Carissa
09-06-01, 11:32 PM
Cone is no stranger to clubhouse turmoil
http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/248/sports/Cone_is_no_stranger_to_clubhouse_turmoil+.shtml
By Shira Springer, Globe Staff, 9/5/2001
David Cone can remember when John Cumberland was a coach and minor league pitching coordinator with the New York Mets, one of Cone's former teams. Cone also remembers the confusion at Shea Stadium that followed the midseason firings of Mets managers Davey Johnson (1990) and Bud Harrelson (1991).
After 15 years in the major leagues, nothing surprises Cone - not the Red Sox' recent turmoil and slide out of playoff contention, not the firing of Cumberland, not the public dispute between ace Pedro Martinez and general manager Dan Duquette. The overriding sentiment from Cone is disappointment, knowing that the season could have - should have - turned out better.
''It's pure speculation when you try to break down trends and look at managerial changes in the middle of the season and what impact they have,'' said Cone. ''I just sort of sense that our team kind of got worn down. We had back-to-back West Coast swings. In the middle of the second trip, we had an 18-inning game that we lost that really took a lot out of us. Then we went to Cleveland and got beat up on.
''This team kind of ran into a wall, physically and emotionally.
''I think we all knew that this stretch of games [against the Yankees and Indians] and these last two road trips were very important, make or break for us. As it turned out, it was.''
The official announcement yesterday that Cumberland had been terminated only heightened the circus atmosphere surrounding the Red Sox, whose season has unraveled with this nine-game losing streak.
Pitchers who chose to comment on the Cumberland situation - such as Martinez, Frank Castillo, and Rich Garces - supported the dismissed coach. After three strong performances by starters in the Yankees series, the timing of Cumberland's reassignment and subsequent firing was hard to figure.
But the club cited ''performance issues'' as the reason for the move, and brought in Ralph Treuel as pitching coach. Cone viewed the switch as simply part of the natural transition to a new manager and predicted more staff moves will follow.
''It's always difficult when you change managers during the season,'' said Cone. ''I've been around long enough to see that happen. But that's normal for a new manager, to want to hire his own coaching staff. Usually, when it happens in the offseason, things go unnoticed. The fact that it's happened during the season makes it very scrutinized.''
Cone does not see the atmosphere around Fenway Park settling down anytime soon. But he disagreed with the comment Nomar Garciaparra made Sunday night - ''That's why no one wants to [expletive] play here'' - after the shortstop learned about Cumberland's demotion.
Cone noted that he ''wanted to come here'' and found Boston ''a very attractive place to play,'' with its devoted fan base and historic ballpark. He also said that nothing that has happened since the firing of Jimy Williams will affect his decision on whether to return next year. Once the season ends, Cone will take time to think about his situation.
This story ran on page C6 of the Boston Globe on 9/5/2001.
© Copyright 2001 Globe Newspaper Company.
http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/248/sports/Cone_is_no_stranger_to_clubhouse_turmoil+.shtml
By Shira Springer, Globe Staff, 9/5/2001
David Cone can remember when John Cumberland was a coach and minor league pitching coordinator with the New York Mets, one of Cone's former teams. Cone also remembers the confusion at Shea Stadium that followed the midseason firings of Mets managers Davey Johnson (1990) and Bud Harrelson (1991).
After 15 years in the major leagues, nothing surprises Cone - not the Red Sox' recent turmoil and slide out of playoff contention, not the firing of Cumberland, not the public dispute between ace Pedro Martinez and general manager Dan Duquette. The overriding sentiment from Cone is disappointment, knowing that the season could have - should have - turned out better.
''It's pure speculation when you try to break down trends and look at managerial changes in the middle of the season and what impact they have,'' said Cone. ''I just sort of sense that our team kind of got worn down. We had back-to-back West Coast swings. In the middle of the second trip, we had an 18-inning game that we lost that really took a lot out of us. Then we went to Cleveland and got beat up on.
''This team kind of ran into a wall, physically and emotionally.
''I think we all knew that this stretch of games [against the Yankees and Indians] and these last two road trips were very important, make or break for us. As it turned out, it was.''
The official announcement yesterday that Cumberland had been terminated only heightened the circus atmosphere surrounding the Red Sox, whose season has unraveled with this nine-game losing streak.
Pitchers who chose to comment on the Cumberland situation - such as Martinez, Frank Castillo, and Rich Garces - supported the dismissed coach. After three strong performances by starters in the Yankees series, the timing of Cumberland's reassignment and subsequent firing was hard to figure.
But the club cited ''performance issues'' as the reason for the move, and brought in Ralph Treuel as pitching coach. Cone viewed the switch as simply part of the natural transition to a new manager and predicted more staff moves will follow.
''It's always difficult when you change managers during the season,'' said Cone. ''I've been around long enough to see that happen. But that's normal for a new manager, to want to hire his own coaching staff. Usually, when it happens in the offseason, things go unnoticed. The fact that it's happened during the season makes it very scrutinized.''
Cone does not see the atmosphere around Fenway Park settling down anytime soon. But he disagreed with the comment Nomar Garciaparra made Sunday night - ''That's why no one wants to [expletive] play here'' - after the shortstop learned about Cumberland's demotion.
Cone noted that he ''wanted to come here'' and found Boston ''a very attractive place to play,'' with its devoted fan base and historic ballpark. He also said that nothing that has happened since the firing of Jimy Williams will affect his decision on whether to return next year. Once the season ends, Cone will take time to think about his situation.
This story ran on page C6 of the Boston Globe on 9/5/2001.
© Copyright 2001 Globe Newspaper Company.