As the Roger Clemens controversy roared like planes flying over Shea Stadium from nearby LaGuardia, Mets General Manager Steve Phillips stood behind the batting cage Tuesday evening calmly and cleverly answering questions from waves of reporters.
Phillips said Clemens “probably” should have been ejected after hurling a jagged bat barrel at Mike Piazza. But Phillips had the perfect response to the $50,000 fine slapped on Clemens’ wrist.
Better that than suspension, said Phillips, because “we’d rather beat them at full strength.”
Phillips, with his grayish-blond goatee and mustache and round wire-rims, is impressive. Youthful, bold, fearless, sharp–capable of standing up to volatile manager Bobby Valentine and the New York media.
Here’s hoping new White Sox GM Ken Williams is more out of the new-wave Phillips mold than the same old Jerry Krause school.
Ron Schueler’s promotion into semi-retirement was not unexpected by Sox insiders. Neither was the elevation of Williams to GM–though some in and around the organization contend director of baseball operations Danny Evans has a better feel for baseball and a generally better rapport with people.
But Williams hit it off with the man who unfortunately matters most–White Sox Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf. Like former Sox outfielder Darrin Jackson, who recently completed his rookie year in the team’s TV booth, Williams became a Reinsdorf favorite as a Sox outfielder from 1986-88.
Not a good sign. Though Williams’ first post-player job with the organization in 1992 was organizing and teaching inner-city programs, his motto with Reinsdorf more likely has been, “Just say yes.” Two years later Williams was promoted to “special assistant to the Chairman.”
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For Reinsdorf to contend in Tuesday’s news release that Williams–at age 36–is “respected throughout the game” is vintage Reinspin. Williams simply hasn’t done enough to have earned much respect. We’re not exactly talking about a Walt Jocketty or John Schuerholz or Bob Watson. Could Williams seize the opportunity the way Phillips–a product of the Mets’ system–has? Let’s hope so.
Let’s hope Williams will be able to lean on Schueler above him and Evans below him–though it’s difficult to see Evans staying on after being so publicly passed over. Then again why do you think Reinsdorf announced the move just before a World Series game? Because he knew many Chicago baseball writers and columnists would be preoccupied in New York and that newspapers wouldn’t be able to devote full attention and space to another teacher’s-pet promotion.
Obviously this was not your basic go-get-a-star move. Star GMs want big bucks and unquestioned authority–the latter especially being a deal-killer for the Chairman. The last thing he wants is a GM who will challenge him.
Reinsdorf’s best and worst quality is his devotion to loyal lieutenants. The ultimate act of loyalty was standing by his little buddy Krause, the Bulls’ GM, when Michael Jordan wanted Krause gone.
Why wouldn’t Reinsdorf even consider firing Krause? Because Krause long has entertained Reinsdorf with his Mel Kiper Jr.-style “inside” patter, has kept him apprised of who likes him and who couldn’t be trusted and has taken critical bullets also aimed at the Chairman.
At least Schueler’s Hawk Harrelson-style stories were born of pitching in the big leagues. Reinsdorf loved to share cigars with Schueler and talk baseball, Reinsdorf’s favorite sport. Schueler cinched a lifetime position with the Sox by taking much of the flak for the White Flag trade of 1997.
But, considering his recent budget limitations, Schueler also had a pretty good run as GM. Under Schueler the farm system flourished. But he apparently took advantage of his preferred status in the organization at a mere 52 because he wanted to slow down and concentrate on family priorities. Last summer he quit smoking and remarried. GM pressure has leathered him.
But he certainly wasn’t kicked upstairs for the many non-moves he didn’t make to fortify his team’s playoff hopes at the trade deadline. He did what he was told. So will Williams. Here’s hoping Williams’ GM moves don’t mirror one of the funniest bloopers often shown on Comiskey’s scoreboard: Williams the player indecisively dashing back and forth between second and third.
Between better judgment and Reinsdorf?