A lout even when not drunken and before Trump was president, as Ozzie Smith knows, a better player than Royce Clayton but rudely shoved aside instead of getting to go out a winner as a deserving full-time player.
A lout who uses favoritism both ways to get undeserving people elected to the Hall of Fame, as people with brains know about Harold Baines and Jack Morris.
No, we know all too well who you are. A person who treats dogs like people and too many people like dogs. Scott Rolen is another former player of his who can tell you that.
Unfortunately, there's a lot of less than full information out there, as told by the likes of Ben Gosar of Viva El Birdos. (Ben has responded that he didn't mean to relitigate 1996.)
Royce 1996 did NOT have a better year than Ozzie, or even an equal year. Same WAR? Yes. But it took Royce 2x as many at bats. Ozzie had a 0.8 WAA, while Royce was in the hole at -0.1.
Per one of the stories Ben linked:
"I'd play Ozzie until he proves he can't play," said Chuck Tanner, currently a scout with the Milwaukee Brewers who managed four major league clubs, including the White Sox. "He's a Hall of Fame shortstop. There is no indication he can't play--not yet. An if he needs a rest, and he sure isn't going to be able to play every day, then I'd play Clayton."
As for who's telling the truth about Ozzie being promised a shot at still being a starter? I know
whose word I'll trust first. (The Trib piece actually has Red Tony using "sincere" and "sincerity.")
As for Tony always doing what was best for the team? Beyond running off Rolen, uhh, being drunk as a manager, which likely led to enabling of bad behavior by some players? NOT best for the team.
As for 1996 and the "end result"? Correlation doesn't mean causation. IF you compare that team to 1995, a lot stands out.
One? Tom Pagnozzi had a MUCH better year and was healthy a full season. Gary Gaetti was a HUGE improvement over Scott Cooper at 3B. Gary Gaetti and Todd Stottlemyre were major pitching upgrades.
I don't get some Cards blogs for their homerism over Yadi, or stuff like that. I really don't get blogs that are one-sided toward Red Tony on this issue.
Is it possible that telling Ozzie he'd have to compete for the job would shake things up? Yes, there Ben is right. But, per the umpiring rule of "tie goes to the runner," Ozzie was at least equal to Royce in spring training, to riff on Chuck Tanner, and ... La Russa lies.
What it really was, IMO, was a lawyer's mindset. Tony the Pony had a pre-established conclusion he was headed toward, and he was carefully framing his "facts in evidence."
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