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© St. Petersburg Times, published October 6, 2002
How can the Rays fire Hal McRae and keep Chuck LaMar? LaMar has been here since the inception of the team, and what is his winning percentage as GM of the Rays? Didn't the Diamondbacks join the league at the same time as the Rays? What is their winning percentage (not to mention a World Series title)?
LaMar made the boneheaded decisions to trade Bobby Abreu (for a washed-up shortstop) and to release Miguel Cairo, Kerry Robinson and many others who are happy to be playing in October. Did McRae sign Wilson Alvarez? No. Did McRae acquire Greg Vaughn or Vinny Castilla? No.
Hal McRae was not the problem. There are small market teams that win. They win because they know how to judge talent and make smart business decisions. One only has to look at the Minnesota Twins, Cincinnati Reds or Montreal Expos.
John Romano was right (Sunday). "It's time to go" for Chuck LaMar.
-- Jim Rawe, Bradenton
I can't believe the Rays fired Hal McRae and kept the inept Chuck LaMar. LaMar would not recognize a talented ballplayer if you hung one on his nose. He offered McRae nothing to work with. McRae shuffled a bunch of young, inexperienced players around to establish the nucleus of a good team for next season. LaMar should go, and go soon.
-- Frank Smith, Ocala
Chuck LaMar's statement suggesting that the Rays are "a competitive club" is inane at best, given their declining win/loss records over the past five years. His firing of the manager is unlikely to get things on the right track, given the probability that management has no intention of spending the money necessary to actually make the team competitive. Yes sir, Chuck, you're the man.
-- Harold Holderith, via e-mail
Firing Hal McRae is like putting a Band-Aid on a broken heart. The cure isn't even close. Since the inception of the Rays, our community has been bulldozed by the bulldog, Vince Naimoli. Naimoli could find his true calling as the owner of a roller derby franchise where the object of the game is to go around in circles and viciously knock people down.
-- Bob McQueen, Palm Harbor
It's a shame that the greatest golfer who ever swung a club, Tiger Woods, has to be so misunderstood by so many people. I thank God that I have lived long enough to see someone with that talent.
-- Russell J Montminy, Spring Hill
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