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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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Page 53


Just take a deep breathe and listen up for a minute. I watched every game this year from Spring Training to Game 7 ALCS. I listened to and read alot of commentary. All season long I had problems with the decisions of Grady Little and all season long I was impressed with not only the commentary of Jerry Remy, but his overall demeanor as well. He's a tough minded, honest guy who makes good decisions and commands everyone's respect and he has a sense of humor! He is a baseball lifer, and former player for the Sox and could be a local hero if given the chance to manage the Red Sox. He's been real close to all the action over the past few years and would be and improbable but GREAT fit for the Sox. Got to be BOLD, got to be CREATIVE these days to get to where we want to go. Jerry Remy is the right man at the right time. Give it some real consideration. Other NAMES are fancier but he's the real deal.

Dana , Los Angeles


I am a big supporter of Grady. I think the fans who want to get rid of Little are not seeing the forest through the trees. This clubhouse would have been racked with dissention/chaos over the "team unity" problems presented by Manny and Pedro without Grady's steady hand on the helm. Instead, everyone was focused on winning and he did not allow other issues to become a distraction As far as not removing Pedro in the 8th: Not removing him was not so out of line as others have protrayed. Champions/winners tend to rise to expectations that they commit to. In going out to the mound Grady made sure what was expected and Pedro committed to it. Your ace commits to getting out of the situation and states that he had enough gas in the tank to get the job done. Pedro put his honor/pride on the line in so committing - what better motivation can a manager expect? Obviously I wish he had taken Pedro out -but he had a sound reason for letting him stay in the game. Fellow Red Sox fans should get out of this pirannha-like tendency to search for scapegoats. Let's win/lose as a team and Grady is (was) part of that team; he doesn't deserve to be torn apart.

Eric, Manchester CT


Simply, Is he the guy you want making a crucial decision? Do you trust him?

Gary, Lynn


Grady is the latest scapegoat in a long list of reasons for the Sox not winning a World Series since 1918. Curse, schmurse.......this is all getting ridiculous. If Theo and Weird Henry think they can win with a computer nerd instead of a real baseball man, then God help us all. The Marlins win 2 in 11 years, the Yankees have 26. What's wrong with the Sox? I'll tell you: they are cursed by a region of fans who always look at the glass as half full. There is more whining in the Red Sox nation than in all of the Napa Valley. 12 years after I moved from Boston and I still see no change in the sour atttitudes of the Boston media and fans. The media is too harsh, and so are the fans. Good luck Grady,. I pity the fool who takes this job; it is the worst job in professional sports.

Peter, Mt. Prospect, IL


Like him or not, Grady Little was a good manager for the red sox. He was able to manage and make this team into a successful unit. That isn't easy with this team. I am die hard sox fan and I honestly liked the way Little managed the club, but his mistake in game seven cost him his job. You have to look at the stats, that is aprt of being a manager. Pedro isn't the same pitcher he was four years ago. He is a guy who can give six to seven strong innings of pitching, not a complete game. Watching game six of the world series you could see the differences in Josh beckett and Pedro. Pedro is aging, while beckett is the new guy of the town. beckett easily finished the Yanks in a complete game shutout. it just bother me that Grady knew the bullpen was doing so well in the playoffs and failed to put Embree, timlin, Williamson, or any of the other guys in for Martinez. i hope theo has a plan for this off season because getting a new mangaer isn't the only thing on the sox agenda.

Patrick, Berlin, Ct


Are you people insane?? This is NOT about Game 7. Little has: 1) Taken out his best hitter in the playoffs for defensive purposes in the 6th inning of a 2 run game 2) Took out Lowe (a groundball pitcher) with one out and runners on the corners of Game 5 down 2 runs (you think a groundball would have been helpful??) 3) Sat Nixon this year on numerous occasions because a lefty was on the mound when he has proven that he can hit them 4) Batted Mirabelli clean up in June 5) Called double steals every other game in the playoffs 6) Brought in Todd Jones in Game 6 after not pitching for a month 7) Kept Nomar in the 3-hole despite his lack of production with men on base in the playoffs 8) Batted Kaplar leadoff in Games 1 & 2 9) Brought in a knuckleball pitcher in extra innings of Game 7 (sorry, I love Wake, but he shouldn't have been in in that situation) 10 ) Left Pedro in too long That last decision was just one of MANY. I have been waiting for this since June. See ya, Grady (hopefully in the opponent's dugout).

Keith, Beverly


If the Sox brass did not like the way Grady handled in-game decisions, they should have "suggested" he have an experienced bench coach on his staff to advise him. He did have shortcomings in this area. However, no Sox manager in recent memory had his finger on the pulse of the clubhouse quite like Grady did. Primodonna Pedro, immature Manny, haughty and huffy Nomar - all played for Grady and that's a testament to the man he is and the respect he has. When players quit on a manager, it happens during the summer - these guys played hard deep into the Fall and gave this city hope (real hope) for the first time in years. They lost (barely) so it's time to lay ALL the blame on someone - a shortsighted, petty, emotional reaction. Grady got a raw deal, the tail still wags the dog around here. You can tell more about a person (or owner, or ownerS) character when times are tough - just look at that fool in the Bronx. The Sox brass were sure pretty visable and charming when the players were Cowboying Up. Grady's better off without them, and the majority of this city's fans/blamers.

Patrick, Brigton, MA


Glad to see Grady go because: - Incapable of managing pitchers - inconsistent in his handling of defensive situations - won't play small ball (has ltd. personnel) - too much Jackson (not enough Walker) in playoffs - out-managed in pinch hitting situations - goes too much with his "gut" so bring on Leyland, Fergosi or Manuel as Mgr and very important here...REMY as bench coach for situational help and consultation!

lar, Chelmsford


Many arguments can be made about the job Little did as Sox manager. All I ask ownership for is a manager with a proven winning track record. For example Gaston, Leyland, Kelly. Don't just bring in a manager because Manny likes him. Like a Charlie Manuel or Mike Hargrove. Hire someone who is good for the whole team.

Jose M., Lawrence


Anyone who is upset with the departure of Grady (and I say "departure" because he technically was not fired), obviously did not watch this team religiously throughout the entire season. Grady's moves in the playoffs (and yes, there were many more than the Pedro/Game 7 debacle) we simply the icing on the cake to top off a season of ludicrous decisions. From opening day to that heartbreaking night in the Bronx, Grady's decisions lost this team at least 15-20 games. In fact, I think they had a chance to finish 1st in the AL East if it wasn't for the gamebreaking decisions that he made. There is a reason the Sox were forced to stage dramatic comebacks in so many of their games throughout the course of the season. I understand and agree that managing in Boston is more than just baseball decisions, but this team was good enough to win it all, and despite the players' obvious affection for their skip, they should be just as upset as the fans for him ruining what could be the best chance of their careers to get a ring.

Brian, Hudson, MA


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