Monday, June 19, 2006 |
Pittsburgh's Roster Is A Busy Box For Jim Tracy
I figure that's what the Pirates' roster is if you're Jim Tracy. Trouble is, he's got a box that's all round holes, and a lineup full of square pegs. And now he can't make up his mind whether he hates his toy or not, at least, in public:
Pittsburgh Pirates manager Jim Tracy said Monday he never intentionally reprimands a player in public, then wouldn't back off criticism made the day before of shortstop Jack Wilson for failing to turn a difficult defensive play.Sigh.Wilson and pitcher Oliver Perez couldn't get outs on groundballs during a four-run Minnesota rally in the eighth inning of an 8-2 Twins victory Sunday. It appeared the Twins runners would have reached base even if excellent defensive plays had been made.
...
"There were some plays over the course of the Twins series I've seen be made, and be made on a regular basis," Tracy said before a 5-4, 11-inning loss to Arizona on Monday. "That's all I'm saying. I'm not pointing fingers at my players - let's get that straight, OK?"
Tracy added, "With two outs and nobody on, they score four runs after two balls get put into play - and both of them make it barely beyond the infield portion of the grass. I've seen the execution of those types of play, and that's all I'm saying. ... I mean, c'mon, let's go. What place do you want to come in every year?"
: 6/19/2006 09:09:00 PM"Every time in the latter part of the season, you hear announcers say, `They play great defense, they have good pitching and timely hitting and they play heads-up baseball,' " Tracy said, referring to postseason teams. "Well, what a concept. And it wins, and every single year it wins. And over the course of the next century, when we're all gone, it will win.
"And it's going to be preached and pounded here every single game, and anything less than an understanding of that is unacceptable."
I'm starting to find it incredible that this man was ever considered any good at all.
: 6/19/2006 09:15:00 PMKeep in mind that Tracy had Cesar Izturis as a shortstop for four years, so of course he's seen those plays made. I'm willing to bet he'd be praising Jack Wilson for not throwing the ball into the dugout or something had he had Furcal.
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