numbers wrote:Right but he tried 10 different things that didn't work not just one. I don't want to be misunderstood, I think he's a good manager even though I don't like the way he goes about a lot of things. I just don't think he'd be automatic success anywhere, I think he has to be in the right environment.
That's fair. From my standpoint, if Maddon manages a team (any team, in any market) the way he manages the Rays, he will improve their chances of winning ball games. If you put players in the best position to succeed, you'll score/prevent more runs and end up winning more games. Maddon probably does that better than anyone, and there are plenty of managers who are remarkably bad at it.
He's probably the best "more with less" manager in baseball right now, which is why he's perfect for small market low intensity market teams. If he's got, for example, the Dodgers lineup to work with, there isn't that much you can do with it.
There is, though. You can still platoon players properly, play small ball in the appropriate situations, manage the bullpen well, shift the defense accordingly... just because your team has good players doesn't mean those things no longer have value. A run scored is a run scored, and a run prevented is a run prevented.
Those aren't the type of players that are conducive to that style of play. Big money lineups generally don't play small ball because they can't play small ball.
I would be interested in seeing some evidence to back this up. It sure sounds like a massive generalization.
Even if it were true, that doesn't take into account all the other things a manager can impact that I mentioned: bullpen management, platoons, defensive shifts.
How great would it be of the Royals shit canned Ned Yost today and Joe Maddon was in the dug out managing Game 3 tonight? I think the Royals would immediately be prohibitive favorites.
I should also add that if it were true that big money lineups shouldn't be playing small-ball, then there's value in bringing in someone like Maddon who will know when it is and isn't a good time to do it. If the lineup suggests they shouldn't be bunting, then the Dodgers probably shouldn't have finished in the middle of the pack in sacrifice bunts in 2014.
numbers wrote:So can Farrell, though. He's won a World Series, unlike Joe Maddon. I'm well aware of Farrell's flaws, but I'm not anywhere near the point where I think they should get rid.
Cito Gaston won two World Series, and he was not a particularly good manager.
also, ned yost is probably going to win the world series.
numbers wrote:So can Farrell, though. He's won a World Series, unlike Joe Maddon. I'm well aware of Farrell's flaws, but I'm not anywhere near the point where I think they should get rid.
Cito Gaston won two World Series, and he was not a particularly good manager.
also, ned yost is probably going to win the world series.
Also a good point. Probably the worst tactical manager in baseball.
Chris_H_2 wrote:The consensus seems to be the Cubs. Peter Gammons was emphatic on the mlb network just now.
Poor Renteria. Not as if he's been a piss poor manager or anything... Madden reminds me of the really old guy that used to coach the Marlins at this point....
