In an unexpected maneuver, former Indians great (and Orioles paycheck recipient) Albert Belle phoned the Cleveland Plain-Dealer to share some thoughts on the firing of Indians manager Eric Wedge and other news from around the league. Belle offered to head up a coaching staff with Eddie Murray, Wayne Kirby, Kenny Lofton, and Charles Nagy, all of whom are presumably fine with reporting to the notoriously unlikeable ex-slugger. I'm guessing he will not be taken up on this offer.
Turning to other matters, Belle offered an opinion on the Manager of the Year race:
"Joe Girardi is going to probably win Manager of the Year. I could manage the Yankees from home. I'd just call in the lineup every day from the golf course."
One guesses Belle might have trouble getting on with Steinbrenners.
Still, he's got a point. Girardi, who saw the $218m Yankees to their first non-playoff appearance in 13 years last season, does seem, oddly, to be in line for an award traditionally given to someone doing an above-average job.
I might suggest a vote for Ron Washington, who led a completely unexpected Rangers team to 87 wins with a payroll approximately 1/3 the size of the Yankees'. He accomplished this with a pitching staff that had two rookies and two pitchers in their second full season, plus working around a crucial stretch-run injury to emergent slugger Nelson Cruz. The Rangers may not have hung in for the entire stretch run, but they vastly exceeded expectations and made a race of it with both the Angels and Red Sox. That was enough for the baseball writers last year, anyway.
So, what about it, Doyle--can you lay aside your Yankees enthusiasm and stand with me and (sort of) Albert Belle?
MILES:
Since Girardi already has a Manager of the Year award, I'm more than happy to lend my support to Ron Gardenhire, who managed the Twinkies to 86 wins and a probable American League Central title, with a payroll approximately 1/2 the size of the Small Market Socks'.
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