PhilaVa
10-15-2004, 01:00 PM
PHILADELPHIA -- To cast the full spotlight on William Grady Little is to look past the moment for which he'll always be remembered -- sticking with a fatigued Pedro Martinez in Game 7 of last year's American League Championship Series.
That moment turned out poorly and led to his dismissal as the 43rd manager of the Boston Red Sox. To judge him on that is unfair.
"It's a shame, but that's life," said Little, the third managerial candidate to interview with the Philadelphia Phillies this week. "It comes with the territory. Of the many decisions I had to make throughout my tenure as manager, that one got bad results. It's a shame they tend to judge me on that."
Nearly a year later, after serving as a special assistant to Chicago Cubs general manager Jim Hendry, Little stood at the podium at Citizens Bank Park hoping for the chance to get that close again.
The complete picture of Little depicts a manager who won 188 games in two seasons with Boston while uniting what had become a chaotic clubhouse, and one who piloted almost 2,000 games in the Braves minor league system, helping to construct a baseball dynasty. Chipper Jones, Andruw Jones, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz and Javier Lopez all learned under Little's watch.
"If you look at what the Braves have done over the last 10 years or so, I think Grady's handprint is on it," said Phillies general manager Ed Wade. "Their prospects come through the organization and really know how to play the game. The people with the Braves will tell you Grady gets a lot of credit for what they've been able to do while he was there. That's carried over to his experience with the Indians and Red Sox."
Even though the move with Martinez backfired, creating a deafening movement for his removal, the Red Sox lobbied management for him to stay. Little feels he had earned their respect, and feels that's paramount in winning.
"It's all about respect. They know that I respect them, and in return, they respect me in what I have to do. Everybody knew that they would have liked things to be different," Little said.
One of the gripes players had with former Phillies manager Larry Bowa was that his negativity was a detriment, while other players said they didn't trust him.
"I communicate with players," Little said. "Whether it be personal or professional, I'm always talking to them and it's not just during a game, it's during the 12 months of the year. These guys are human beings. They're in the limelight and expected to perform every day, but that's not going to happen. I understand that, and they know that I understand that. They know they can talk to me at any time."
Little, 54, is quick to credit one constant within the Braves -- a man who is still every bit the presence in the organization today. Little hit .207 in six minor league seasons. His manager in 1971 and 1972 in the New York Yankees organization was Bobby Cox.
"I learned to pay attention to Bobby Cox," said Little. "I played for that man in 1971 and 1972 when I tried to play, and learned a lot from him then. I continue to learn from him."
He also learned from Mike Arbuckle, who was a scout with the Braves, and has been director of scouting and player development with the Phillies since 1992.
With the Red Sox, Little replaced Joe Kerrigan and won 93 games in his first season, then 95 last year. In most other cities, that would be considered a major success, one befitting a raise and a contract extension. But because the Red Sox lost to the Yankees in such a painful way, it meant the door for Little.
Philadelphia isn't much different.
"I think in life, experience is the best teacher, and in the past few years, I've had considerable experience in that area," he said. "It's the same in Boston, New York, Philadelphia or anywhere. Everyone just wants to see their team win. If you don't win the World Series, you lost.
"The 2005 Phillies are inches away from winning. I think next year at this time you'll be watching them play on television in the playoffs, no matter who is the manager. They're right on the verge. The ball club has a good nucleus and they're ready to win."
Little hopes to be the manager, sharing that desire with close friend Charlie Manuel and Don Baylor, who interviewed on Wednesday and Tuesday, respectively. Little served as Manuel's bench coach with the Cleveland Indians. Little said Manuel was "like a brother," and said he would love the opportunity to work with him again, at some point, though that scenario hasn't presented itself.
"When you develop these kinds of friendships as we all do in the game, you always welcome the thought that you'd be able to work again somewhere else down the line," said Little.
Wade said he was 3-for-3 as far as finding solid candidates, and could be 6-for-6 in two weeks, when Buddy Bell, Jim Fregosi and Terry Pendleton interview. Wade announced Pendleton as a candidate on Thursday.
"I can tell you in all candor that all three of these guys are still very much in the running," Wade said. "I suspect we're going to feel the same way about the remaining individuals at that point."
For Little, a folksy sort who was born in Abilene, Texas and now lives in Pinehurst, N.C. -- and who speaks a bit like Forrest Gump -- managing again fills a void. He enjoyed his season with the Cubs, but yearns to wear the uniform again. More importantly, a managing job can save his 33-year marriage.
"This is my life. I love baseball," he said. "Working this year as a special assistant enabled me to spend more time at home. During this time I've decided if I have to spend that much time at home, it's going to break up my marriage, so definitely I want to get back on the field somewhere."
That moment turned out poorly and led to his dismissal as the 43rd manager of the Boston Red Sox. To judge him on that is unfair.
"It's a shame, but that's life," said Little, the third managerial candidate to interview with the Philadelphia Phillies this week. "It comes with the territory. Of the many decisions I had to make throughout my tenure as manager, that one got bad results. It's a shame they tend to judge me on that."
Nearly a year later, after serving as a special assistant to Chicago Cubs general manager Jim Hendry, Little stood at the podium at Citizens Bank Park hoping for the chance to get that close again.
The complete picture of Little depicts a manager who won 188 games in two seasons with Boston while uniting what had become a chaotic clubhouse, and one who piloted almost 2,000 games in the Braves minor league system, helping to construct a baseball dynasty. Chipper Jones, Andruw Jones, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz and Javier Lopez all learned under Little's watch.
"If you look at what the Braves have done over the last 10 years or so, I think Grady's handprint is on it," said Phillies general manager Ed Wade. "Their prospects come through the organization and really know how to play the game. The people with the Braves will tell you Grady gets a lot of credit for what they've been able to do while he was there. That's carried over to his experience with the Indians and Red Sox."
Even though the move with Martinez backfired, creating a deafening movement for his removal, the Red Sox lobbied management for him to stay. Little feels he had earned their respect, and feels that's paramount in winning.
"It's all about respect. They know that I respect them, and in return, they respect me in what I have to do. Everybody knew that they would have liked things to be different," Little said.
One of the gripes players had with former Phillies manager Larry Bowa was that his negativity was a detriment, while other players said they didn't trust him.
"I communicate with players," Little said. "Whether it be personal or professional, I'm always talking to them and it's not just during a game, it's during the 12 months of the year. These guys are human beings. They're in the limelight and expected to perform every day, but that's not going to happen. I understand that, and they know that I understand that. They know they can talk to me at any time."
Little, 54, is quick to credit one constant within the Braves -- a man who is still every bit the presence in the organization today. Little hit .207 in six minor league seasons. His manager in 1971 and 1972 in the New York Yankees organization was Bobby Cox.
"I learned to pay attention to Bobby Cox," said Little. "I played for that man in 1971 and 1972 when I tried to play, and learned a lot from him then. I continue to learn from him."
He also learned from Mike Arbuckle, who was a scout with the Braves, and has been director of scouting and player development with the Phillies since 1992.
With the Red Sox, Little replaced Joe Kerrigan and won 93 games in his first season, then 95 last year. In most other cities, that would be considered a major success, one befitting a raise and a contract extension. But because the Red Sox lost to the Yankees in such a painful way, it meant the door for Little.
Philadelphia isn't much different.
"I think in life, experience is the best teacher, and in the past few years, I've had considerable experience in that area," he said. "It's the same in Boston, New York, Philadelphia or anywhere. Everyone just wants to see their team win. If you don't win the World Series, you lost.
"The 2005 Phillies are inches away from winning. I think next year at this time you'll be watching them play on television in the playoffs, no matter who is the manager. They're right on the verge. The ball club has a good nucleus and they're ready to win."
Little hopes to be the manager, sharing that desire with close friend Charlie Manuel and Don Baylor, who interviewed on Wednesday and Tuesday, respectively. Little served as Manuel's bench coach with the Cleveland Indians. Little said Manuel was "like a brother," and said he would love the opportunity to work with him again, at some point, though that scenario hasn't presented itself.
"When you develop these kinds of friendships as we all do in the game, you always welcome the thought that you'd be able to work again somewhere else down the line," said Little.
Wade said he was 3-for-3 as far as finding solid candidates, and could be 6-for-6 in two weeks, when Buddy Bell, Jim Fregosi and Terry Pendleton interview. Wade announced Pendleton as a candidate on Thursday.
"I can tell you in all candor that all three of these guys are still very much in the running," Wade said. "I suspect we're going to feel the same way about the remaining individuals at that point."
For Little, a folksy sort who was born in Abilene, Texas and now lives in Pinehurst, N.C. -- and who speaks a bit like Forrest Gump -- managing again fills a void. He enjoyed his season with the Cubs, but yearns to wear the uniform again. More importantly, a managing job can save his 33-year marriage.
"This is my life. I love baseball," he said. "Working this year as a special assistant enabled me to spend more time at home. During this time I've decided if I have to spend that much time at home, it's going to break up my marriage, so definitely I want to get back on the field somewhere."