Managers of the year

[Guest Smues]

So who is going to win? As usual I'm hoping Bobby Cox can finally win it again, but also as usual I'm doubtful. I think Tony LaRussa get the NL award.

[Guest Smues]

Bobby Cox and Buck Showalter win. I'm happy with that.

[KingPK]

Buck Schowalter (badly spelled, I'm sure) and Bobby Cox win for the AL and NL respectively.

 

Joe Torre got a first place vote as well.

[The Czech Republic]

I've watched a fair share of nationally televised Atlanta Braves games, and it seems like Bobby Cox is barely awake during games.

[Guest Anglesault]

.

 

Joe Torre got a first place vote as well.

It was probably Torre's worst year.

[Bruiser Chong]

I've watched a fair share of nationally televised Atlanta Braves games, and it seems like Bobby Cox is barely awake during games.

That's cuz he's like 139, but he still gets results. Until October, but that's another story.

 

For once, I'm happy with the results. Cox always got the shaft because Atlanta supposedly always had a superstar-packed team, and thus, winning should've been a given. He proved this year that even with mediocre pitching and a weak lineup, he could get them to the postseason.

 

Buck deserves it, too. Dumping A-Rod was one of the best moves they ever made. It allowed other talents to grow and if they ever get some decent pitching, they'll be a threat.

[Guest Anglesault]

They did a much better job this year. No one won after leading their team to an amazing four games over .500

[EVIL~! alkeiper]

.

 

Joe Torre got a first place vote as well.

It was probably Torre's worst year.

The award ballots are sent in before the Playoffs, so his managerial moves in the ALCS have no effect here.

[Guest Anglesault]

.

 

Joe Torre got a first place vote as well.

It was probably Torre's worst year.

The award ballots are sent in before the Playoffs, so his managerial moves in the ALCS have no effect here.

I wasn't talking about the playoffs. He had a really bizarre regular season. He ran Quantrill, Gordon and Rivera into the frigging ground, repeatedly used Heredia in big spots, refused to use Kenny Lofton because he personally doesn't like the man, refused to put his foot down both when the Yankees were target practice for several months during the year, and when umpires singlehandedly blew three games for the Yankees over the course of one week. He would argue petty, stupid shit and get himself tossed, but wouldn't argue major mistakes.

[EVIL~! alkeiper]

I think the overuse talk is ridiculous. I've touted pitch counts and carful usage as much as the next guy, but there is no reason a pitcher shouldn't be able to pitch 100 innings.

 

For Heredia, Torre didn't have any other lefties in the pen. Moreover, its easy to say he sucked after the fact, but he had a 2.69 ERA last season.

 

The umpire arguing and headhunting are subjective arguments. Personally, I didn't see it.

 

Kenny Lofton I'll give you. Torre's non use of him was maddening at times, especially when Giambi missed most of the season. The fact remains though that the Yankees won 101 games, and far exceeded their pythagorean record (again).

[Guest Leena]

Al, I just want to say your baseball knowledge is frightening.

 

I'm the same way with tennis, but unfortunately a board of this type won't draw any tennis fans.

 

I would have voted Gardenhire for AL Manager of the Year... but then again, I don't really care.

[The Czech Republic]

I was a moderate tennis fan but I haven't followed the game in quite some time. I actually missed the US Open.

[Guest Smues]

I was a big fan of Jim Courier, and uhh, I think that was it.

[Guest Leena]

Courier was a fine player, but now he's turned into a horribly sexist commentator.

 

Hate him.

[Guest Anglesault]

For Heredia, Torre didn't have any other lefties in the pen.

At some point, you have to forgo this lefty-lefty nonsense in the name of bringing in a better pitcher. *I* can go up there and throw that same slurve looking thing with my left hand that Heredia does. That doesn't mean I should be in a baseball game over a more competant right hander.

 

I think the overuse talk is ridiculous. I've touted pitch counts and carful usage as much as the next guy, but there is no reason a pitcher shouldn't be able to pitch 100 innings.

 

When all three guys are old(er), and either currently or recently injured, you should try and factor that in. And if you don't *have* to use them, there's no need to. Gordon in a 19-8 game in the playoffs pissed me off, but it wasn't eactly a new thing.

 

The umpire arguing and headhunting are subjective arguments.

 

I think a manager needs to worry less about being a nice guy and more about stopping his team from being walk overs.

 

Further, Jeter dives over the plate, that's brutally obvious and absolutely the reason he gets hit so much. It's also part of what makes him a good hitter. He needs to establish that part of the plate as his. In years past, if someone were to throw at or hit Jeter (intentionally or other wise) the team could be sure that Roger Clemens or David Wells or Mike Stanton or Jeff Nelson would knock someone on their ass. The Yankees no longer have that and the opposing pitchers had no fear of pitching inside.

[EVIL~! alkeiper]

At some point, you have to forgo this lefty-lefty nonsense in the name of bringing in a better pitcher. *I* can go up there and throw that same slurve looking thing with my left hand that Heredia does. That doesn't mean I should be in a baseball game over a more competant right hander.

 

Believe me, I get annoyed at the continuous use of lefties for the same reason. Your lefty should be able to pitch full innings, and retire right handers as well. But you've stated that Torre used Quantrill, Gordon, and Rivera too much, and relied too heavily on Felix Heredia. Who does that leave in the bullpen? Bret Prinz, Scott Proctor, Gabe White (until the trade), Tanyon Sturtze and C.J. Nitkowski. None of those guys really inspire any sort of confidence (Prinz's 5.08 ERA was the best of the group). At some point as a manager, you are handcuffed by the talent you have available. It is possible Torre misused his bullpen, but that bullpen was a sorry bunch to begin with.