Grady Little's contract with Sox not to be renewed

[MaineDem]

SPORTS UPDATE: Grady Little's contract will not be renewed and an announcement to that effect will be made later today, according to WBZ Radio reporter Dan Roche, who spoke to Little at his North Carolina home today. -- Developing

Boston Globe

[ShaneGR]

1. Well, that's stupid

One homerun away from the world series and they get rid of him?

[Braden]

2. visiting team with a three run lead in the bottom of the 8th

wins 94% of the time.

There is no way Little could effectively manage in Boston in light of several moves. Its not solely based on game 7. The man did a very good job in his tenure, but the team was better than his winning percentage suggests. The fans are still speaking about this decision. He was in newsweek for his poor decision. Critical Mass was achieved and there is nothing that would have stopped it.

www.baseballprospectus.com

[Caution]

3. Grady Little was on the way out before this

The fact that the team was able to advance as far it is did seemed to have actually been the only thing that kept him from getting fired mid-season. His total misuse of the bullpen over the course of the season, his tendency to put on the plays which modern sabermetrics will tell you are negative plays over teh course of a season was a source of great consternation to upper management who subscribe to teh Bill James school of baseball thought.

[joeybee12]

5. Yeah, he had to win it all to keep his job....

...I live in Denver, originally from CT, and from friends they say he's been on the hot seat all season. This isn't a surprise.

[OneBlueSky]

4. umm . . . Zimmer will likely be available . . .

maybe the Sox would like a second go-round with the gerbil . . .

[underpants]

9. YES Hire ZIMMER!!!

He's probably to old to take that on but that would surely cleanse the curse if they could beat the Yanks with Zim at the helm..and then win the Series.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

6. No surprise, though part of me kind of feels bad for him

The next question is who's available to take over as skipper of the Red Sox?

[joeybee12]

7. Yeah, I don't have a clue

Other than Don Zimmer.

Hey, who's the Yankee pitching coach--can't think of his name--I think he's leaving also.

Just kidding.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

8. Here's the link from the Globe:

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2003/10/27/little_hope_for_manager/