Bruce Fields Fired

[crossjb]

When that happens, I hope the gloves come off and the media better go to town on Mike Ilitch. Detroit sport writers, Rob Parker and Drew Sharp included, tend to tread lightly on criticism of the Tigers' owner. They reason that access to Red Wings games and the perks that come along with that access are not worth the risks of penning deserved barbs against the head honcho. When was the last time mainstream Detroit writers -- Bob Wojonowski, Terry Foster, Mitch Albom -- penned a critique of the toupeed wonder? They haven't. Heck, Lynn Henning, Tom Gage and John Lowe never write anything with a touch of negativity. If Bruce Fields is made the lone scapegoat for this awful season, I hope that won't remain the case.

Detroit media and fans are beyond soft, and it sickens me. Mr. I would be publicly lynched if he pulled this decade of disaster in NYC, Boston, Chicago or anywhere else for that matter. Sad.

[estrepe1]

What are you talking about? Detroit sports writers give Illitch a hard time in nearly every column they write about the Tigers...

BTW I haven't seen that Fields has been fired but I wouldn't be surprised the hitting this year has stunk... Of course that has more to do with the players than the coach but whatever...

[zachcadillac]

Fields has nothing to do with the Tigers' awful offense. I wouldn't fire him; I'd give him a raise for trying his hardest to make something out of nothing.

[ToledoTigerFan]

If there is one guy who actually deserves to be fired, it is Bruce Fields. I grant that what he has to work with is basically garbage, but the mistakes these guys make are elemental. Stupid crap like swinging at a 2-0 pitch after a pitcher walks a guy, crapola like that. Someone has to be accountable for that kind of stuff happening and he is the man in charge of assuring these guys learn how to bat, not just hit. And the results say he has failed. Miserably. And underperforming employees shouldn't be surprised if they get fired.

LOL, Zach.

[crossjb]

Originally posted by ToledoTigerFan
the mistakes these guys make are elemental. Stupid crap like swinging at a 2-0 pitch after a pitcher walks a guy, crapola like that.

The mistakes these guys make are elemental, because they are elemental players -- not major league caliber. We've had over a handful of hitting coaches fired or replaced since Ilitch took over in '92. They didn't all suck, did they?

[LansingLugnut]

The hitters made a little progress the 2nd half but they still are the worst hitting team in the 2nd half...fire Fields.

[ToledoTigerFan]

Yeah, actually, I pretty much think all of them(the hitting coaches) have sucked for some time now. They didn't teach hitting for today's baseball. The approach to hitting now should be different. Working on guys getting backspin on a ball so it travles farther. The ole Charlie Lau approach to hitting. Hitting down on the ball. Show them tapes of George Brett swinging. Tony Gwynn. Watch how they attacked the ball. And teach them to do that.

But Bruce Fields and his swing?

[djhutch]

If you fire Bruce Fields, hire Tony Gwynn.

[crossjb]

Originally posted by LansingLugnut
The hitters made a little progress the 2nd half but they still are the worst hitting team in the 2nd half...fire Fields.

They also rank dead last in almost every pitching category: ERA, strikeouts, ...

By that reasoning, let's fire Bob Cluck too.

[Rob Jones]

"Stupid crap like swinging at a 2-0 pitch after a pitcher walks a guy, crapola like that."

I disagree. I'm all in favor of a lineup full of guys who'll take 100 BBs a year, but there's nothing wrong with swinging at 2-0 pitch after a guy has walked. The pitch is likely to be a fastball strike, which is to say, a hitter's pitch.

The trouble with the Tigers' offense this season isn't that there aren't enough guys who appreciate the value of a walk. The trouble is that there aren't enough guys who can hit baseballs with bats. More than anything else, that is what the Tigers' offense needs ... guys who can actually hit major league pitching.

[tigersrok]

Was Bruce really fired?

If so, that is a complete joke. He was given nothing to work with.

There is so little major league talent on this team it is sad. Dmitri and Munson could probably start for other teams, maybe Pena. Sanchez and Monroe and the rest could probably be bench players, only they are regulars on this team. The rest of the batting lineup stinks. Anderson, Rodney, German and Patterson could probably be on other teams bullpens. Bonderman could make the starting rotation of other teams (he would't have been brought up so soon though), Cornejo is good as a 4th or 5th starter and the rest of the staff is an absolute joke. Robertson, Knotts, Maroth, Loux or whatever AAA pitcher is starting have absolutely zero upside and do not have major league stuff. Is there any question as to why this team is the worst of all time? Ilitch not spending the money for free agents who can play the game. The front office has admitted that the Tigers need a veteran starter and hopefully at least one of Baugh, Sleeth and Henkel can be in the rotation at some point next year. The batting order needs help, the front office has said the Tigers need three professional hitters. Ross should start next year; he's had good numbers and should be given a shot, but Inge, Morris, Santiago have to be replaced (but won't with this cheap ownership group). The Tigers are stuck with Higginson unfortunately.

[tiger337]

<<What are you talking about? Detroit sports writers give Illitch a hard time in nearly every column they write about the Tigers...>>

I agree they criticize him all the time. The newspapers are not a message board and the writers are not anonymous. You can't expect them to rant and rave like you guys do. He's been ripped almost daily recently.

[MotownRandy]

Yeah, fire Fields when it was a stupid idea to make him hitting coach in the first place...don't put guys in positions where you know they are destined for failure.

[crossjb]

Originally posted by tiger337
He's been ripped almost daily recently.

Hardly. I have barely read any criticism in the Detroit press. Nada from any of the beat writers (Gene Guidi, Lynn Henning, Tom Gage, John Lowe, etc.) or mainstream Detroit columnists (Bob Wojonowski, Terry Foster, Mitch Albom, etc.). Any "ripping" is warranted. It should have started five years ago but has been masked by the Red Wings success. 11 years of the worst tenure in MLB history. Tragic. The lack of fire from the media makes it all the sadder.

[crossjb]

Originally posted by MotownRandy
don't put guys in positions where you know they are destined for failure.

Yeah, like Alan Trammell as manager.

[tiger337]

<<Hardly. I have barely read any criticism in the Detroit press. Nada from any of the beat writers (Gene Guidi, Lynn Henning, Tom Gage, John Lowe, etc.)>>

There have been a few very critical articles which have been posted on the board recently. One by Lynn Henning, one by Danny Knobler and another by Gene Guidi I think (not that Guidi knows anything). The articles by Henning and Knobler were especially interesting because they are not the type of writers that are usually looking for a negative angle. Yes, there has been a lot of criticism of the owner lately.

[rhino]

Pat Caputo regularly criticizes Illitchs management of this franchise and I think it was just this morning Jim Hawkins questioned Illitchs pride of ownership, and wondered how Mr. Illitch can look in the mirror.
As far as Albom, unless he could tie criticism of Mr. Illitch into a self promoting opportunity involving his latest book, screenplay, song, band appearance with Steven King or just patting himself on the back in general, he is not interested.
Bob Wojnowski has been critical of the team and management but not quite as much as the other columninsts.
Eli Zaret continues to say mild statements such as , "What a tradegy this team is?", "I'm fascinated by their ineptness.", but he has not called anyone out.
Gary Danielson has said numerous times the new Stadium was designed poorly and has turned into a mistake. He has said on the radio numerous times that Illitch should come out and publicly state that a plan is being implemented and then explain the plan to the fans, rather than remain hidden.

[JonBenke]

If you fire Bruce Fields, hire Tony Gwynn

I actually like this idea. Does Tramm have a relationship with him, considering he coached in San Diego for a few years? I would like a change like -- THIS! Gwynn would've ripped the CoPa apart, in his prime -- maybe he'd make for the PERFECT coach. Would he take the job?


This is not BRUCE FIELDS' fault though.

This is MIKE ILITCH's fault :depress:

[LansingLugnut]

Originally posted by crossjb
They also rank dead last in almost every pitching category: ERA, strikeouts, ...

By that reasoning, let's fire Bob Cluck too.

The question here is Has BOb Cluck managed as a pitching coach before?

If so has he done a good job?

Fields has no experience to prove he is a good hitting coach in the majors...Cluck might have but I dont know...I assume so by his age.

[jake]

One of the biggest problems with the Tigers hitters from spring training on is that they have to many people in their ears telling them what to do. If they'd let Fields be the only one talking to these guys they'd probably do better. I'm sure Gibby is in all their ears saying stupid things like: "Sit on the slider".

[jake]

Speaking of Gibson, he likes to think he's some sort of baseball guru. In all that time I listened to him as an announcer, he never once said something that I didn't know. The guy was a mega talent who had a mediocre career and a piss poor attitude. I think he's probably not had any positive effect on these guys. He's just another guy who didn't get as much out of his talent as he should of. And he seems to be passing that legacy down to the current Tigers.

The only thing Higgy seems to have learned from him over the years is how to be an ***hole.

[eastside billee]

(If you fire Bruce Fields, hire Tony Gwynn)


What on Earth makes you think Tony Gwynn would come here as hittintg coach? I believe he'd laugh at the prospect!

[Biff Mayhem]

Originally posted by LansingLugnut
The question here is Has BOb Cluck managed as a pitching coach before?

If so has he done a good job?

Fields has no experience to prove he is a good hitting coach in the majors...Cluck might have but I dont know...I assume so by his age.

Bob Cluck was the pitching coach in Oakland during the latter McGwire days.

Bruce Fields was an excellent instructor in the minors and has seen and knows most of our minor league people.

When I first saw the title of this thread I was a bit miffed. I am glad it isn't true.

[Brent]

Originally posted by crossjb
Heck, Lynn Henning, Tom Gage and John Lowe never write anything with a touch of negativity.
Maybe he read your post
http://www.detnews.com/2003/tigers/0309/21/c10-276824.htm

[tiger337]

Jake, We don't know what Gibson is telling the players but he would not be my choice as a coach either. He was a fun player to watch and an entertaining announcer but he doesn't seem especially knowledgeable about the game. As a player, he was always a raw talent who played with a lot of emotion. Sometimes the emotion was a good thing but just as often it was a negative. I remember all the clutch hits and fist pumping but I also remember all the strike outs, the tantrums and the pouting when things didn't go well. Again , he was an entertaining guy to follow but hardly seems like good coach material. That's just my impression though. It's really hard to evaluate coaches because we don't generally see them in action.

[crossjb]

Originally posted by Brent
Maybe he read your post
http://www.detnews.com/2003/tigers/0309/21/c10-276824.htm

Good article by Lynn Henning. Accurate without being malicious.

[MelissaG915]

I've seen Bruce get miles of production from very low to average prospects. The man hasn't won a armful of developmental managers of the year awards for nothing.

This team flat out sucks and he had nothing to work with, at least major league caliber players. To fire him would be sacrificing his career for the two men at the top who created this effing disaster of a season. Thanks for the **** sandwich to cheer for this year Illitch and Drumbrowski.

[TigersMeow]

Isn't Tony Gwynn managing San Diego St Azetcs in the NCAA? If so I don't know if he would have to give up that gig.

[djhutch]

Originally posted by eastside billee
(If you fire Bruce Fields, hire Tony Gwynn)


What on Earth makes you think Tony Gwynn would come here as hittintg coach? I believe he'd laugh at the prospect!

Alan Trammell

[Edman85]

Our offense has improved immensly from half to half, so firing Fields is out.

No pitchers have gotten hurt this year, so firing Cluck is out.

These coaches don't really matter at all unless they are a detriment (Rettunmund's Randall Simonism), but those are the things I look for from those coaches. I'd rather we focus more on getting talent that firing coaches over and over again, who really haven't done anything to deserve getting fired.