HOT SEAT: Amid so much uncertainty, moving parts, could MGR Kurt Suzuki stay put? | Halo Territory

Comments · 83

• GL

  @glenndukes2192 · 2 weeks ago

  Mark's honesty makes this podcast.

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• MA

  @MarkT-g4s · 2 weeks ago

  I have said this before and it’s what I believe. When Kurt was hired for 1 year, he was not hired to win, if the Angels did by chance win, that would just be a bonus. Kurt was hired to get us through the year and into the (Arte’s dream) lockout of 2027. He was a cardboard cutout to just babysit the team. Don’t get me wrong, I loved Kurt as a player ever since he was with Oakland, but that doesn’t mean he’s a great or even good Manager. The players may say he’s a players Manager, but that could also just mean he’s a guy that just leaves you alone and lets you play, maybe that works more with veteran players, but you have to have the respect from the players that they are going to grind out every play because if they don’t you’re going to ride the bench or get called out for not hustling. He does not command that kind of respect. Too many times this year players have whined, not hustled, or just didn’t played like their career depended on it. To me, a great manager always gets the best out of players and the team as a whole, Suzuki just seems to “be there” to get us through. If you’re going to build a great winning team, you’re not going to do it with Kurt Suzuki. He leaves pitchers in too long or pulls them too soon, he allowed Neto to hit lead off way too long when he was slumping, and he just doesn’t seem to have the what is needed to lead this team to the finish line with a winning record. As far as Mozeliak talking highly about Suzuki, I honestly believe it’s just Mozeliak respecting him enough to not talk bad about him. There’s still baseball to be played, if a GM starts talking trash about a Manager, what does that tell your team, if you don’t respect him or treat him with respect, they never will. Bottom line, thank you Kurt for stepping in, we appreciate it and wish you the best, but we have decided to move in a new direction. Does Kurt Suzuki deserve to be Manager, no, nobody deserves anything, you have to earn it. IMO, he has not earned the title “Manager of the Angels”. As Mark Trumbo said “sure he deserves an opportunity to apply” that would be the respectful thing to do, whether you know you’re going to hire him or not, give him the respect of the interview.

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• TH

  @TheThearchangel90650 · 2 weeks ago

  What a stupid question.  He never should have been given the job in the first place and he proved that he's better off managing a local Boys Scout chapter.

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• ED

  @EdenGonzalez-15p2 · 2 weeks ago

  Good show guys. Mark firing some sass today lol. I thought Kurt did well in the month of April after that, the real team showed its face and it was ugly with that blowpen. Some of those pieces moved out thankfully but its still needs to be addressed and developed also. The hitting has been frustrating with 2 strikes on RH batters, for the past few years its an outside slider or sweeper and they whiff constantly at it. The strikeouts are something they really need to cut down on. Hire Torii Hunter already. He's the guy that would be on his defense constantly and make sure they hustle.

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• MA

  @MatthewTheSicilian · 2 weeks ago

  Mark’s facial expressions 😂

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• RA

  @raulignacio5975 · 2 weeks ago (edited)

  Mike here's trivia for a long time baseball guy.  Which is more rare in the history of baseball?  The amount of guys that have thrown a perfect game in MLB which is always being made a big deal about or the amount of guys that have won both a College and MLB World Series?  MIke you have never mentioned Kurt pulling off this ultra rare feat and how it makes him an ultimate winner.  Kurt has 2 World Series rings to show the Angel players and GM Mo, one each from College and MLB.

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• DR

  @drbryant23 · 2 days ago

  Kurt is a nice guy and was a solid player for many years.  He could be coaching or even managing in the minors.

• HA

  @hamikm-ni8du · 2 weeks ago

  Kade Anderson pitching tonight at Angel Stadium.  Unfortunately, wearing the other team's jersey

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• JO

  @JohnsonNJohnson8 · 2 weeks ago

  Blum episode!

  1

• DO

  @donaldscw · 2 weeks ago

  Another really good show guys. Mark, you are the best, your honesty and integrity are refreshing and needed, plus I enjoy your quizitive look at various times in this and other shows. Side note Mark, many years ago my teenage Son and I ran into you at The Rio in Las Vegas and you could not have been kinder to my Son, TY. On the subject at hand. . . . No way Suzuki should be given any consideration for Angels Manager for the 2027 season and beyond, Kurt is a World Series winner as a player, I give him his due respect, but he is not qualified to manage any MLB club and certainly not a club rebuilding towards a perennial winning franchise. Kurt has got to go day 1 after seasons end.

• BI

  @BillBrouwer-r8b · 2 weeks ago

  Don't just partially clean house.  Clean the house completely!!  And definitely get rid of Siri while you're at it!!

• SO

  @socalbeachcomber9811 · 2 weeks ago

  IMHO it is hard to evaluate Suzuki.   He's had the job security of a substitute teacher and, of course, that is going to make it harder to be taken seriously by players.   Anyone is going to struggle trying to make chicken soup of out of chicken s**t in these conditions.  He would have been better off taking a lesser position with a higher functioning organization to keep learning the ropes, pay his dues, and eventually earn his way to a manager's job in a better situation.

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