European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 22, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday april 22, 1992 the stars and stripes b Page 25commentarymanagers need different mentality by Ross Newhan Tom Lasorda a Security As manager of the los Angeles dodgers was recently underscored by a one year contract Extension. It also served to underscore the insecurity of managers elsewhere. Lasorda is in his 16th season As successor to Walter Alston. In that time there have been 164 major league managerial changes among them 17 by the new York Yankees 10 by the Chicago cubs and nine each by the California Angels Seattle mariners and san Diego padres. Last year alone in a record Blitz that seemed to illustrate the additional pressures of the position there were 14 managerial changes. Half of the 26 major league teams changed managers and the cubs did it twice. Nine managers Are starting their first full seasons this year and five Are making their major league debuts a Butch Hobson of the Boston red sox Buck Showalter of the Yankees Bill Plummer of the mariners Gene Lamont of the Chicago White sox and Phil gamer of the Milwaukee Brewers. Said Buck Rodgers who was bred by the Montreal expos in june and hired by the Angels in August a i done to know if there a less patience or they re looking for scapegoats sooner but i think the owners embarrassed themselves with their Buck passing last year. A a it a their prerogative but with More and More corporations involved More and More boards of directors we re into a a can you top this a mentality. A i think there a a need to go Back to basics and let the baseball people make the decisions and run the baseball end of  Tony la Russa manager of the Oakland a a put it another Way. A a there a so much Money being spent on salaries and the Purchase of clubs that the stakes Are rising All the time along with the expectations a he said. A when the performance Isnit there someone a got to pay. A it was the general manager for a time in the �?T80s. Now its the manager  managers of course have been fired regularly since 1876, when the National league was formed. More than half a dozen managers said their Job has changed in several ways among them a the financial commitment has left owners less inclined to show patience with the familiar five year building plan or any Long term redevelopment. A Many roster decisions Are based strictly on salary meaning that when cuts Are made the manager Seldom gets All 25 players he wants and he is often left without proven role players or Utility personnel. A Multi year contracts in Many cases have Given the players More Security than the manager eroding his authority and ability to discipline. A contract problems Between players and management create ongoing and often Long term distractions. A the Comfort and Security of Multi year contracts often affect the players intensity and Effort along with their willingness to play Hurt particularly in the year before free Agency. A free Agency has made it a movable feast for the players and a transitional game in which players arc often rented for a year or less. That makes it difficult to maintain tradition continuity and a consistent approach to fundamentals. A from my standpoint the Only thing different is that when i replaced Walt in 197717 of my 25 players had come up through the organization a Lasorda said. A they were familiar with dodger Pride tradition and the Way things were done. The family atmosphere was in bred. Last year my Only regular position player who came up through the system was Mike Scioscia. Now its a constant process of indoctrination for Guys from different organizations and teaching them How we go about  and indoctrination is often greeted by the player asking Why or saying he will have to talk to his agent. A a manager used to be Able to Tell the players that his door was open if they Ever wanted to talk a said Jim Lefebvre hired by the cubs after being fired by the mariners at the end of the 1991 season. A now the player goes to his agent and the agent goes to the general manager and its the general manager who walks through the managers door which generally Means there a a  la Russa said the key relationship is that a Between the manager and the player and i prefer to keep the general manager out of it. My attitude is a give me the first  Quot Whitey Herzog who resigned As manager of the cardinals in 1190 when he Felt he he had lost the ability to reach and motivate his players and is now a senior vice president of the Angels said that even Alston who had 23 one year contracts  go that route anymore. �?o1 done to think you can operate on a one year contract and be successful a he said. A the manager has to have enough Security that the players respect his  �?o1 mean if its a Choice Between a manager on a on year contract and a player with a five year you know who a gone. Its easier to find a  said Rodgers a in Many cases the attitude is safety first. You done to get the Effort around the Walls and the warning track. You hear a lot More players say a in a a free agent next year so in a not going to get  a said Lasorda addressing the Issue of the bulging disabled lists a a there a a lot More medical supervision now and 1 think the doctors attitude is that they a rather not take chances with the clubs  the indictments Arentt directed at every player. There is still in Large measure Pride in performance but the general approach and atmosphere have definitely changed the managers said creating an environment in which the manager is forced to do As much managing in the clubhouse As in the dugout. A you done to see the camaraderie anymore Quot Rodgers said. A you done to see 15 Guys going out together. I mean wed Settle More problems Over a Beer among ourselves than we Ever did at the Ballpark or that the manager was forced to Settle. Wed criticize each other and learn from it but that does no to happen anymore. A you done to have that peer pressure. Players take it too personally and there a too much risk in being out regularly a the drugs a Margo Adams people hitting on you because of the  the Money rules. A now when you sit there and make your final roster cuts the controller is at your Elbow Quot said Bobby Valentine of the Texas rangers. The lot angelas time Walker s karate bid runs into snags Atlanta a Herschel Walker Isnit going to try out for the . Olympic karate team. There Isnit one. He a not going to be on the Tae Wondo team either say the sports insulted officials because news too heavy and he a a pro athlete. Besides walkers agent says he can to go to Barcelona for the 1992 summer olympics because hell be in a pro football training Camp when the games begin. Walker himself Wasny to available monday to clarify comments he made on Friday when he told reporters he had been asked to try out for the karate team. A the relevant portion As far As Herschel is concerned is that when the olympics Roll around he a going to be in an nil training Camp so it would not be possible for Nim to participate in Barcelona a Johnson said in a Telephone interview. Walker is a Minnesota running Back but although the Vikings have said they will release him if they can to Trade him. A i done to know what he said but its impossible for him to be on the olympic team a Johnson said. Walker told reporters Friday Walker a a in be got an invitation now to maybe be on the karate team for the Barcelona olympics. In a debating whether i want to do  the 1992 summer olympics which begin july 25 in Barcelona wont have karate but it will feature Tae Wondo As a demonstration sport. Tae Wondo is a korean martial arts similar to the japanese karate. Even if Walker was talking about Tae Wondo instead of karate his remarks mystified and irritated officials with the . Tae Wondo Union in Colorado Springs Colo. A Tae Wondo and karate Are two different things. The rules Are All different. The moves Are different a said Robert Fujimura the groups executive director. A a it a like saying baseball and basketball arc the same because they both involve a  Walker would not qualify for the Tae Wondo team anyway Fujimura said. . Tae Wondo Union bylaws prohibit any pro athlete from competing on the National team he said. Also the world Tae Wondo federation has limited the . Olympics team to athletes in Only four of the eight weight classes. The heavyweight class for athletes 182 pounds and Over is not one of them. Walker weighs 225 pounds according to nil statistics. Fujimura said he had been swamped with Calls from Tae Wondo athletes upset that Walker said he had been invited to try out. Fujimura denied that he or anyone officially connected with the organization has invited anyone to try out. The team is selected through state National and finally team competitions open to any Amateur member of the . Inc Wondo Union he said. Although a coach might have encouraged Walker to try out Fujimura said he doubted Walker or any Tae Wondo athlete who has not trained full time for years would make the team. A an article like this is an insult to every Tae Wondo athlete who has dedicated his life to the sport to have a big name football player think that anyone can come in and qualify for the team a Fujimura  determined to sign Emtman before draft Indianapolis apr the Indianapolis Colts Hope to have defensive tackle Steve Emtman signed before sundays nil draft although general manager Jim Irsay knows it May be difficult. A basically i think there will be some negotiations going on this week a Irsay said monday. A a that a easier said than  the Colts hold the top two picks in sundays draft and Irsay optimistically Hopes to have both players signed before the draw begins. The Colts will have to dig deep into their pockets to accomplish the signings. Last years no. 1 pick Russell Maryland a nose tackle from Miami signed a five year $7.9 million Deal with Dallas which included a $3.6 million signing Bonus. A the one thing that i consider very important. Are leaders a Irsay said. A leaders by example on the Field and also in the off season in the weight room in the Community. Emtman really is one of those Type of Guys that epitomizes what you re looking  Emtman who won the outland trophy As the nations Premier Interior lineman and received the Lombardi award As the games outstanding lineman would be asked to help improve a defense that was the leagues worst against the Rush. Irsay said he Hasni to seriously considered any Trade offer for either of the top two picks. The Colts have the top pick for compiling a league worst 1-15 record last year. They own the second selection from Tampa Bay As a result of the 1990 Deal that sent quarterback Chris Chandler to the buccaneers. Texas a amp a linebacker Quentin Coryatt might be the other defensive selection but Irsay said defensive end Sean Gilbert of Pittsburgh and Wisconsin cornerback Troy Vincent also Are High on the clubs priority list. Heisman trophy Winner Desmond Howard of Michigan Indiana running Back Vaughn Dunbar and Stanford offensive tackle Bob Whitfield Are among offensive players Irsay is eyeing