I'm in a prediction mood lately. Here is what Jim Tracy's firing means for baseball.
Background: Tracy and GM and a lot of the staff were let go including the GM a few months ago.
What happens now?
Walt Jockety who was let go by the Cardinals goes to the Pirates as a player development/front office leader.
Larussa comes over to manage and whip the team into shape.
My reasons for thinking this:
Jocketty represents a jewel of a GM and he likes a challenge and probably would like the chance to stay in the NL central to stick it to the Dewitt.
The reason I think they'll get Larussa is this following quote:
"Huntington has an "internal list" of potential managerial candidates.
"We're not married to a date," he said. "We need to do our homework, and when the right candidate presents himself, we will know."
Asked what kind of manager he wants, Huntington said, "A manager with energy, with passion, ... who is a tireless instructor, who will instill some discipline, is an exhaustive communicator and wants to return the pride to the Pittsburgh Pirates.""
No one out there represents that more than Larussa. Torre would be a good second choice but frankly he's not the instructor/discipliner that LaRussa is.
If I'm right and Jockety and Larussa go to the pirates, well the cardinals will have their hands full in a few years. The Pirates will also have something to be excited about, which frankly they're do for a winning season.
Posted by holtonian at October 5, 2007 07:51 PM