Mike Rankin and James Fox introduced Jeff Feyerer, a new contributor to FutureSox and Sox Machine, to discuss the latest on the Chicago White Sox’s managerial search. Is Ozzie Guillen the top candidate? Later, the group shared their versions of the White Sox offseason plan. Mike, James and Jeff detailed positions of strength the organization may be able to deal from.
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/futuresox-podcast/id850054474
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3n2MHOBJsncp3DjHbcjXZL
Jeff, thank you so, so much for comparing Jerry Reinsdorf’s hiring practices to what George Steinbrenner did with Billy Martin in the 1980s. Steinbrenner’s buffoonery that decade managed to keep the wealthiest team in baseball away from a championship that decade, and the key factor in the Yankees’ 1990s success was his suspension allowed the organization to establish stability under Buck Showalter. (Martin’s Christmas 1989 death in a DUI crash also prevented a sixth managerial stint with that team.)
Having a buffoon for an owner makes organizational success difficult, even with large budgets.
Steinbrenner’s will to win got in the way with how he went about things. Him and Billy always wanted to be front and center. Yes, Steinbrenner was a buffoon but I wish Reinsdorf had his immense desire to win.
I also just read that this Carlos Mendoza of the Yankees interviewed 2 weeks ago for the Sox job. I guess that means he’s probably out of the running?
That circus produced 2 WS wins, 2 WS losses, and one ALCS loss in the 70’s and early 80’s. Same Steinbrenner and same Billy (less functional alcoholic, more regular alcoholic). Keep in mind, Steinbrenner would be the best owner of any baseball franchise not named the Yankees. He’s a buffoon there because the franchise won 20 WS before they got there.