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Saturday, November 03, 2007

Blue-Collar Baseball: Chuck Tanner will try to help restore Pirates disipline

I believe it was Yo-Yo master turned manager, Abbie Glenn Hoffman that said...“I only regret that I have but one jersey to give for my country.”

Frank Coonelly says, “He won’t be just a figurehead,” Coonelly said of Tanner, “He will evaluate players and give his input to Neal Huntington.”

A group of more than 100 men, many of them World War II and Korean War veterans, listened to Coonelly. Many of them nodded when Coonelly said the Pirates had become undisciplined in recent years.

Coonelly said he especially noticed it during the final home game of the season. When “God Bless America” was played during the seventh-inning stretch, all of the St. Louis Cardinals—but only two Pirates—stood at the top of the dugout with the hands on their hearts.

“That was disgusting to me,” Coonelly said. “It’s an example of the culture that somehow had taken hold here. I believe leadership matters. Loyalty matters. Respect for the game matters.”

Repoz Posted: November 03, 2007 at 05:21 PM | 19 comment(s)
Related News: General, Pittsburgh

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1. Hello Rusty Kuntz, Goodbye Rusty Cars Posted: November 03, 2007 at 05:54 PM (#2604637)

This will surely turn the Pirates around.

2. Mudpout Posted: November 03, 2007 at 06:04 PM (#2604641)

Right, Chuck Tanner has a long, rich history teaching baseball players the virtues of discipline and clean living.

I really hope the two things were unrelated in the speech, and just look like they are in the article. If not, I have my doubts about the Pirates ability to stop strengths and weaknesses in personnel from top to bottom.

3. jonm Posted: November 03, 2007 at 06:11 PM (#2604643)

For some reason, I had thought that Chuck Tanner was dead...I guess that I was wrong.

4. Vaux, A.B.D. Posted: November 03, 2007 at 06:12 PM (#2604644)

People with integrity, discipline, and self-respect don't stand for that. . . gosh, songs are nice, so I don't want to call it one.

5. Stan Papi Posted: November 03, 2007 at 06:16 PM (#2604646)

Chuck Tanner looked close to dead in those manager cards Topps used to put out in the late 1970s. This is almost more shocking than the Blue Jays spending stupid money on a softball player.

Oh, ok, not even close as surprising, eh.

6. Gold Star for Robot Boy Posted: November 03, 2007 at 06:23 PM (#2604650)

So, Coonelly should search for the most jingoistic players?

7. Billy Wagner's tears Posted: November 03, 2007 at 06:26 PM (#2604654)

Really the only hope for the Pirates is cocaine, its time to bring back the glory days.

Cocaine is a....completely played out....

8. gef the talking mongoose Posted: November 03, 2007 at 06:32 PM (#2604657)

When “God Bless America” was played during the seventh-inning stretch, all of the St. Louis Cardinals—but only two Pirates—stood at the top of the dugout with the hands on their hearts.

Clearly, the Pirates need a drunken sot as manager.

9. ghost of perros Posted: November 03, 2007 at 06:53 PM (#2604665)

Personally, I'm not much for public displays of religion, patriotism and the like, but little things like standing for the stretch as a team demonstrate a certain unity of purpose and direction on a team that goes back to management and leadership.

Anybody doubt the Pirates suffer from its lack?

10. Monty Posted: November 03, 2007 at 07:01 PM (#2604667)

Technically, if everyone on the team didn't stand for the stretch, wouldn't that also demonstrate unity of purpose?

11. SoSHially Unacceptable Posted: November 03, 2007 at 07:21 PM (#2604676)

I really hope the two things were unrelated in the speech, and just look like they are in the article. If not, I have my doubts about the Pirates ability to stop strengths and weaknesses in personnel from top to bottom.

I only half agree. I have no doubt the Pirates are excellent at stopping strengths. Weaknesses, not so much. ;)

12. Robert S. Posted: November 03, 2007 at 07:46 PM (#2604686)

You hear that, Bay? You're gonna salute America and like it.

13. haven Posted: November 03, 2007 at 07:48 PM (#2604687)

This will surely turn the Pirates around.

You know, I understand you are being sarcastic. And the Pirates have so many problems that I am not sure anything could turn them around. But after 15 straight losing seasons I am at the point where I wouldn't mind a little unity of purpose, loyalty or respect for the game. Probably won't help. Can't hurt. So go at it Chuck.

14. Bob T Posted: November 03, 2007 at 08:01 PM (#2604695)

I hope that my blog posts don't get picked up by Google News with a misspelling in the title.

15. Best Dressed Chicken in Town Posted: November 03, 2007 at 08:18 PM (#2604704)

Putting that ####### song in the middle of the game is showing a lack of respect for the game.

16. Harold Reynolds: An Erotic Life (AG#1F) Posted: November 03, 2007 at 08:51 PM (#2604712)

Disciprine? Forget Chuck Tanner, the Pirates should hire Stan's karate sensei.

17. wj1958 Posted: November 03, 2007 at 11:41 PM (#2604750)

This IS the same Chuck Tanner, I surmise, who managed the White Sox in 1974? You know, the team that Dick Allen walked out on with a month to go in the season, leading the league in homers at the time, with the team still very much in contention, IIRC?

This IS the same Chuck Tanner, I surmise, who managed the Pirates to a World Series championship, and who was around long enough to see it sink to the bottom while drugs were openly passed around?

Just checking.

18. Bunny Vincennes Posted: November 03, 2007 at 11:48 PM (#2604755)

Putting that ####### song in the middle of the game is showing a lack of respect for the game.

AGREED! Its a ####### travesty that somehow that ######## song somehow got stuck into a middle of a ballgame. It amazes me that it makes the Cubs "celebrity" goofballness during the stretch seem sound.

19. There's a chill wind blowing in Misirlou's soul Posted: November 04, 2007 at 12:00 AM (#2604759)

This IS the same Chuck Tanner, I surmise, who managed the White Sox in 1974? You know, the team that Dick Allen walked out on with a month to go in the season, leading the league in homers at the time, with the team still very much in contention, IIRC?

YRI. The Sox were 11 games out when Allen quit. But it is the same Tanner.

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Blue-Collar Baseball: Chuck Tanner will try to help restore Pirates disipline

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