All Hale DeMarlo
Start working on your signs for the 2006 season now, fans. DeMarlo Hale, former first base coach of the Texas Rangers, is now the third base coach for the Red Sox. Theo Epstein, whose own contract is up at the end of this month, made the announcement today. The goal of a third base coach is for one’s name to go unrecognized, but this is unlikely in a city of such intense scrutiny. “Hale” is an easier name to both pronounce and lampoon. To wit: “Halefire and Brimstone,” “Time for DeMarlo to Hale a Cab,” and, if he does well, “All Hale the Chief.” The first name is more difficult; my best effort is “DeMarlo-ition Derby.”
Like Grady Little, Hale never broke out of the minor leagues as a player. In five seasons as a first baseman and outfielder in the Boston and Oakland organizations he attempted 87 steals and succeeded 67 times. Hale was recognized by Baseball America, The Sporting News, and USA Today as Minor League Manager of the Year in 1999. That year he led the Trenton Thunder, then part of the Red Sox organization, to a 92-50 season. Welcome to the panopticon.
Comments
ooh, the "Hale a cab" one is nice. Are you taking bets on whether the Herald or the globe uses it first?
twitch124 ∙ 22 October 2005 ∙ 11:28 PM
I don't mind if they never broke the majors. Less bad habits, usually.
Boston Fan in Michigan ∙ 23 October 2005 ∙ 2:26 AM
At one point during Grady Little's Red Sox tenure, he was the only manager without major league time. It stuck in my mind as one of those facts that probably mean very little but won't leave my neocortex.
Other signs and/or Boston Herald headlines:
"Hale-p Me!"
"Is Hale Stoned?"
"Hale's Bails" (caption of pics of him ducking foul balls)
Empyreal ∙ 23 October 2005 ∙ 12:27 PM
Venus DeMarlo
DeMarlo says "Hale-o"
"DeMarlovous"
... that's all I got.
NU50 ∙ 23 October 2005 ∙ 6:10 PM