Just listened to Palmer on XM

[NewMarketSean]

This is the thing that strikes me about Palmer: He always is the first to say things like, "this is the way it should be done." etc etc. But he never puts himself out there to manage or coach.

He could easily do it, what team would not want someone like Jim Palmer to be their manager?

Sometimes Palmer strikes me as a guy who finds it easy to lob jabs from the safety of the pressbox but wouldn't know what to do if he were ever in a situation to act on his beliefs.

But still, if that is how he sees things, then that is how he sees things.

Well Palmer has or does talk to the Orioles pitchers...and I think he should do it more often. I wonder how much he would be allowed to do it since Cal was basically told no to talking with Jones and Wieters.

As for Palmer being "in a situation where he had to act on his beliefs", he remembers every pitch from his career. I think he would have an abundance of experiences to draw from and apply it to any situation as a coach or manager.

[Three Run Homer]

The exception, not the rule.

Joe Torre is the exception that proves the rule, in my opinion.

Joe Torre had tremendous success with the Yankees because that was a team that had veteran leadership up and down the lineup and the pitching staff. He didn't need to be a hardass on his players, because they already had a clubhouse culture where young players learned how to work hard and act professionally by following the example of the veteran players.

You stick Joe Torre on a young rebuidling team and he would not have success. In fact...he DID manage some young rebuilding teams earlier in his career, and he didn't have success.

[NewMarketSean]

Yes, because that worked out so well for Fredi Gonzalez.

What went bad for Gonzalez? Just wondering.

[SilentJames]

Palmer is in a better position to see things about this club than any of us. He may be overstating things but the part about people not working hard on doing the little things concerns me. I don't think he wouold say that if it wasn't true.

I don't begrudge him his opinions. But I would really like to see Palmer actually attempt to coach or manage. He is a guy who matches all of the criteria that people seem to want in a manager. But he strikes me as a guy who does not want to be put in a situation where he would have to back up his rhetoric with action.

So that makes me take the things he says with an ever-so-small grain of salt.

[SoBo]

Mr. Torre struggled in two stops along the way until he landed into a wealth of talent in NY. Never known for his in game acumen, he has been lauded for his handling of egos, more than his baseball prowess. I suspect Torre would struggle with this roster as DT had.

[Slappy]

I really call balderdash on this there are plenty of leaders who are nice guys as well. This idea that you have to be "edgy" (a term that no one can define) to be effective is useless.

You have to earn respect. Do you think the players respected Trembley? Would people be talking about how the players don't work hard? Would there be so many mental errors?

[SilentJames]

What went bad for Gonzalez? Just wondering.

When he benched Rameriez and there was that big kuffuffle over it. Gonalez is still on the hotseat last time I heard.

[NewMarketSean]

I don't begrudge him his opinions. But I would really like to see Palmer actually attempt to coach or manage. He is a guy who matches all of the criteria that people seem to want in a manager. But he strikes me as a guy who does not want to be put in a situation where he would have to back up his rhetoric with action.

So that makes me take the things he says with an ever-so-small grain of salt.

You are crazy. Palmer is probably the best person around to give a good analysis of the Orioles. Just because he doesn't want to manage doesn't mean what he says is meaningless.

[NewMarketSean]

When he benched Rameriez and there was that big kuffuffle over it. Gonalez is still on the hotseat last time I heard.

A manager on the hot seat when he is 4.5 games out of first with the lowest payroll in the majors?

[TGO]

Joe Torre is the exception that proves the rule, in my opinion.

Joe Torre had tremendous success with the Yankees because that was a team that had veteran leadership up and down the lineup and the pitching staff. He didn't need to be a hardass on his players, because they already had a clubhouse culture where young players learned how to work hard and act professionally by following the example of the veteran players.

You stick Joe Torre on a young rebuidling team and he would not have success. In fact...he DID manage some young rebuilding teams earlier in his career, and he didn't have success.

This is fair and I don't disagree. My point was only that Slappy asked for ANY nice guy manager and Torre obviously is one. So they exist, it's just a matter of being in the right situation and the Orioles are probably not that situation.

Mr. Torre struggled in two stops along the way until he landed into a wealth of talent in NY. Never known for his in game acumen, he has been lauded for his handling of egos, more than his baseball prowess. I suspect Torre would struggle with this roster as DT had.

See above.

[Gurgi]

I don't begrudge him his opinions. But I would really like to see Palmer actually attempt to coach or manage. He is a guy who matches all of the criteria that people seem to want in a manager. But he strikes me as a guy who does not want to be put in a situation where he would have to back up his rhetoric with action.

So that makes me take the things he says with an ever-so-small grain of salt.

Palmer never wanted to manage. I think that is clear. Doesnt make him wrong. I dont think it is about him being leery of backing up rhetoric.

The guy put in his time. He enjoys himself and is cutting back on broadcasting now. He is actually kinda old now.

If we want an ex-Oriole player then Hoiles or Bill Ripken jump to my mind.

I would be positively spontanously orgasmic if Bill Ripken was picked.

[PaulFolk]

Yes, because that worked out so well for Fredi Gonzalez.

Actually, it did. After Gonzalez pulled Hanley from the game and Hanley mouthed off, pretty much everyone sided with Gonzalez, including the other Marlins players.

[El Gordo]

I don't begrudge him his opinions. But I would really like to see Palmer actually attempt to coach or manage. He is a guy who matches all of the criteria that people seem to want in a manager. But he strikes me as a guy who does not want to be put in a situation where he would have to back up his rhetoric with action.

So that makes me take the things he says with an ever-so-small grain of salt.

I think it's Palmer's right not to want to manage. But that in no way undercuts the vallidity of his criticism IMO. He knows what he is talking about and is in a good position to evaluate the team from the inside.

[Old#5fan]

Agree with the "too nice" sentiment. A leader who is too nice is almost always disrespected and rarely gets the maximum out of his charges. Know any good managers, football coaches, businessmen, or generals who is known as being a "nice guy"? I don't.

I think for the most part you are right but Johnny Oates was a nice guy and a good manager for the Orioles and of course you have Joe Torre of the Yankees and Dodgers.

[TGO]

Actually, it did. After Gonzalez pulled Hanley from the game and Hanley mouthed off, pretty much everyone sided with Gonzalez, including the other Marlins players.

And including coaches (and Hall of Famers) Andre Dawson and Tony Perez, who had an "intervention" with Ramirez and basically told him to STFU.

By the way, on the off chance Gonzalez does get fired (it would be a decision of the petulant Jeffrey Loria and not anyone in Baseball Ops), he will be the next manager of the Atlanta Braves. 100% guaranteed.