs games - even George Frazier.

Last season Frazier accused Caray of a smear campaign after the Cubs dealt Frazier to the Minnesota Twins. But Frazier, who has pitched better for the Twins than he ever did for the Cubs, has decided to bury the hatchet some place besides Caray's back.

"When I left here, I ripped Harry pretty good," said Frazier, who blamed Caray for his unpopularity with fans. "I think that was more frustration than anything."

Also, the fact that Harry was right, you scum-sucking bucket of shit, George.

Didn't Muhammed Ali have the last word with Frazier?

[Chuck to Chuck]

Didn't Muhammed Ali have the last word with Frazier?

[Bort]

Didn't Muhammed Ali have the last word with Frazier?

I swee what you did there, and I approve.

[Shooter]

Harry's retort (second link)

CUBS BROADCASTER Harry Caray after pitcher George Frazier joined outfielders Bob Dernier and pitcher Steve Trout in blaming Caray for their problems: ''Somebody should teach that guy (Frazier) how to pitch. How did he last two years as one of the most inept pitchers we have ever seen in Wrigley Field? If you made a graph of his work he probably has the highest mark of inefficiency of any pitcher in baseball.''

God damn does that quote make me miss Harry.

ERA+ of 62 in 1985 and 75 in 1986 before the trade. Harry was definitely on to something.

[Sterling Archer]

Killer sixth-grade school newspaper headline.

[Brownie]

Killer sixth-grade school newspaper headline.

Al asked, I'll answer:

Their manager quit just as the team was showing signs of life. Seeing that they're very much in the Wild Card race, maybe an experienced manager would be just the ticket. Just so happens they have one on their payroll as a "special adviser." This way, Davey can enjoy half a season as manager, Jack McKeon-style, and then ride off into the sunset as the Nats install Ryne Sandberg as their next manager to fail.

[Bort]

Killer sixth-grade school newspaper headline.

Al asked, I'll answer:

Their manager quit just as the team was showing signs of life. Seeing that they're very much in the Wild Card race, maybe an experienced manager would be just the ticket. Just so happens they have one on their payroll as a "special adviser." This way, Davey can enjoy half a season as manager, Jack McKeon-style, and then ride off into the sunset as the Nats install Ryne Sandberg as their next manager to fail.

I'm really glad I subscribed to TJ's newsletter, and I suggest everyone else do likewise.