Praise for JR...give him credit for one thing

[caulfield12]

Promoting the most diverse group of coaches and front office execs over the years of any team in baseball over the last 45 years, arguably.

Loyalty Loyalty Loyalty ... double-edges sword.

Add to the list as you wish...this just off top of my head in reaction to Carlos Rodriguez front office announcement.

 

Kim Ng J.Barfield Carlos Rodriguez Kenny Williams...more diversity than other 29 teams' front offices combined arguably  

Jin Wong  formerly KC contracts guy, Bobby Witt, Jr. extension

Venable/Jose Leger (DR Academy)

Terry Francona

R.Renteria

TLR

Grifol

C.Montoyo (even if Robert didn't know him)

Ozzie Guillen and family (almost hired Cito Gaston)

Man Soo Lee ... first Korean coach in the majors, 2005 WS team

Willie Harris 

Jason Bourgeois

Marcus Thames

D.Boston/Dave Wilder (not so great)

Loyalty to most of those guys, except Razor Shines, Raines, S.Santos and Vizquel (beyond obvious reasons there)

All the various Sox ambassadors like Baines, Minnie Minoso, Jose Contreras

Entire long history of the Cuban Connection...

L.Aparicio/C.Carrasquel

Don Wakamatsu

Takatsu/Iguchi

Joey Cora coaching tree/Camp Cora

 

Pre-JR  (Can thank Veeck here...who was an absolute pioneer starting with Satchel Paige)

Larry Doby later served as the second black manager in the majors with the Chicago White Sox, and in 1995 was appointed to a position in the AL's executive office...played with Sox twice and retired from MLB with them before going to Japan to finish career.

Two biggest negatives to me were treatment of Frank Thomas (KW 50% to blame) as well as HoFer Dick Allen.

Edited yesterday at 06:42 AM by caulfield12

[Lip Man 1]

In a sense by owning the team for these many decades JR has brought some stability to the franchise.

Like all of us he's a complicated guy who has done some very good things from a community/charitable standpoint.

From a baseball standpoint he has done things that make you go, 'what could he be thinking of?'

[ThirdGen]

I don't doubt for a minute the JR is a very good human being.

I also believe he was a good owner up until the last two decades.

Those of us who are old enough to remember when the Sox had to play fireworks noise over the PA after a home run, because they couldn't afford fireworks, or when every single free agent was guaranteed to leave, or when we hired a player manager to save a salary, or the constant threats of moving to Milwaukee, Seattle, or wherever, should recognize that JR took a franchise constantly on the brink of bankruptcy and solidified it financially.

He was also aggressive about signing top free agents (Fisk, Bannister as examples) and seemed committed to at least attempting to win. The Sox were, at one time consistently competitive.

Not sure what caused the change in the last couple of decades.  Complacency with a WS trophy?  Financial issues?  Complacency with old age?

[2Deep]

F Jerry.

I care about my favorite team trying to win games.

In some way shape or form, most of us are good human beings and do right by others.  Jerry was/is in a situation where  he could take the financial responsibility of owning a team.  There is a bigger responsibility when you own a Major League sports team, that responsibility is to the people who come watch your product, buy materials related to your product.  They are investing in your product and helping you make money.

He has not reciprocated that responsibility and for the most part SHAAT on those people.

SO again,

F JERRY