It's Official: Bucs are Mickey Mouse organization

[PITTSBURGH, PA - ESPN]
It's official ! ESPN reports that Mike Kenney has officially stepped down from the 1st place Pirates. Kenney sited connectivity issues. Speculation is that he just quite couldn't connect with his players or management even though his team was running through the National League. Pittsburgh sits 8 1/2 games atop the NL East over the NY Mets with an 82-42 record. Kenney piloted the squad to 40 games over .500, but there were some deep seeded organization and personality issues going on behind the scene.

In a related move Pirate ownership announced that Andy Weinrib will be taking over the managerial duties immediately. Weinrib appeared before the cameras in his introductory press conference tonight, while vacationing at Disney. Weinbrib was quoted as saying, "just because I'm standing next to Mickey Mouse, doesn't mean that one should infer that the Pirate organization is anything of the sort". After Weinrib's brief statement to the press he was asked a few questions. Here are some of his responses:

ESPN: Why do you think Kenney quit ?
AW: Winning disguises all turmoil...I believe he and the organization were unhappy for a long time and they all reached their breaking point.

ESPN: How will things be different in your clubhouse ?
AW: What happens between the white lines is all that matters. We'll have an open door policy here and the lines of communication will always be open between my players and myself as well as our great owners.

ESPN: What about the reported differences in the locker room ?
AW: You're hear to win, not like each other. We'll look at making trades in the off season. Right now we're going to focus on having the best record in baseball and kicking a-s and taking no prisoners.

ESPN: Do you believe any team in the NL can catch you guys now that you are at the helm ?
AW: Come on guys, give me a tough one. This team was in the process of running away with it all while they were right in the middle of a storm. Now that things are going to calm down can you imagine just how good they will be ?

ESPN: How do you feel about having the opportunity to manage All-Stars like Clemente and Stargell
AW: I feel it's an honor and a privilege...it's a once in a lifetime opportunity for me, but I'm the boss and they will know that.

ESPN: Rumor has it that Stargell was a disruptive force in the clubhouse. His benching by Kenney against lefties has soured him. How do you plan on handling it ?
AW: we are 4- games over 500...he cant be that much of a disruptive force...just because the media says it i know my players...He's a great person and a future HOF'er in my book.

ESPN: Many say that you are in a weak division and that anyone can manage the collection of stars that the Pirates have
AW: it's very easy for people to say that..but my players would tell you differently.. We are like the song says"we are family".. As far as a weak division this is the major leagues there are no weak divisions

ESPN: What will your relationship be with ownership ? Will they be meddling in the day to day affairs of the team like they did during Kenney's regime ? or have you been given the complete control of the day to day opps ?
AW: when i took this job the condition was that management would have hands off the team..We shook hands and i believe they will live up to there promise.

The press conference ended immediately after that final question.