AJC > Blog > Archives > 2005 > October > 27
Thursday, October 27, 2005
We’re a winner
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
OzzieBall works.
OzzieBall works because it’s not “small ball,” it’s “smart ball.” Don’t be conventional; forget the bullpen if they can’t get it done. Don’t overmanage. Go with your gut. Let the players play. Trust your guys.
OzzieBall works because of that “pitch like you were pitching for Cuba” speech to Jose Contreras to get him psyched. Laughing a lot and smiling - enjoying the game and having fun - those things work wonders in a game that’s gotten all corporate and buttoned-down. His guys believe in OzzieBall and that’s really the key to why it works.
When Ozzie was a Brave (remember Ozzie - the only guy gutsy enough to wear No. 13 while in Camp Cox?) he kept the clubhouse loose — or at least as loose at any Braves clubhouse reportedly can be — with his joking, chattering, laughing, smiling. You’d hear Skip say it on Braves broadcasts: He’s going to be one heck of a manager someday.
Today is someday.
OzzieBall works. And baseball is a better game because of it.
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