GaryMrMets
08-03-2004, 12:48 AM
http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/sports/9299703.htm
Posted on Mon, Aug. 02, 2004
Tyler takes a swing
IT'S BEEN NEARLY A YEAR since Tyler Houston was released by the Phillies, but the wound still hasn't healed.
Houston is now a baseball columnist for the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Besides stating in yesterday's paper that it's time for general manager Ed Wade to get rid of manager Larry Bowa, Houston also tells the story that he says led to his release.
He says, in part: "At this time last season, the Phillies lost a game in Montreal and Bowa threw one of his tantrums, saying things many players didn't appreciate. Upon boarding the bus to the airport, longtime veteran Dan Plesac held a meeting...He [said] it was time to win for ourselves and to forget about the coaches.''
Houston writes that a plan was hatched "for the players to ignore the coaches in the following series in New York against the Mets. We agreed we could no longer stand Bowa or his sidekick, third-base coach John Vukovich.
"Another player, who is still with the Phillies, suggested that if struggling Pat Burrell hit a home run, he should not shake Bowa's hand. Indeed, Burrell homered the next day and shunned Bowa. I was the first player to greet Burrell at the top of the dugout, which in Bowa's eyes immediately made me the mastermind of the scheme.
"The next morning, I got a phone call
telling me I was designated for assignment
for being a bad influence on Burrell and in the clubhouse...
"He suspected I was behind the Burrell incident. Little does he know, the real ringleader still plays for the Phillies and wouldn't admit it was his idea.
"I have a question for Phillies fans: Where would this talented team be if Bowa wasn't the manager? Bobby Cox's Braves don't have half the Phillies' talent, but Atlanta has a [now 5 ½-game] lead in the National League East."
There it is. His story, and he's sticking to it.
Posted on Mon, Aug. 02, 2004
Tyler takes a swing
IT'S BEEN NEARLY A YEAR since Tyler Houston was released by the Phillies, but the wound still hasn't healed.
Houston is now a baseball columnist for the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Besides stating in yesterday's paper that it's time for general manager Ed Wade to get rid of manager Larry Bowa, Houston also tells the story that he says led to his release.
He says, in part: "At this time last season, the Phillies lost a game in Montreal and Bowa threw one of his tantrums, saying things many players didn't appreciate. Upon boarding the bus to the airport, longtime veteran Dan Plesac held a meeting...He [said] it was time to win for ourselves and to forget about the coaches.''
Houston writes that a plan was hatched "for the players to ignore the coaches in the following series in New York against the Mets. We agreed we could no longer stand Bowa or his sidekick, third-base coach John Vukovich.
"Another player, who is still with the Phillies, suggested that if struggling Pat Burrell hit a home run, he should not shake Bowa's hand. Indeed, Burrell homered the next day and shunned Bowa. I was the first player to greet Burrell at the top of the dugout, which in Bowa's eyes immediately made me the mastermind of the scheme.
"The next morning, I got a phone call
telling me I was designated for assignment
for being a bad influence on Burrell and in the clubhouse...
"He suspected I was behind the Burrell incident. Little does he know, the real ringleader still plays for the Phillies and wouldn't admit it was his idea.
"I have a question for Phillies fans: Where would this talented team be if Bowa wasn't the manager? Bobby Cox's Braves don't have half the Phillies' talent, but Atlanta has a [now 5 ½-game] lead in the National League East."
There it is. His story, and he's sticking to it.