Diamondbacks Bullpen

mwmags2002 · Draft Pick Joined: 17 Oct 2006 Posts: 4

With Dusty Baker out and Lou Pinella in as manager of the Cubs, what effect does this have on Mark Grace being considered for a position there? And, if not there, where does that leave him?

Thoughts?

Rob
mwmags2002

PS: Thanks moviegeekjn for the help on defecting from the MLB Dbacks website.

shoewizard · Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2006 7:20 am Post subject:

I don't think Grace is likely to go to Chicago in any capacity. JMO

moviegeekjn · Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2006 7:56 am Post subject:

Gracie might've had a shot on the coaching staff if his buddy Girardi had been named manager. With Pinella.... nada.

baldmaga · Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2006 8:02 am Post subject:

I think if Grace is going into coaching, it's going to be with the Diamondbacks organization.

lee mellon · Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2006 8:26 am Post subject:

Grace is still under contract to be the tv analyst for the Diamondbacks for another year.

moviegeekjn · Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2006 8:27 am Post subject:

He could have gone that route from the beginning... had he been willing to re-live the minor league lifestyle. Don't have a sense that Gracie really digs the Missoula party scene, however.

baldmaga · Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2006 8:28 am Post subject:

lee mellon · Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2006 9:20 am Post subject:

yeah yeah... haha

but are the diamondbacks likely to let both of their tv booth guys go talk to other teams and leave? i'd hope not. i really just hope they keep grace around. i love listening to him call the games, even when he just rambles. he's hilarious!

matt · Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2006 9:31 am Post subject:

Grace has an out clause built into his contract specifically for the Cubs. If the Cubs call him up for any job and he wants it, he can leave.

lee mellon · Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2006 10:47 am Post subject:

mwmags2002 · Draft Pick Joined: 17 Oct 2006 Posts: 4

Thom reminds the FO of Colangelo, and Grace will remind them of Thom, thus he must go IMO.

Rob
mwmags2002

I bet Grace is a hoot to party with!

shoewizard · Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2006 2:19 pm Post subject:

The front office desperately wanted Thom to stay, and were devastated by his leaving, and kicking themselves in the ass for letting him negotiate with Cincinatti. There is no truth to the conspiracy theories that Thom was forced out, or encouraged to leave, because of any connection to Colangelo, and Thom is not exiting because he is unhappy with the direction of the club. He is going home to Cincy, to be with his dad, and raise his family in the midwest where he feels he belongs.

So any conjecture along the lines of Thom must go, therefore so must Grace, because of a Colangelo connection is off base. Grace may leave...who knows....but it won't be for the reasons you might think.

lee mellon · Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2006 2:31 pm Post subject:

I think it is because he still has a hard-on for the Cubs.

mwmags2002 · Draft Pick Joined: 17 Oct 2006 Posts: 4

Shoe,

Yes, you are right. I was playing devil's advocate. Broadcasting with Reds Hall of Famer, ie Dad must be such a great opportunity. If he was under contract for another year, did we just let him out of it? Which I understand.

I personally like Grace. I liked him as a player and a broadcaster. He needs to bite the bullet and manage on a minor league level and pay his dues if he wants to manage in The Show. I think he would be a good presence in the clubhouse, but even Bench Coach might be giving him too much to begin with.

Counsell will be a good coach/manager someday. Maybe a better coach than manager. He is to some degree more of a teammate than a team leader.

Done Ranting.

Rob
mwmags2002