Sal Bando

Harvey Kuenn Named Interim Manager

June 2

SEATTLE — In a position that may last only a matter of weeks, hitting coach Harvey Kuenn has been named interim manager of the Milwaukee Brewers.

Why “interim?” Only the Brewers know the true answer to that question. But here are a few possibilities:

1) The Brewers have someone else in mind as the new full-time manager, but a contract has not yet been signed. Buck Rodgers reached the end of his rope (even beyond, if you listen to most Brewers fans), but the formalities are not yet in place to announce the replacement. Given that Kuenn is going to serve dual roles as the hitting coach and manager may be a clue that he is simply keeping someone else’s seat warm. But Kuenn has been a coach with the Brewers since 1971, so he knows the players. He’s at least a good stop-gap solution.

But as we discussed earlier today, who that full-time solution might be is a mystery. Unless the report that Sal Bando isn’t ready to manage is false (which is entirely possible), the other candidates aren’t all that clear.

2) Kuenn’s health concerns prevent the Brewers from committing to him for more than the short term. In fact, the Brewers have said as much. Harvey had his leg amputated prior to the 1980 season, but that is only one in a long line of serious health problems that have nagged him. Only 51, he’s also undergone stomach and heart bypass surgeries.

The Brewers probably don’t want to put the pressure of managing this team for the long haul on Kuenn. Or they want to at least see how he handles it. But quite frankly, it’s likely that his health will not allow him to manage the Brewers for the entirety of the 1982 season.

3) It’s all a formality. This is really nothing new. Often when managers are fired and a replacement is promoted from within, they are given an interim tag. This way, the team gets to observe him on the job before making a long-term commitment after the season is over. If the team succeeds, he stays. If they don’t, they find a “real” manager.

So, who is Harvey Kuenn? He’s a career .303 hitter with the Tigers, Giants and Indians, playing from 1952-66. He led the league in hits four times, was the 1959 batting champion with a .353 average and won the Rookie of the Year Award in 1953. With 2,092 career hits, he’s a borderline Hall of Fame candidate, kept out only by a career that declined too soon.

Kuenn, known as “Arch” or “Archie” by many close to him, is likely to have a contrasting managing style to Rodgers, which was bound to be appealing to the Brewers’ brass. He’s close to the players and a good communicator, though that can always change when put into a position of power.

Actually, let’s let him explain how he expects the atmosphere to change: “I like the club to have a good time, be loose, have a laugh,” he said. “But I can be tough if I have to. They all know that.”

How will Kuenn right the ship? “I arrived at getting more harmony on the ballclub,” he explained. “Getting everybody to pull together and pull as one person.”

Sounds good, but often easier said than done. Particularly with this moody bunch.

BREAKING: Buck Rodgers Fired

June 2

SEATTLE — Yesterday, Harry Dalton told us that the job of a general manager is to remain patient. Apparently, his patience has run out.

For the past couple of weeks, it became increasingly clear that Buck Rodgers‘ days as the Milwaukee Brewers’ manager were numbered. Today, the announcement made it official: Buck Rodgers has been relieved of his duties.

“I think Buck’s a good baseball man,” Dalton said today. “The chemistry went sour. We hadn’t been getting what we had the right to expect with the talent we have available. I recognize everything that happened wasn’t Buck’s fault. I wanted to give Buck every opportunity to right the ship.”

And that opportunity ran out. Brewers fans would argue that Rodgers was given far too much time to “right the ship.” You can’t right a ship that’s sinking, and water’s been flooding a gaping hole in the SS BrewCrew for quite some time.

It’s interesting this announcement was made today, given the Brewers beat the Mariners 2-1 yesterday. But the rumor is that the decision to make the move had already been made prior to yesterday’s game, which would make sense considering the collapse that led to three blown leads in that game. Dalton knew that change was coming when he spoke of patience. Rodgers was a dead man walking and he was made aware of the change this morning.

In something of a surprising move, the Brewers have replaced Rodgers with longtime coach Harvey Kuenn… at least for now. “We have appointed Harvey Kuenn as interim manager,” said Dalton. “That can mean anytime from two to three weeks to the end of the 1982 season. We have been looking for someone to take over on a permanent basis.”

So who will be that permanent solution? Good question. It won’t be former team captain Sal Bando, long rumored to be waiting for the opening. He isn’t interested in committing to managing.

The interesting twist in all of this is that the man the Brewers really want, former manager George Bamberger, is no longer available. Bambi stepped down due to health concerns and Rodgers took over. Had the Brewers not made the playoffs last season, they were primed to invite Bamberger back. Instead. they did take that next step and felt obligated to bring Rodgers back. Meanwhile, Bamberger took a job to manage the Mets.

A couple of possibilities are on Bambi’s staff. Jim Frey, the former manager of the Royals and current coach on the Mets, could be an option. Frank Howard, a former Brewers coach who was fired after managing the Padres last season, is also a coach on the Mets’ staff who could be on the Brewers’ radar.

It is Time for Change at the Top

May 24

In 1981, the Brewers were a loose, professional and happy bunch. They also won, and whether the former bred the latter or vice versa, the personality of the team and the results were starkly different last season than through May 23 of this season.

Far too much is going wrong:

Two players have demanded a trade already at some point in 1982. Charlie Moore started the trend in spring training and only agreed to stay once he was assured playing time in right field. Roy Howell requested his trade during the spring as well and continues to be unhappy about his role as the third third baseman. Yet there are no takers of his paltry batting average.
Rollie Fingers, who won both the AL MVP and Cy Young awards in 1981, has been less than perfect in 1982. He has lost five times when entering tied games. He’s also shown his displeasure with the way that he has been used.
Pete Vuckovich injured his ankle either when sliding down a slick hill behind Royals Stadium in a rain storm prior to the game or when a video game fell on it. Either way, his absence caused immediate problems on the staff (Jerry Augustine started that game in Kansas City and allowed 12 earned runs in five innings) and Vuke threatened to take legal action when rumors surfaced that he was less than forthcoming about the source of his injury.
Bob McClure was hit on the elbow by a line drive and missed time as well. The Brewers’ brass made a serious miscalculation when neither pitcher was replaced on the roster and the Brewers instead went with an eight-man staff while they awaited their return.
While there are some offensive players performing well (Paul Molitor is hitting .301, Robin Yount .291 and Cecil Cooper .340), others are downright offensive. Gorman Thomas went the entire month of April without a home run and is hitting .228. Ben Oglivie is hitting .224 and catcher Ted Simmons is hitting .203 and continues to look like his best days are behind him.
The Brewers aren’t getting consistent pitching. The staff is led by Moose Haas with a 3.22 ERA, but Mike Caldwell‘s is 4.45, Bob McClure’s is 5.14 and Randy Lerch‘s is 5.36, all pitchers who have made several starts. Pete Vuckovich may have a 3.79 ERA, but he hasn’t pitched since May 6.

The biggest problem, though, is a lack of leadership. Whether Buck Rodgers is a poor leader or simply a bad fit for this team, his players do not have his back. They routinely call him out in the press and refuse to sugarcoat their feelings about the man in charge.

And that, along with the swirling rumors that former team captain Sal Bando is ready to take over, are the main reasons that it is time to make a change. Even when they win, the team isn’t happy. They aren’t loose. And they aren’t professional.

It is time that the Brewers find a leader, as Bud Lea of the Milwaukee Sentinel said, who is more of a den mother than a major league manager. They need a leader who will stroke egos and let his players play instead of micromanaging with strategies that many of his players aren’t comfortable carrying out.

The Brewers need a player’s manager, and they need him now.

Brewers Win, but Chaos Reigns

May 20

Brewers 4, Angels 1
Brewers now 19-17 (3rd)
Box Score | Season Schedule

MILWAUKEE — Outfielder Marshall Edwards was rushed to Mount Sinai Hospital this morning with a bleeding ulcer. Given the emotions stirring in the clubhouse, you’d think it would be manager Buck Rodgers dealing with a bout of indigestion.

You wouldn’t know that the Brewers scored as many runs in this game as they did the previous three.

You wouldn’t know that the Brewers snapped a three game losing streak when they topped the Angels 4-1 in Milwaukee today.

You wouldn’t know that Moose Haas pitched his first complete game of the season, throwing a gem in which he allowed only a run on six hits.

No, the focus remained on what is wrong with the team. And that focus is squarely on the manager. The rumor swirling around Milwaukee is that former team captain Sal Bando is ready to take over as soon as general manager Harry Dalton gives Rodgers his pink slip.

Want a vote of confidence from the players? You aren’t going to get one. Asked if Rodgers is respected as manager, Charlie Moore avoided the question: “I’d rather stay away from that.”

Don Money: “I don’t know. I can’t say anything.”

Gorman Thomas: “I have no comment on that.”

Their silence speaks volumes.

Bud Lea of the Milwaukee Sentinel summed it up nicely: “What this team may need is a den mother instead of a manager, someone who would stroke egos. Rodgers does not coddle anyone.”

If the players have proven anything this season it’s that they’re sensitive. Roy Howell‘s tantrum over playing time. Rollie Fingers‘ freakout over when he’s used. Charlie Moore’s demand for a trade.

Is Rodgers fighting for his job? “If we win, I stay. If we lose, I go,” he said succinctly.

True. But there hasn’t been much winning lately. And when your players don’t have your back, you might as well start packing.

Game Notes: The Brewers are now 19-17, five games behind the Tigers in the AL East … Paul Molitor returned to the lineup as the DH. He probably won’t return to the field for a few more days … Mark Brouhard, who had missed eight games with a tight calf, was back in right field … Marshall Edwards’ bleeding ulcer is expected to keep him out about a week … Ben Oglive drove in his 27th run but only the first since May 9.