I'll give Steve credit for this much -- he was always unwilling (to
my knowledge) to discuss clubhouse issues OUTSIDE the clubhouse. He
wouldn't elaborate for the media, he always had a spin or "no
comment" on anything that took place. Now to some views, that's how
it should be. What goes on in the clubhouse, stays in the
clubhouse. It's not for the ticket buyer's general knowledge. And he
stuck to his guns on that issue from what I could observe. Now if
they got him to talk at the watering hole later -- can't say.

However, at this level; these guys are so accessible to fans and many
times more than willing to discuss their distate for things.
Especially when they're living under your roof, visit your medical
office or training center pretty often, eat at your restaraunt or
date your daughter. They're away from home and will bend anybody's
ear who will listen to a good story. So what managers might not want
or THINK should be discussed outside the clubhouse walls, often times
IS. And they tell other guys in the sport who might be considering
playing here, and they tell somebody and well ...ya get the meaning.
Word gets out, deals that were promised that didn't pan out.
Disgruntled players may talk trash without just cause, works both
ways. I heard good things going into the 2002 season when Maddock
first came aboard. But all those changes made the Colts a CBL
laughing stock that was still talked about at the 2003 spring tryouts
and league meetings. Guys would call other teams and say "ya, I won
the CBL title with the Colts last year" and first thing another
manger would say is "oh yeah, that's the screw ups who made something
like 70 roster moves right? geez kid, how'd you ride that out?" We
actually awarded the training camp "survivors" in 2002 with camo-
bandanas for making through the full season unscathed. This year we
didn't bring back but one guy from the 2002 Champs and he was canned
within 4 weeks due to "disagreements with management". They bring
back our ace closer from 2002 and told him he could be the pitching
coach. Now this guy was so pumped in training camp you couldn't wipe
the smile off his face, he believed in a repat. Didn't take long for
that smile to turn to anger and he blew up at the umpires (something
we hadn't seen a hint of in 2002) and got suspended by the league.
Shortly therafter, he was released.

That was the first real clue that the 2003 season was going to be
shifty, shady, turmoil and circus like. You won't get a straight
answer on who wanted the Burnhams here. My personal opinion was that
Jake was the Northern League Rookie of the Year and all star
outfielder; a player you definitely wanted. When the Colts forced
him to play 3rd base, the hot corner; it was disaster in the making.
He made dozens of errors trying to adjust and former major leaguers
like Polcovich and McNabb tried to help; but he wasn't making the
adjustment. He was an AS ROY outfielder and they forced him to
infield -- what sense does that make??? Then they added his wife to
the boiling pot, called in ESPN and SI to make a mockery of it and
it's no wonder the guy couldn't improve his batting average or
fielding%. I followed Jakes career in 2002 in the NL. The Colts had
owned his rights in the pre-season and traded him away. Seems they
had second thoughts in 2003 and bought him back -- only to squander
him at 3rd.

Those type decisions just baffled us all year. We had a catcher
playing 1B and 3B, an outfielder playing 1B, and pitchers who were
either just back from surgery, headed to surgery, no experienced or
so much experience they couldn't work with our young catchers. Its
like abundant talent on paper from lead off hitter to the bullpen
closer -- but few got more than 2 games chance to prove it. They
never knew day to day who was going to cut, who would play infield
that night or what picher would start. Read the cblforums.com 2003
where are they now forums and you'll see what I mean. Every time we
released somebody, I tried to keep track and OUCH, some of em hurt.

That's another thing, Colts seem to have a problem returning former
players and they don't like making trades. They just preferred to
release them flat out rather than get somebody for them. Now either
there was no effort made to do so; or nobody in this league wanted to
deal with Colts management for player transactions. NO idea which is
true; but I'd lean towards the latter. Even when scouts showed
interest, it was rumored they got the runaround trying to contact
players to offer deals. When released players were being sought by
other teams, Steve couldn't find a phone number or agent to call. I
know it's not their DUTY or responsibility but when you're billing a
developmental league -- shouldn't that be part of the package?

ramble, ramble, ramble -- sorry

It may not all have been within Maddock's control. Bruha has a
Texas size ego about his club, it's his baby. He controls the
checkbook and no telling what else. I know they're losing money for
lower attendance but all that chaos doesn't encouarge the walk-up
sales to want to attend. Advertising and marketing are an issue
they're attempting to fix for 2004 and we're hopeful. They've
promised changes, they've promised to return some of the good guys
who will be familiar and mareketable. But had Maddock come back,
people had already voiced they would walk away (including players).
So the choice was made -- maybe Steve will find a pro career
elsewhere or maybe he'll stick with private school coaching. But I
can't see him hired as a pitching coach -- he might be able to spot
the talent, but managing and coaching it were a challenge.

Djay