I passed on this Buck Showalter comments about Theo Epstein's wisdom and talent because I thought he just wanted to get some attention, and attention is what he is getting. Well, this has been the talk all day and the more I hear about it, the more it is pissing me off. Here are the comments made:
"I'd like to see how smart Theo Epstein is with the Tampa Bay [Rays'] payroll," Showalter told the magazine, according to the Record. "You got Carl Crawford 'cause you paid more than anyone else, and that's what makes you smarter? That's why I like whipping their butt. It's great, knowing those guys with the $205 million payroll are saying, 'How the hell are they beating us?'"
Buck Showalter is the manager of the team that is projected to finish at the bottom of the AL East and is likely to get little to no attention during the season. So why not get crap stirred up now to get people saying your name and maybe get some people to watch Red Sox/Orioles games.
Take the shot at Theo because he was given the money to spend and build an elite team to battle the Yankees. What is Theo supposed to do? Not spend the money they tell him to spend. Buck wants Theo to go to a system like KC, Pittsburgh, or Tampa and prove himself there. Maybe Showalter should prove himself as a manager in Baltimore before he starts talking s--t about other execs.
Hey Buck, the only reason your 1999 Arizona Diamondbacks won 100 games ('98 Diamondbacks won 65 games under Showalter) is because the team spent money and the payroll increased by over $35 million for the season (including Randy Johnson), not because of your damn managing. I would say you are a good manager, but I can't. You have only had 3 of 11 winning seasons you fraud.
Enjoy listening to yourself talk, Uncle Buck, and enjoy last place for many years to come.