They are playing with no joy, no excitement, no spirit! In a season that they have one of the best built rosters possibly since the Big Red Machine they are lifeless and spiritless. The Pirates are more fun to watch.
I don't see any players on the team that can light that fire and Dusty is a "players' manager" so he just follows them around, trying not to upset anyone and hoping someone will pat him on the head and say, "Good boy".
Maybe it should be Walt---it's been done before. I'd like him to show up, unannounced, on this road trip, meet with the manager and coaches then walk out into the clubhouse and announce that Brook Jacoby has been released as hitting coach, Cesar Isturius has been released and Devin Mesorako has become the number one catcher---in L'ville. I'd then like him to call Dusty into a private meeting and make it clear that he doesn't care what the players think of 'Uncle Dusty' but if Dusty doesn't get these guys back on track in 30 days, Dusty is going to be spending a lot of time fishing on the Sacramento Delta this summer. These guys are getting paid a lot of money and not performing equal to all those raises and new contracts that were handed out over the winter. Then, I'd pay him whatever he wants but I'd hire Barry Larkin as the new hitting coach (with the unspoken word to Dusty that, there's the next manager, it's up to you. You can keep your job but you've got to show me something. It would be an appropriate message to all on board that anyone can be gone in a heartbeat----play like you want to be here and win.
Rem