Beasley Reece On Sandberg's Resignation: 'This Is A Manager Killer Roster'
By Chris Stigall
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- CBS 3 Sports Director Beasley Reece said he was not surprised by Phillies' Manager Ryne Sandberg's resignation on Friday and holds the players responsible for his untimely demise.
Reece told Chris Stigall on Talk Radio 1210 WPHT that while Sandberg had his faults, the team was an albatross he could not overcome.
"He tried to do some things. Maybe he's not cut out to be a manager. It's hard for Hall-of-Famer's to coach other people because there's some genetic, natural gift that goes with a Hall-of-Fame career. I think this is a locker room and a bunch of players that just...killed two managers. This is a manager killer roster."
He pointed to their actions immediately following Sandberg's announcement as evidence they're not invested in the success of the organization.
"I was there in the dugout. Guys [were] coming in and out getting ready for the game, they were grinning, throwing the ball around. It was as if nothing happened. There was clearly zero emotional attachment between the players and that manager. That's one problem. I mean, they went along like business as usual, laughing, tossing the ball. You would think there would be some type of reverence for the moment. We had just found out."
Reece stated that veterans and team leaders let the manager down and that they are the root cause of his failure.
"Unfortunately, Ryne Sandberg's communication skills and overall personality just doesn't match the job that he wanted to do after his Hall-of-Fame career, but I blame Chase Utley, I blame the players. This is a player failure. I'm sure that he was sick of going to the ballpark, looking at these guys underperform."
