Chuck Tanner, manager of Pittsburgh's last World Series championship team, passed away today at age 81. Tanner played eight seasons in the majors but gained more fame as a manager, compiling a 401-414 record manning the benches of the White Sox, Athletics, Pirates and Braves from 1970 to 1988. Tanner's lone postseason appearance came in 1979 when he led the "We Are Family" Bucs to victory over the Orioles in a tight, seven-game World Series. The MLBTR team sends its condolences to Tanner's friends and family.
Some news to wrap up the week…
- Arizona CEO Derrick Hall tells Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic that the Diamondbacks' payroll for next season will be "in the low $60s, approaching $65MM." Hall says the team has lost money in each of the last three years but is still open to potential new spending if the Snakes are in contention, since the club will only draw more fans if they put a winning product on the field. The article also notes the D'Backs "are budgeting for significant costs in this year's draft," given that Arizona holds the third and seventh overall picks.
- The Pirates have both received and sent out some "feelers" about Ryan Doumit, writes Colin Dunlap of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette as part of a chat with fans. Dunlap thinks teams want to make sure Doumit is healthy during Spring Training before seriously pursuing the catcher/first baseman. I recently looked at how Doumit's 2011 season is a make-or-break campaign.
- Billy Wagner is taking his time filing retirement papers, but David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes that Wagner's continued presence on the Braves' 40-man roster isn't preventing the club from making any moves.
- The Marlins are comfortable with their young rotation and have no need for a veteran innings-eater like Kevin Millwood or Jarrod Washburn, writes MLB.com's Joe Frisaro.
- Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com thinks that labeling either Albert Pujols or Michael Young as "greedy" is misguided.
- The Irving Picard lawsuit filed against the Mets' ownership group could result in the financial records of several, if not all, other Major League teams being examined in court, reports Jon Paul Morosi and Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
- Jayson Stark of ESPN.com recaps the offseason and lists which teams he thought made the best and worst winter moves.
I’d like to see Wagner pitch one more year. It’s fun watching him throw.
I’m in full agreement. Wagner is an awesome pitcher, and has been one of my favorites since his days with the Astros. He’s shown he can still get guys out too, but unfortunately we won’t get to see another season of Wagner. Sad sad.
Wagner is just soooo cool! I too enjoyed watching him carve up the hitters.
I do think there may be some Phillie phans that disagree, but he was pretty much nails.
By not filing his retirement papers, the Braves have a reserved roster spot they can free up in a moments notice if necessary.
you think there’s a spot in Cooperstown for him? by two of the three standards on Baseball refrence he doesn’t make the cut, but I think he was just to dominant to not be given serious consideration.
Herm Edwards said that you “play to win the game”.
In MLB’s case, you PAY to win the game. And Arizona isn’t going to pay apparently…
“The Irving Picard lawsuit filed against the Mets’ ownership group could result in the financial records of several, if not all, other Major League teams being examined in court, reports Jon Paul Morosi and Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.”
Can’t wait to see the Marlins’ books.
I can’t wait to see the Mets books. The same guys that have been crying broke and clocking 100 mil on SNY profit.
ken kendrick – please sell the diamondbacks to an owner who can afford to run a team properly, like mark cuban!
good bye chuck and thanks…i loved wags’ comment on retirement: “bret farve f**ked it up for all of us”
Was looking for an entire article on Good old Chuck Tanner and did not see one for some reason (!) many here for other nearly useless reasons, but none here for totally outstanding people and long time managers like Chuck who just passed away.. Unfathomable..
Many people are going to disagree with me on this, but I think Billy Wagner has had as good, if not possibly even better, of a career than Trevor Hoffman. Maybe I”ll call them even due to Hoffman throwing over 180 more innings, which is about 3 seasons more of a closer.
Regardless of how bad or poor the Diamondbacks are run, they are blessed with Justin Upton. As a fan, I highly recommend you watch batting practice when he is at bat. This kid brings back memories of Daryl Strawberry and others with “light tower” power.
To routinely hit balls 500 plus feet is remarkable. I know others have and can, but trust me, do yourself a favor as a fan and watch this kid’s round of BP. No tongue in cheek just balls in seats. Its worth your dime.
For reference, I have seen Bonds in SF, Howard in Philly, Hamilton in Texas, and dare i say Brad Hawpe in Colorado. All of whom put on a spectacular BP display. But Upton hits ball regularly that clear 500 feet in Batting Practice. Any of us that have ever laced them up realize just how talented he is and how he hasn’t figured out how to hit yet. Baseball is an apprenticeship and until he completes his …show up early and get your glove and camera ready.
Rick Reuschel of the Cubs used to hit monster home runs in BP and he was a pitcher. BP home runs don’t mean squat.
Not all clubs make a profit.
Sincerely,
Florida Marlins Ownership
We do make a profit, we just want to act as if we don’t.
Sincerely,
Florida Marlins Ownership
@Alden Gonzalez, Any person who makes more than $1 million per year and thinks they deserve more is either delusional or greedy.
Dumb logic and I don’t feel like explaining why.
I would argue that we’re all swayed by the normalcy of multimillion dollar deals to avoid realizing how absolutely insane they are.
US median income is less than 50K. If you make more than 200K gross as a single person you’re in the top 1% of the country. And the tax rate for someone with that much income is, I think, 35%. So the argument that you lose most of it in taxes is not convincing.
r.i.p. Chuck Tanner!
I really hope Doumit can manage to stay healthy for 2 weeks so they can work out a trade. Would hate to waste two bench spots on him this year.
How can Wagner be on the Braves 40 man roster, he doesn’t have a contract.
I think Wagner had an option that vested last year after he closed out a certain number of games. If that is the case, then he does have a contract this season with the Braves and would be on the Braves 40-man roster.
Wagner only pitched for the Sox for less than 2 Months, but I wished so bad last offseason that he came back! He could of helped solve some of the bullpen problems !
Oh I’m certainly not tearing Hoffman down, but I think Wagner could possibly have a strong case for Cooperstown if the BBWAA writers paid more attention to him and took a little focus off Rivera and Hoffman, who some say are probably the only closers who will be in the HOF today.
I believe I heard that too.
In terms of dominance, I can’t think of any full-time closer aside from Rivera who topped Wags.
I agree about the “small hall” point, but as you state, the flood gates are kind of open, so while they are, I think Wagner should be in, and I’ll earmark Keith Hernandez while I’m making the case.