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batted balls · 02-10-2007, 09:28 AM

Max Mercy, Jr. here again, folks . . .

Ole Max has turned his attention to another underdog here on the baseball beat. All of you loyal readers know Ole Max championed San Diego State southpaw Don Shaw in a recent column. (Ole Max refuses to address those rumors that he also tinkered with the kid's mechanics and sat him down for a heart-to-heart talk). Well, Donnie went out and won his first ballgame after 20 straight career losses. Then the lanky lefty won yet another game. He's on a roll; we'll call him Butter!

Now that Donnie Shaw is straightened out, it's time to turn Ole Max's attention to South Bend. Notre Dame is limping along in the All-American Baseball League East cellar. Rumors are flying that manager Pat Murphy's days are numbered. To this, Ole Max says hogwash.

Should the powers that be at Old Notre Dame fire Murphy, they'd be making a monumental mistake. Murphy ain't the problem. It's the Irish roster. Southern Cal's Rod Dedeaux or Ivy's Bob Seddon couldn't win with that crew. Sure, there's some potential there. Third sacker Cap Anson is as fine a hitter as you'll see. Outfielder Carl Yastrzemski is finally turning the corner and is developing into the slugger ND thought he'd be. The pitching staff shows flashes of brilliance and could develop. Now, Ole Max hears rumors ND is about to rush hard-throwing, football-catching Jeff Samardzija to the big league club.

Which brings us back to Ole Max's original point. Firing Pat Murphy won't help the Irish hit their stride. Sure, this team is 10 games under .500 and 12 games out of first. Sure, it has trouble hitting, pitching, fielding and running on a daily basis. But canning Murphy won't stop that overnight. In fact, who are you going to hand the reigns to . . . Anson, as a player/manager? That didn't work out so well with Tony Gwynn at San Diego State. How about Knute Rockne? Frank Leahy? Touchdown Jesus? No, no, no!

So if you're a fat cat in the Notre Dame administration, wake up and listen to Ole Max. Firing Pat Murphy will only make things worse. Start beating the bushes and find some ballplayers--real ballplayers. You'll be amazed just how much your opinion of Pat Murphy as manager improves when that happens.

This is Max Mercy, Jr. running the bases . . .

02-10-2007, 09:28 AM	#323 (permalink)
batted balls All Star Starter Join Date: May 2003 Location: White Sox Country Posts: 1,319 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0x in 0 posts	Firing Murphy Not the ND Answer--Max Mercy, Jr. Max Mercy, Jr. here again, folks . . . Ole Max has turned his attention to another underdog here on the baseball beat. All of you loyal readers know Ole Max championed San Diego State southpaw Don Shaw in a recent column. (Ole Max refuses to address those rumors that he also tinkered with the kid's mechanics and sat him down for a heart-to-heart talk). Well, Donnie went out and won his first ballgame after 20 straight career losses. Then the lanky lefty won yet another game. He's on a roll; we'll call him Butter! Now that Donnie Shaw is straightened out, it's time to turn Ole Max's attention to South Bend. Notre Dame is limping along in the All-American Baseball League East cellar. Rumors are flying that manager Pat Murphy's days are numbered. To this, Ole Max says hogwash. Should the powers that be at Old Notre Dame fire Murphy, they'd be making a monumental mistake. Murphy ain't the problem. It's the Irish roster. Southern Cal's Rod Dedeaux or Ivy's Bob Seddon couldn't win with that crew. Sure, there's some potential there. Third sacker Cap Anson is as fine a hitter as you'll see. Outfielder Carl Yastrzemski is finally turning the corner and is developing into the slugger ND thought he'd be. The pitching staff shows flashes of brilliance and could develop. Now, Ole Max hears rumors ND is about to rush hard-throwing, football-catching Jeff Samardzija to the big league club. Which brings us back to Ole Max's original point. Firing Pat Murphy won't help the Irish hit their stride. Sure, this team is 10 games under .500 and 12 games out of first. Sure, it has trouble hitting, pitching, fielding and running on a daily basis. But canning Murphy won't stop that overnight. In fact, who are you going to hand the reigns to . . . Anson, as a player/manager? That didn't work out so well with Tony Gwynn at San Diego State. How about Knute Rockne? Frank Leahy? Touchdown Jesus? No, no, no! So if you're a fat cat in the Notre Dame administration, wake up and listen to Ole Max. Firing Pat Murphy will only make things worse. Start beating the bushes and find some ballplayers--real ballplayers. You'll be amazed just how much your opinion of Pat Murphy as manager improves when that happens. This is Max Mercy, Jr. running the bases . . . __________________ White Sox fan since 1972 Last edited by batted balls; 02-10-2007 at 09:31 AM.