Sounds Manager Fired, Loses Opportunity to Wave His Arms Around Really Fast
The Sounds' ex-manager Frank Kremblas, as seen in the dreams of Milwaukee fans.
Nashville Sounds manager Frank Kremblas was fired last week. The Sounds' parent club, the Milwaukee Brewers, won't comment one way or the other, but thanks to one of Kremblas' former players, news has spread.
What this means for the Sounds is hard to say. If you judged strictly by wins and losses, this year's last place finish might suggest that the firing was justified. But managing a minor league baseball team is like being asked to create a great meal while simultaneously losing your best ingredients.
Kremblas took over in 2005 when the pantry was stocked. Three straight Pacific Coast League titles suggest he got the most out of the sizable talent he was handed. A legacy of Major League All-Stars (Prince Fielder and J.J. Hardy) and solid contributors (Rickie Weeks, Corey Hart and Manny Parra) speaks to Kremblas' ability to prepare a handful of barely-legals for life in the Bigs.
So why the pink slip? Contributing writer Kay West's profile on Kremblas last year might provide a clue....
Where his peers often sit nailed to their slice of wood in the dugout, Kremblas fidgets through every game. He’s up and down, up and down, up at the rail or down on the bench. When the Sounds are at bat, he assumes his place on the third-base line, his panoramic vision taking in the batter, the base-runners, the pitcher, the catcher, the officiating crew—and between batters, the women in the stands. He either stands ramrod straight or bent at the waist, hands on his knees, poised like a cat ready to spring.“Other players are always asking us, ‘What’s up with your skipper? Is he weird?’ ” says Sounds infielder Brad Nelson. “He is so intense, there’s no way he could get any more intense.”
The Brewers are currently led by Ned Yost, a man who some have suggested can't manage his way out of a paper bag. Twice during Yost's tenure, Brewer's brass has passed over Kremblas for open third-base coach jobs (ya know, the guys who wildly cartwheel their arms in a circle to wave the runner home?).
According to some Brewers who've played under both, moving from Kremblas to Yost is like having a substitute teacher take over for the guy who knows every student's middle name. It isn't a stretch to think that the balance of power in the clubhouse might shift if the man who'd once demanded so much of those same young players in Nashville was sitting next to the guy they disparage off-the-record.
Not good news for the Brewers. And even worse news for the Sounds.
Comments
yost just got fired. you forgot to mention his best prospect ryan braun.
Posted 09/15/2008 at 04:03:34 PMThe Brewers are full of best prospects---Weeks, Fielder, Bruan, Hart, Parra and don't forget one of the most exciting prospects to pitch at Greer, Yovanni Gallardo, who was injured at the start of the season---all of whom played for Frank, some as far back at Huntsville AA. Yost has received some amazing talent over the past couple years, but has not been able to seal the deal when he gets them. He makes inexplicable decisions from the bench. As qualified as Frank Kremblas is to be in the majors, Caleb makes a good point that it would have been tough, if not impossible, for him to assume a coaching position under a manager who generates such little respect from his players. It would have been interesting to see Kremblas take over for Yost. Anyway you look at it, the bad news for the Sounds continues.
Posted 09/15/2008 at 04:45:16 PMYost got the can after Caleb posted this blog. I am sure Pete Kotz is feverishly waving his arms around the newsroom, sending him for home with the breaking news. Writing the previous comment, I overlooked the fact that Yost's firing was not mentioned. Sorry, didn't meant to step on any spikes.
Posted 09/15/2008 at 04:49:35 PMThe cat is officially out of the bag thanks to our plucky Pithsters: Yost was fired not long after this post.
And Help, you're absolutely right. I forgot about Braun's (very impressive) cup of coffee with the Sounds last year. I only wish I'd been in Nashville to see it.
Posted 09/15/2008 at 05:11:45 PMNashville should get some pretty decent players from Huntsville AA next season unless they jump straight to the bigs or used as trading chips like Laporta was in the Sabathia trade. Ex-major leaguer Don Money has managed in Huntsville the last few years. Look for Gamel (I think he played some at Greer late in the season), Gillespie, Brantley, Errecart and others. They tied for 1st half division champs but faded some the 2nd half.
Posted 09/15/2008 at 09:55:59 PMGamel is with the Brewers right now. He's the next up and coming stud in this organization, only 23 years old, but he's an infielder on a team packed with quality infielders. I'll bet he plays Greer next summer, if there is a team and a Greer.
Posted 09/15/2008 at 11:59:07 PM