Whispers

Ah yes. Whispers.

Go read this:

Sometime around the Grady Little/Pedro Martinez situation in 2003, I was watching baseball with my dad. He saw the discussion between the two and as Little sauntered back to the dugout (and his eventual unemployment),  my dad said, “Why is he even asking him? Every guy worth his salt is going to say, ‘Yeah, skip. I’m good.’ So asking him is idiotic. The manager should know before he even goes out there.”

Dickey should be having discussions with Gibbons about being pulled. That doesn't mean Gibbons shouldn't be pulling him. But having a high opinion of your own abilities is the mark of a competitive pitcher. It’s up to Gibbons to manage that. Managing big egos is the deal with being a big league manager.

I don’t care that Dickey is a loner. I don’t care that Stroman goes to Buehrle for advice. I’m not Dickey’s friend or his wife or his mom. I’m not working with him. I would like to discuss books with him, but I'd be ok if he didn't want to be buds.

I say this as an introvert. I have sometimes been accused of being aloof or snobby or dumb (because silent equals stupid.) And I’m kind of sick of people assuming that this is some kind of character flaw- that not being chummy with everyone or an open book is a terrible thing. Or that I have low self esteem or think my ideas are terrible because I don`t always voice them (this was especially true as a teenager.)

Dickey’s history might suggest a person who is slow to trust. Or who doesn't trust at all. It’s very common. I loved his book. He doesn't come off like a cuddly person, but I’m ok with that. I just think he’s fascinating.

He's also cheap and pitches 200 innings.

Since we are all so fond of whispering- I’ll relay some whispers that I've heard. That a certain long time broadcaster is not so great to work with and that’s why a smooth voiced former catcher went elsewhere and a more amusing than expected pitcher followed suit soon after- though the official reason was to be “closer to home.” Sources sourcing sources.  So the source of this Dickey opinion amused me greatly.

For the record, Ian is a mensch. The menschiest mensch of all the mensches. So go read his blog.