Here’s just about a perfect OLD SCHOOL manager, JIM LEYLAND. However
he is driving WBWF up & down the wall with his absolutely ridiculous habit of
resting millionaire ball players, who, incidentally dislike his bad habit as much as
we do!
He does it over and over. Too many times to list them all here. And, if you
follow the Tigers closely, you know exactly what we mean.
But, let’s look at his latest rock. Today, August 2, 2009, he rested a perfectly
healthy Placido Polanco and ran Ramon Santiago out there instead. Every human
being that’s still breathing knows that if you compare these two hitters you get
the difference between Ted Williams and Joe Schmoo. So, here’s what happens.
In the first inning Ramon comes up with Granderson on second and no one out.
So what does he do? He wastes an opportunity to knock in a big run and instead
he sacrifices Granderson to third. Let’s stop the tape right there and put Polanco
up there. Do you seriously thing that Placido bunts? Absolutely NOT! He lines
one of his patented singles to right and we jump out ahead 1-0. At least that
scenario had a high percentage of actually happening.
But, let’s get back to this resting business. Ball players of today all claim that they
are in better shape than the old schoolers of yesteryear. And, today they travel
by luxurious air travel as opposed to the uncomfortabe trains and buses of the 30’s
through the 60’s. AND THEY ARE PAID MILLIONS OF DOLLARS COMPARED TO THE
PEANUTS OF THE OLD SCHOOLERS.
And, now listen to this illuminating fact: OLD SCHOOLER BALL PLAYERS DIDN’T KNOW
WHAT A “REST DAY” WAS! We didn’t come out of there unless we were just about
dead. We played hurt. We played tired. We played every inning. We played every game!
So, please JIM LEYLAND, cease with this horrible habit AND ALLOW THESE MILLIONAIRES
WHO ARE IN SUCH GREAT SHAPE PLAY THE GAME. And, let us add: EACH AND EVERY
PLAYER JUST LIKE POLANCO DISAGREES WITH YOU!!
