All I caught was a clip this morning about how Oester said he wasn't "politically correct" enough. Furman said (rightfully), "What's that mean?", but O replied, "I don't know," then went on about how he spoke his mind.
It left me wondering if O is sort of "old-fashioned" in his attitudes, or if it just meant that he was a little too critical of top management to the wrong people. But I don't have the rest of the context.
Hmm, "not politically correct". Using his reasons, one could jump to the conclusion that he used an inappropriate word towards someone.
Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity.
Seeing how stiff Dan O and his staff are they may have perceived Ron O as a "renegade". I can tell you this...there is not a lot of confidence in Dan O within the organization. I supported his hiring but I can say that my support has dwindled. Dan is a "Yes" man and so is Dean Taylor. The impression that I get along with many others within the organization is that Dan is "feeling" his way through this job. Which IMO is somewhat to be expected but not to the large degree that is evident. I'm not talking about Big League payroll and trades I am talking about the ability to effectively oversee what 99% of the fans do not get to hear or see. Player Development, Scouting at both the ML and amateur levels, Minor League coach development, Instruction, and League wide relationship building.
I really though that Dan O could be a Bob Quinn but I was wrong. Dan is proficient as an INDIVIDUAL in the scouting arena. No question. He's adeqaute at best in the Player Development arena. He seriously lacks the abilities to coordinate putting the right people in place to help him effectively manage a Major League organization. Quite honeslty he has very little support from the people I talk with on a regular basis. That includes Players, Player Development staff, Scouts and Coaches. Real shame.
Last edited by Team Clark; 09-24-2004 at 02:23 PM.
Do not take my statement as defending Ron Oester. I have yet to speak to Ron about his dismissal. Knowing Ron it will probably be one sided but with a large degree of merit.
Reds' minor leagues a mess
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oester firing, fallout reveal disturbing truth
It's a classic case of He Said-He Said. Unless you're one of the two men directly involved, it's not important whom you believe. Ron Oester said the Reds treated him shabbily, again. Tim Naehring said it was a difference in philosophies that led the club to fire Oester.
"It's sad to see this organization in the state it's in," said Oester, the Reds' former minor-league field coordinator.
"I feel very confident we've tried to re-establish what the Cincinnati Reds are all about," said Naehring, the Reds' director of player development and Oester's immediate supervisor.
Oester said Naehring was rarely available. "As the year went on, he wouldn't answer his cell phone," Oester said. Naehring said he returns calls promptly, an assertion defended by at least one club official and John Fay, the Enquirer's beat reporter. Maybe Naehring has Caller ID.
Oester said Naehring "is in over his head." Naehring said he wouldn't comment on that.
And so on. What matters is not that two Cincinnati kids - Oester went to Withrow, Naehring to La Salle - had a rude parting of the ways. What matters is what it suggests about the Reds' farm system. With tightwad ownership, if you don't hit home runs in the minors, you will strike out in the majors. Every time.
Cincinnati's only chance to be anything greater than a footwipe rests in its ability to scout, draft, sign and develop players. The people they have running the operation better be smart and innovative, not divided and squabbling.
You could say Ron Oester is a hothead.
You could say he's willful, stubborn and confident in his beliefs. Oester knows what he knows. But you could see where he wouldn't always be the easiest guy to get along with.
Here's something else about Oester: He's old-school tough. He expects things to be done a certain way. He remembers when doing things the Reds Way was a given. And he knows the game.
"He's a good baseball person," Naehring said.
Here's what the good baseball person had to say about the Reds' organizational philosophy, when it comes to developing players: "I didn't see anything like that."
Here's what he said when asked if he thought loyalty counted for more than competence among non-playing members of the organization: "No doubt. I think the guy that's more qualified is going to have his own opinions on how to change things (for) the better. I don't know that they want to hear that."
Naehring said only that the Reds are committed to being the kind of organization that will make the fans and city proud. "(Oester's) job description was laid out (to Oester) and not fulfilled," Naehring said. "We needed to move on."
Oester said he was stunned to arrive at spring training to see minor-leaguers walking on and off the field. "This is the Cincinnati Reds," Oester said Thursday, more amazed than angered, "and we have players walking on and off the field."
Oester said he saw a minor-league hitting instructor sleeping in the dugout during a game in Sarasota. He said he saw a kid hit a home run, trot to first base "then peel off and head back to the dugout."
Oester said the organization mandated that minor-league hitters not swing at a pitch until they were thrown a strike. When he questioned that wisdom, he said Reds general manager Dan O'Brien told him to allow two players per team to swing away, and if that experiment worked, he could add two more. Say what?
Oester said he was rarely consulted on player moves. "I was never invited to any meetings with Dan and Tim. I'm supposed to be running the minor leagues on the field. I didn't hear anything except on voice mail."
Oester said he was involved in deciding September call-ups. He advocated recalling catcher Corky Miller. "I like his makeup," Oester explained. Oester recalled O'Brien said Miller "is always dirty. It seems to me Corky Miller should be playing on a Sunday beer league team."
"No disrespect, Dan," Oester came back. "But I'd rather have somebody play good than look good."
O'Brien didn't return a phone message Thursday.
The Reds said Oester returned from a seven-day trip to the Dominican Republic in August, after just one day. Oester said that was true. He left after a night because he was unable to get clean towels in his hotel room. The Reds also said on several occasions in March, Oester skipped afternoon workouts in Sarasota.
The team claimed Oester
missed at least nine of the 91 days he was expected to be on the road. Oester said he explained his absences. Naehring said only this: "Ron made the decision for the organization" to fire him.
On it goes. He Said-He Said leaves one lasting impression: The Reds don't have their act together in the minor leagues. And that's death to a small-payroll team.
If you think small, you'll go nowhere in life.
So, who do you believe more....Oester or the Reds?
If you think small, you'll go nowhere in life.
Gullett.Originally Posted by BigRed75
"It's easier to give up. I'm not a very vocal player. I lead by example. I take the attitude that I've got to go out and do it. Because of who I am, I've got to give everything I've got to come back."
-Ken Griffey Jr.
You have to wonder how with Oester it is always someone else's fault and this is with two different administrations. There is also a huge difference in the freedom to talk and debate inside the organizational hierarchy versus venting outside. I don't know what the deal is but something about Oester's attitude makes me leery. I lead about 40 people and have to build a leadership team (sometimes from contentious folks) but I wouldn't touch Oester.
The headline of Daugherty's article has no relation to the content. Nowhere in there is even the hint of analysis about if the minor league situation is good, bad, improving, declining, etc. Just another stir-the-pot column from Daugherty, his specialty.
Ron needs to grow up, and learn to deal with some of the bumps in the road on the way. What a baby.
I used to use a towel for a week or more without washing it. He's in the Dominican Republic. What does he expect, mints on his pillow?
If that towel story is true, he should have been fired on the spot.
I liked Ron Oester as a player. I tolerated Windmill Oester as a third base coach. I've had about enough of RON OESTER in any form of management.
He seems to be determined to burn every bridge in town on his way to career suicide.
We'll go down in history as the first society that wouldn't save itself because it wasn't cost effective ~ Kurt Vonnegut
That's exactly what I was thinking, too. Just because the lower-level employees don't get along with management doesn't necessarily mean the company's product sucks (even if it does). Whether Oester was or is or can be a competent employee is still up for debate, but if everyone's at loggerheads, letting him get on with it is absolutely the best decision. Meanwhile, the Enquirer's headline writer seems not to have read the column at all.
I sincerely hope this isn't true.Oester said he was involved in deciding September call-ups. He advocated recalling catcher Corky Miller. "I like his makeup," Oester explained. Oester recalled O'Brien said Miller "is always dirty. It seems to me Corky Miller should be playing on a Sunday beer league team."
"I prefer books and movies where the conflict isn't of the extreme cannibal apocalypse variety I guess." Redsfaithful
He must be a joy to live with. Could you imagine some of the conversations around the house if things aren't done exactly the way he wants them when he wants them done? And I thought my dad was a control freak.
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