A veteran player told me a couple of years ago that bad karma filled the clubhouse. He said it was so bad, he actually felt like he was a robot going about his business everyday because each day was known as “pack it in” day.
Bob Nutting took over the club in early 2007 and, after evaluating organizational needs, immediately implemented a new course of action. He fired David Littlefield, a week later hired Frank Coonelly as President, and the two of them together hired GM Neal Huntington.
Out of blue a new front office buzz phrase took root – “culture change” and they have been implementing that change ever since.
Jim Tracy and his staff were let go with a year left on their contracts, Brian Graham was fired, Salomon Torres was dealt, and Rich Donnelly and Chuck Tanner brought back in. After the 2008 season ended, field staff all through the organization either walked away or were not renewed, more professional advisors were brought in to assist Neal Huntington, and veteran field staff were added in the system.
But while the fans heard “culture change” as the reasoning behind many of these moves, some in the industry called it “decontamination time” and secretly wondered why it had took so long to start.
Now don’t mistake what I’m saying – this isn’t about one GM wanting to have people around him that he’s comfortable with. It’s more than that. It’s, as they said, changing the culture within the organization – meaning, they (players/coaches/scouts/etc) will no longer be allowed to show up and go through the motions until they finally leave.
They are going to be held accountable. Everyone. At every level.
Essentially, Huntington’s spraying his own version of Raid to get rid of the vermin. Adding Joe Kerrigan is a great example of that.
For instance, the Pirates have a few pitchers who are known to give the field staff fits. Well, they just met their match – or they will when they meet Kerrigan. I kidded to one Pirates official that I’ll be sure to send Ian Snell a spring training care package with adult Depends in it because – I believe – he’s going to need them.
And if Doumit has any short-term memory loss issues he better immediately take steps to correct the problem because Kerrigan’s game plans will wear him out. And if he doesn’t follow the plan, Kerrigan is the kind that will immediately get in Doumit’s face and hold him accountable. No, he’s not a bully – just demanding.
And not afraid of work, unlike some we are paying too much money to.
So let 2009’s decontamination begin in earnest. It’s time to kick some butt internally while we lose 100. Makes sense.
Right?
