Burns: Voicing your opinion is OK

When people ask me what I do, sometimes I’ll say, “I’m a professional talker and opinion-maker.”

Technically I’m an anchor and talk-show-host but they get the drift.

So if part of my job is to have an opinion and passionately share that opinion with you, why on earth would I have a problem with somebody else doing the same?

Why would I have a problem with Bryan Price?

Answer: I don’t.

Price – the former pitching coach for the D-backs under Bob Melvin – told the Marin Independent Journal that the hiring of A.J. Hinch was a “poor decision” and that “he doesn’t have any credibility between the lines as a manager.”

He was just getting started.

“To me it was a slap in the face not only to Bob but to Chip (Hale) and to Gibby (Kirk Gibson) and to anybody who has actually managed or coached in the past.”

Our bosses here at the station are telling us all the time to be opinionated and passionate. So wouldn’t that make me a hypocrite if I railed on Price for basically doing the same thing? That’s why I’m all for Price speaking his mind.

What did Jim Rome use to say? Have a take and don’t suck. Price is 2-2.

Did it show a lack of class? Not unless you consider friendship and loyalty traits of the classless. Price is standing by Melvin. Price walked away from a pretty high paying gig out of respect for Melvin.

And frankly, based off of the what-the-hell-were-they-thinking reaction I’ve heard from most Diamondback fans, most of you agree with Price.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…..A.J. Hinch is not a win-now hire. He might be a win-later hire. Might. We’ll have to see. Based off what we’ve seen this past weekend (see Doug Davis) the D-backs may have to change the roster to get guys who will buy in. Hinch is a smart, smart guy. But there is nothing about this move that feels right.

(The most laugh-out-loud thing I saw all weekend was Oakland GM Billy Beane comparing Hinch to Bobby Cox, offering Cox as proof that a front-office type can come down from the front office to manage. Cox managed over 1200 games with the Braves and Blue Jays before moving up to the GM’s box. Get outta here with that comparison.)

Melvin took the high road during his farewell address. That’s him. I’m sure he had things he wanted to say. He chose not to. Maybe he felt like if he did he would jeopardize his chance at another job. Maybe he just didn’t think it was the right thing to do.

Hey… everyone has an opinion. But not everybody picks up the phone and calls my show. Everybody is different.

Price chose a different road. He voiced his feelings. He had that kind of leverage. You knew his services would be in great demand and they were. The world champion Phillies snatched him up in a matter of days.

But more than anything he was passionately stating his opinion. Nothing wrong with that, says the professional talker/opinion maker.

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