Good Baird/Snyder/et al. article

[Pitt Gorilla]

http://www.boston.com/sports/basebal...omentum_swing/

[wutamess]

Post the fuccing article.

Why do you people do this?

[Radar Chief]

Originally Posted by wutamess

Post the fuccing article.

Why do you people do this?

So it doesn’t take up all the space at the top of every page on the topic?

[KingPriest2]

Originally Posted by wutamess

Post the fuccing article.

Why do you people do this?

ON BASEBALL
Royal chance for momentum swing
By Nick Cafardo | July 17, 2006

When it comes to knowledge of the Royals, nobody has more than Allard Baird, the former Kansas City general manager and newly appointed Red Sox special assignment scout, who will report to Boston GM Theo Epstein today as the Sox begin a three-game series against Baird's former team.

Alerts ``This certainly wasn't by design," said Baird, a Rochester, N.H., native hired by the Sox two weeks ago after being fired by the Royals May 31, on returning to Fenway Park the same day his former team was in town. ``It just happened to coincide with my meeting with Theo."

Even if it was by design, any ``insider info" Baird may have about Royals tendencies won't help a lick if the Sox can't turn the juice back on, pitch more consistently, and dominate at home, as they are accustomed to doing.

The Sox, 8-1 losers to the Oakland A's yesterday, have seven losses in their last 11 games; have four defeats in their last five games; dropped three of four to the A's over the weekend, and sustained a brutal 19-inning setback to the White Sox just before the All-Star break.

Their lead in the American League East is a half-game over the Yankees, who yesterday completed a sweep of the world champion White Sox with an outfield of Bubba Crosby, Aaron Guiel, and Melky Cabrera.

The Sox are wilting a tad in these hot July days after the break, and when the silver lining for manager Terry Francona was that Manny Ramírez's knee seems OK after he was thrown out trying to go from first to third on a Trot Nixon single to center in the sixth inning, you know things are a bit off kilter.

While it's always nice to see the hapless Royals (32-59) come to town, they are 6-7 in July and have played better recently.

Baird, who spent 18 years in the Royals organization, said he roots for the players and manager Buddy Bell, whom he hired to direct the rebuilding effort in Kansas City. Unfortunately for Baird, owner David Glass has put few resources back into the organization, which often tied Baird's hands when he tried to sign draft picks or obtain players.

Baird, who was hired as the Kansas City GM in June of 2000, replacing Herk Robinson, was replaced by Braves assistant GM Dayton Moore, who is about to start selling off many of Baird's veteran acquisitions, such as Reggie Sanders, Matt Stairs, Mark Grudzielanek, and possibly even Mark Redman, an All-Star lefthanded starter.

But when Baird shows up at the park today, ``You can bet I'll be rooting for the Red Sox all the way."

Actually he already was rooting for Boston yesterday because he's so fond of Sox righthander Kyle Snyder, who pitched well for four innings before blowing up in the fifth.Continued...


Page 2 of 2 --Snyder was drafted first by the Royals in 1999 when Baird was the assistant GM, but four major arm surgeries for the 6-foot-8-inch University of North Carolina product, who was signed to a $2.1 million bonus, kept Snyder from realizing his potential.

He has shown flashes of the pitcher Baird remembers, however, just as he did yesterday.

Early on, Snyder showed the sinking fastball, biting curve, and devastating split-fingered pitch he had when he first signed with Kansas City. Baird said the Royals always believed Snyder had top-starter stuff, but that the surgeries set him back. There was always concern about his height, and how easy it is for tall pitchers to have their mechanics get out of whack.

Baird said he had nothing to do with the Red Sox signing Snyder off the waiver wire.

Snyder had a chance yesterday to really make the Red Sox' decision on him difficult. There's suddenly new-found hope that David Wells will return to the rotation and finally solidify the No. 5 starter role.

But Snyder claimed there was no pressure on him to compete for that spot, partially because of all he's gone through.

``I've been through a lot," said Snyder. ``It's pretty easy [now]. It's a lot easier for me, I think, under the circumstances, having had four arm surgeries and having this [livelihood] stripped away from me a number of different times. I just focus on taking it start-to-start, day-to-day, and game-to-game."

And he appreciates all Baird did for him.

``He's such a good man," said Snyder. ``He believed in me, he stuck with me. He was so patient with everything I went through. I can't thank him enough. A lot of people would have given up on me, but Allard saw something that I could make it back.

``He's a great baseball man. I'm sure he's loving being here with the Red Sox, an organization that's really committed to doing the things it needs to do to put a good team on the field."

Snyder's demise came in the fifth, when he allowed a couple of hits and then plunked No. 8 hitter Adam Melhuse off the backside, loading the bases. While he wasn't hit hard, he was hit hard enough. By the time Francona came out to yank him he'd allowed four runs, and he was charged with another soon after.

``He's a very quiet guy, but he's a fierce competitor," said Baird. ``He has a high level of mental toughness. A tough kid who still tries to grind it out. He's still out there giving it everything he has all of the time."

But all of the intangibles Snyder brought to the game yesterday didn't matter, just as all the good things Baird did in Kansas City didn't end up mattering because the record wasn't good enough, and someone had to be blamed. While most of baseball realizes the situation was a no-win one for Baird, he never has made excuses.

``It's a game of results," said Baird, who had to trade Johnny Damon (the player he signed as a scout), Carlos Beltran, and Jermaine Dye for salary reasons. ``I don't think all of the other reasons that went into things as to what happened really matter. The results weren't there."

When Baird comes to Fenway, he'll say hello to Bell, and take satisfaction in the fact that young Royals such as John Buck, David DeJesus, and Mark Teahen are developing. But he'll also be hoping that at the end of the day the Red Sox have righted their ship at his old team's expense.

© Copyright 2006 Globe Newspaper Company

[wutamess]

Originally Posted by Radar Chief

So it doesn’t take up all the space at the top of every page on the topic?

So the hell what it takes up the top of the page. I clicked the topic which means I'm interested in it. I'm not necessarily interested in the link to get to the article (causing another pop-up). I know I'm being a lazy bunghole, but If you post a topic with an article in it post the freaking article too.

[sedated]

Originally Posted by wutamess

Post the fuccing article.

Why do you people do this?

thank you

[sedated]

Originally Posted by KingPriest2

just as all the good things Baird did in Kansas City didn't end up mattering because the record wasn't good enough, and someone had to be blamed. While most of baseball realizes the situation was a no-win one for Baird, he never has made excuses.

``It's a game of results," said Baird, who had to trade Johnny Damon (the player he signed as a scout), Carlos Beltran, and Jermaine Dye for salary reasons. ``I don't think all of the other reasons that went into things as to what happened really matter. The results weren't there."

boo-fucking-hoo for Allard Baird.

they mention the salary limitations forcing out Damon, Dye and Beltran, but they don't mention the turds we got in exchange for them.

[Radar Chief]

Originally Posted by wutamess

So the hell what it takes up the top of the page. I clicked the topic which means I'm interested in it. I'm not necessarily interested in the link to get to the article (causing another pop-up). I know I'm being a lazy bunghole, but If you post a topic with an article in it post the freaking article too.

You’re allowed. I personally like it when the whole article isn’t posted, makes it easier to read responses without have’n to scroll down past the article every time I reopen the topic.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Originally Posted by wutamess

Post the fuccing article.

Why do you people do this?

I normally do, but it was extra long (2 web pages), IMO. It takes a total of one more click to get the article. Actually, it probably would have been easier than whining about it. Either click it or don't; I don't really care.

[tk13]

More important than what happened to Allard is hopefully that Moore has more control. It seems like he does so far, Baird just didn't put his foot down enough. He'll probably do a good job for the Red Sox though.

Supposedly the rumors today are that the Yankees and Reds are both trying to deal for Sanders and Elmer Dessens. The Royals apparently have lowered their offer and aren't asking for Phillip Hughes anymore, and they were scouting the Yankees this past weekend.

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by Radar Chief

I personally like it when the whole article isn’t posted, makes it easier to read responses without have’n to scroll down past the article every time I reopen the topic.

everyone in D.C. have known you're a freak for a long time

[Radar Chief]

Originally Posted by Laz

everyone in D.C. have known you're a freak for a long time

Probably the rest of the board too.

[Sully]

Originally Posted by Radar Chief

You’re allowed. I personally like it when the whole article isn’t posted, makes it easier to read responses without have’n to scroll down past the article every time I reopen the topic.

I agree.
I like when people post the link, and their comments, then wait till the 2nd post to post the article.

ESPECIALLY if their "article" is a video. That sucks.