Sandberg stands up and then throws his staff under the bus.

Carmelo Martinez, anyway.

I don't believe Martinez is on his staff. I think he's some sort of roving instructor.

It's all Joe Morgan's fault.

Sandberg stands up and then throws his staff under the bus.

What would you have him say? He could have said, "Yeah, I would have handled the situation just as poorly."

Right, SSR. Desi Wilson is the batting coach, Rich Bombard (!) is the pitching coach. Carmelo Martinez is the Latin American Field Coordinator. Shouldn't he be in Boca Chica? Kids acting up when they have a substitute teacher.

What would you have him say? He could have said, "Yeah, I would have handled the situation just as poorly."

Well, he could have said it in a way that makes it sound like those who were running the show in his absence were not incompetent or somehow inferior to him.

How about something like, "What happened was unfortunate. We try to instill a sense of right and wrong with our players. Unfortunately our young players made a mistake and let their emotions get out of control. There will be repercussions for their actions and we as a team shall deal with them and make sure our players understand that this is not tolerated within the Cubs organization."

Considering Martinez's actions, I don't think he deserves to have Sandberg cover his ass. And it's not like he slammed him or anything.

Good grief, you know you can't win when people come out of the woodwork to get on a guy for not giving corporate non-speak.

Well, he could have said it in a way that makes it sound like those who were running the show in his absence were not incompetent or somehow inferior to him.

of course if he does then he would have been taken to task for saying Bull Durham level of quotes and not really saying anything. Lets just state that anything a former player says is going to get ridiculed on this site unless if falls inline with 100% stat dogma, anything less than that is pure folly on here.

What would you have him say?

I'd have him use the subjunctive properly, and say, "If I were there, it would not have happened."

Well if we're going to go grammar nazi on him, wouldn't it be more gramatically correct to say, "If I had been there, it would not have happened"?

Romans go home.

I'd have him use the subjunctive properly, and say, "If I were there, it would not have happened."

That first comma shouldn't be there.

How about something like, "What happened was unfortunate. We try to instill a sense of right and wrong with our players. Unfortunately our young players made a mistake and let their emotions get out of control. There will be repercussions for their actions and we as a team shall deal with them and make sure our players understand that this is not tolerated within the Cubs organization."

Why? Because it is nicer? He's throwing his players under the bus in your example (or so you would claim).

Because it is nicer?

As I just said on the new Ricciardi thread, it is generally better for organizations if the public statements of authority figures are vanilla and non-controversial. There is also a touch of arrogance in what Sandberg said, in that he really doesn't know that he could have stopped it.

As I just said on the new Ricciardi thread, it is generally better for organizations if the public statements of authority figures are vanilla and non-controversial. There is also a touch of arrogance in what Sandberg said, in that he really doesn't know that he could have stopped it.

Well, I think there's lots of truth to that. However, Ryno isn't there. He is bucking for a promotion just like everyone else in the minor leagues. Ryno said "it would have happened if I were there". Is not the same as saying "Martinez is a buffoon and couldn't handle it". ryno has a different relationship with those players.

I see Ryno saying "If I were there..." meaning more along the lines of the kids got out of hand with a substitute teacher - they aren't bad kids.

I guess I'm just tired of the fact that when someone says something that might possibly be interpreted to intimate that someone didn't do his job perfectly that we get the "throwing him under the bus" meme. Martinez *DIDN"T* do his job. I think somebody needs to say that.

Martinez *DIDN"T* do his job. I think somebody needs to say that.

Sure, I agree. Sandberg does need to say it--in his office, to Martinez's face, one-on-one, with the door shut.

Sure, I agree. Sandberg does need to say it--in his office, to Martinez's face, one-on-one, with the door shut.

I don't think that's always sufficient.

Why? Because it is nicer? He's throwing his players under the bus in your example (or so you would claim).

One, Sandberg is already throwing his players under the bus, and secondly it is his freakin pitcher that is being charged.

One, Sandberg is already throwing his players under the bus

Bullsh1t. Complete, utter, assinine bulls1t. Here's everything he said about his players in the incident in the article:

This is all a learning situation for them," Sandberg said. "On the field or off the field, respect the community, respect the uniform are all the things I preach.

"I reminded them to learn something there. Things like that happen in this sport. To protect your teammates and protect your team is one thing, but to go over the top and make a huge mistake is another thing."


Oooohhhh! That evil evil man! Oh, he also said it wouldn't have happened if he was there - a quote which doesn't mention any players at all (& I assume is why you claimed he threw his staff under the bus, not his players).

He goes away for a few games and in his absence one of the biggest mass ejections in recent pro baseball history happens, a player of his get arrested in conjuncture with the incicent . . . . look, do you think it's ever OK proper to say anything even can be construed as even indirectly critical on someone? 'Cuz his comments were really damn mild under the circumstances.