QUOTE(Texsox @ Apr 23, 2005 -> 05:04 PM)
There is the potential for Oz to become a distraction and that should be a small concern. I wouldn't want Ozzies mouth to wrote a check his ass cannot cash.
At some point players are going to realize they too will get trashed if they leave. Then they wonder if he's being a bit two-faced in saying nice things. Is he saying this because he means it, or because I'm playing for him? What's he going to say about this if I leave? Those are not the doubts you want your employees to have.
Well, there has never been a string of comments from Ozzie that have caused as much controversy as the ones he's made this week, and the players have basically laughed it off. Pauly has called it "comical relief".
He hasn't "trashed" everybody who has left. He made a couple not so flattering remarks about CLee and Olivo, but he has also talked about how much he likes those guys. With the exception of the "sliding like a girl" comment, he's had nothing but good things to say about Carlos. The only player he really trashed was Maggs (and you can make an arguement that it was for good reason).
Point is, I think our players aren't that sensitive, and know Ozzie well and have come to enjoy his crazy ways.