Bart Hubbuch, of the New York Post, in his article, “WILLIE'S STILL A STAR TO HURDLE,” reports that, one way or another, Rockies manager Clint Hurdle wants Willie Randolph coaching in the All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium next month.
Hurdle even had the idea of Randolph wearing a Yankees’ cap in the game, despite coaching the National League side.
(Excuse me, while I go throw up my breakfast. Somewhere, Hank Steinbrenner is beside himself. Big Papi is injured and unable to perform in an all-star game promotion, in which he would re-enact a called home run by Babe Ruth. AND, a fired Mets’ manager would wear a Yankees’ cap, at Yankee Stadium, in a nationally televised game, while coaching for the NL. I feel a migraine beginning…)
"As long as he still gets to be involved in the game, that would be fine with me," said Hurdle, who will manage the NL in the Midsummer Classic. "I would love to see Willie there."
(Could the Rockies please fire Hurdle before the all-star game ? Please ?)
Hurdle added Randolph to his coaching staff last month after Randolph lobbied him for a spot.
(Randolph LOBBIED for the spot ? Does anyone see anything wrong with this ? Isn’t Hurdle supposed to choose his own coaches ?)
According to Major League Baseball, there is no precedent of a manager coaching in the All-Star Game after being fired in the same season.
Katy Feeney, MLB's point person for the All-Star Game, told The Post yesterday that Hurdle also has made his feelings about Randolph's inclusion clear to the Commissioner's Office.
Commissioner Bug Selig has yet to make a final ruling on the matter, but Feeney said "everybody's feelings will be taken into account." A decision is expected soon, Feeney added, because the All-Star Game is less than a month away.
Hurdle said he phoned Randolph twice since his firing, to tell Randolph how strongly he still wants him as a coach in the game, but Randolph has yet to return his calls. Randolph was unavailable for comment yesterday.
"I was hoping to hear from him because my feelings haven't changed, and I wanted him to know that," Hurdle told The Post. "I wanted him to know that from my mouth to his [ears] that those were my thoughts."
Hurdle said he wants Randolph coaching in the last All-Star Game played before the current Yankee Stadium's demolition because of Randolph's long career with the Bombers.
Randolph spent 13 seasons with the Yankees from 1976-88, winning two world championships and playing more games at second base (1,688) than any other player in the team's storied history.
Randolph also was a bench coach and third base coach for the Yankees for 11 seasons before getting the Mets job before the start of the 2005 season.
"Willie's done some tremendous things for the Yankees franchise, and I thought this would be a special nugget for him," Hurdle said. "I still want him to have that. That's my perspective, even though I obviously don't have the final say."
Told that Randolph could expect a rousing welcome if he still ends up coaching the All-Star Game, Hurdle smiled.
"That would be great, wouldn't it?" he said.
(Yeah, just great ! That migraine is now in full bloom…)
1 comment:
Selig can't allow this. Randolph is not currently employed, in any capacity, with any MLB team. If the Yankees hire him, which I have said from the beginning (if not Joe Torre and the Dodgers), he cannot coach in this game. Even if he is employed by a MLB team, if he isn't in a uniformed position, he shouldn't be allowed. If he is hired as an office person for say the Yankees, he still shouldn't be allowed to coach. He should be hired by a MLB team as a uniformed employee (coach, manager, bat boy, etc.).
As for wearing a Yankees uniform and coach for the NL, can't happen. If it is so important, and he is working for the Yankees at the All Star break, he should only be allowed, if invited, to coach on the AL side.
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