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So long, Grady

After two years, 188 regular season wins, and a trip to the American League Championship Series, the Red Sox have parted ways with Grady Little. Are the Sox making the right move? Who should get his job?

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Gradsy Little did a commendable job throughout most of his tenure as the Boston Red Sox manager, however his strength was lacking in making the hard decision in crucial times. I don't fault the decision to leave Pedro in against the Yankees, but I fault the means by which the decision was made. Of course your warrior wants to stay in the game. I don't think wise baseball managers want a player who wants to come out--that's a a part of exceptional athlete's makeup--to stay and fight to the end. You show strength as a manager if you make the decision--don't ask the participant. Its ok to ask him how he feels but he doesn't warrant making the decision.

Jay, Franklin, KY


Grady Little is a GREAT coach. The Red Sox brain trust must be brain dead to let a guy go that has had back to back 90 plus winning seasons. Maybe these business owners should realize they run a business and the manager runs the ball club.

ray, woburn


I'm sad to see Grady go. He may have made some mistakes, but he never put the blame on anybody else and that takes a lot of guts. I think the Nation owes him a great deal of gratitude and respect for the job that he did when he was here. Let's hope that whoever comes next can do at least as good a job with the players, because that counts just as much as some stats table!

Jen, Brookline


Little lost. Bring back PUDGE! (The real Pudge, Carlton Fisk!)

Michael, Newton


It is unfortunate that Grady Little has been made the scapegoat for the Sox inability to defeat the new york yankees in the ALCS. However, with the outcry of New England sports fans, I think this is the appropriate decision to make. I trust Theo Epstein's judgement as a general manager. Next year's team should be another world series contender if they keep the majority of this year's roster and make upgrades where neccessary.

joe, Boston


Grady's decision to leave Pedro in the 8th was terrible. Grady needed to "cowboy up" and tell Pedro he was done.Not giving the bullpen a chance to to finish out the game was confusing considering their performance in the post season.Another lost season for Red Sox nation.

Joe, Norwich


Being a diehard sox fan in Cleveland, it HURT to lose game 7 of the ALCS. What a great run, what great series Boston participated in. Grady, you did a tremendous job considering all that you had to endure during the two seasons in Boston. You should hold your head high on the above average job performance in a baseball town dying for a winner. The team played hard for you. There was harmony in the clubhouse. It's sad to have lost to the Empire, it's even more sad to see the team general cut lose. Sure we all want to win, but you did a class job Im surely proud of.

Frank, Mentor, Ohio


As a season ticket holder, I was both pleased and frustrated with Grady Little this year. It seemed to me that figuring out his pitching staff was at times a nightmare for him. But he did captain a team that for all intent was the strongest group in terms of a team that we have seen in years. They all proclaimed that they loved playing in Boston (something we have not heard in unison in years) and their cohesiveness showed on the field. They could hit, and at times could even pitch. Grady seemed to be able to get even the worst player to play at the top of his game. As a season ticket holder, I am not pleased that the Red Sox Management let Grady Little go. As a relatively new manager, he did well except for some extremely public mistakes. Playing and managing for us fans in Boston is difficult to say the least. But I for one was willing to let Grady slide on the Pedro decision. To me, one mistake does not dictate employment status. But I guess in Boston failure is never an option. I only hope that management can find their version of perfection... I believe that their best option was not renewed today...... Good Luck Grady, and thank you very much for the last season.

Don, Enfield, CT


Yes, they are making the right move. There were obvious differences in managing the team between Little and the front office. There is talk their decision was made before game 7; game 7 definitely sealed his fate. Buh Bye Grady. I would throw Bobby Valentine's hat into the ring. Sorry Grady - Seriously, you did a great job but were we in the 100th Anniversary of the World Series like we should have been? No. That would have been great for all of baseball to have been there 100 yrs ago - win, and 100 years later and win. Just ask FOX - the Yanks-Marlins pulled in no one *yawn*, FOX your thoughts?: "HATED IT!"

Lenny, Providence


This is just the beginning of the complete dismantling of a great team that filled members of Red Sox Nation with pride, as well as catching the attention and earning the respect of baseball fans across the US. The Big Brass have blown it. I have nothing to give me confidence that this "orphaned" team will put together as great a season next year (and I shudder to think what we'll be left with after 2004). I feel uncomfortable with any "former foe" taking the helm, so I'll have to let the Three Amigos figure it out themselves.

Ellen, Ithaca NY


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