Now Firmly in the Larry Dierker for Manager Camp

[KW34]

Wow. After reading this, I like Dierker even more.

 

Of course, after reading that, I understand there is now way Jim Hendry hires him.

But did you see his take on Willy Tavares? Check out Dierker's response to the first query.

 

http://blogs.chron.com/larrydierker/2006/07/my_team.html#comments

 

Prefers speed and defense! This sounds like Hendry's man! :wink:

[KW34]

His philosophies and Billy Beanes are very similar.

Are you serious?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Wow. After reading this, I like Dierker even more.

 

Of course, after reading that, I understand there is now way Jim Hendry hires him.

But did you see his take on Willy Tavares? Check out Dierker's response to the first query.

 

http://blogs.chron.com/larrydierker/2006/07/my_team.html#comments

 

Prefers speed and defense! This sounds like Hendry's man! :wink:

 

I think it might be nice to note who he is comparing Tavarez to. Also, it that ballpark, speed and defense are almost necessities in centerfield.

 

I don't think Dierker is a "sabermetric" manager, but I do think he does use some research and at least understands the most fundamental ways to see which hitters and pitchers are the ones who are performing in ways that will help the team.

 

He still has some "old school" ideas, but he's a thinker and doesn't often fall back onto conventional wisdom.

[RynoRules]

I don't think its possible to manage solely on stats. Its a game played by humans after all, so you have to do some other thinking beyond what the metrics tell you. That said, it sounds like Dierker employs a nice mix of both.

[David]

has there been any mention of him as a possible canidate for the managerial position next year?

I'd even love to have him as a pitching coach, just having him on the staff at all would improve the team tremendously.

Vance, does it say anything about his influence on GM Decisions?

 

I don't know about bringing him in as pitching coach. It's his offensive philosophies that excite me; can't say the same for his views on pitchers (although I understand them, to an extent). Sure, as part of the coaching staff, he'd be able to give his input on offense, but what's to say the new manager would even listen to him?

[jjgman21]

don't get me wrong, many of the philosophies are in line with what I believe in, but you simply can't overlook the pitcher abuse.

 

if any of the "what ifs" could be reversed over that would have lead to better results over the past three seasons , it would have to be "what if Kerry Wood and Mark Prior were healthy." if Dierker had been the Cubs manager, nothing would be different. we would still be saying the same thing.

 

all those great, young arms that went through Houston during his tenure, and the only one who survived Dierker's abuse was Oswalt. I just get a feeling we would be saying the same things we've been saying for years if Dierker took over, and I don't think I can take another year of saying "if our starting pitching stays healthy, we'll be fine."

[Guest]

I really dont have much of an issue with Biggio being the best 2nd baseman in his tenure in Baseball. I know we as Cub fans are supposed to bow down to our guy Sandberg and Sandberg was great. I do think that a legitimate arguement that Biggio is better could be made. I have always admired Biggio and wished the Cubs would get more players like him. I think that if we were in Dierkers shoes we would probably go with Biggio also.

 

On a side note didnt we not go after Biggio when he was a free agent because Sandberg came back. I love Sandberg but if we didnt get Biggio because of that it really didnt work out well for the Cubs in the long run.

 

I really liked his philosophy on the intentional walk. I almost always am against it unless it is walking the 8th hitter to get to the pitcher with runners in scoring position. Most other cases I think you are just adding fuel to the fire.

Who is this Sandberg and did he know Ryne Sandberg?

 

The Mets announcers this weekend were saying Biggio> Sandberg because Craig could produce more runs then Ryno and I nearly blew a fuse.

Hurts me to say it, but Biggio has a very good case for being > Sandberg.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I really dont have much of an issue with Biggio being the best 2nd baseman in his tenure in Baseball. I know we as Cub fans are supposed to bow down to our guy Sandberg and Sandberg was great. I do think that a legitimate arguement that Biggio is better could be made. I have always admired Biggio and wished the Cubs would get more players like him. I think that if we were in Dierkers shoes we would probably go with Biggio also.

 

On a side note didnt we not go after Biggio when he was a free agent because Sandberg came back. I love Sandberg but if we didnt get Biggio because of that it really didnt work out well for the Cubs in the long run.

 

I really liked his philosophy on the intentional walk. I almost always am against it unless it is walking the 8th hitter to get to the pitcher with runners in scoring position. Most other cases I think you are just adding fuel to the fire.

Who is this Sandberg and did he know Ryne Sandberg?

 

The Mets announcers this weekend were saying Biggio> Sandberg because Craig could produce more runs then Ryno and I nearly blew a fuse.

Hurts me to say it, but Biggio has a very good case for being > Sandberg.

 

Blasphemer!

[3finger]

I really dont have much of an issue with Biggio being the best 2nd baseman in his tenure in Baseball. I know we as Cub fans are supposed to bow down to our guy Sandberg and Sandberg was great. I do think that a legitimate arguement that Biggio is better could be made. I have always admired Biggio and wished the Cubs would get more players like him. I think that if we were in Dierkers shoes we would probably go with Biggio also.

 

On a side note didnt we not go after Biggio when he was a free agent because Sandberg came back. I love Sandberg but if we didnt get Biggio because of that it really didnt work out well for the Cubs in the long run.

 

I really liked his philosophy on the intentional walk. I almost always am against it unless it is walking the 8th hitter to get to the pitcher with runners in scoring position. Most other cases I think you are just adding fuel to the fire.

Who is this Sandberg and did he know Ryne Sandberg?

 

The Mets announcers this weekend were saying Biggio> Sandberg because Craig could produce more runs then Ryno and I nearly blew a fuse.

Hurts me to say it, but Biggio has a very good case for being > Sandberg.

 

Blasphemer!

 

RCAA

 

Biggio 346

Sandberg 197

 

OPS+

 

Biggio 116

Sandberg 114

 

ABs

 

Biggio (through 2005) 9811

Sandberg 8385

 

Biggio has had a longer and stronger tail-end of his career, helped by the fact that he didn't retire for a year and then come back.

[NCCubFan]

I really dont have much of an issue with Biggio being the best 2nd baseman in his tenure in Baseball. I know we as Cub fans are supposed to bow down to our guy Sandberg and Sandberg was great. I do think that a legitimate arguement that Biggio is better could be made. I have always admired Biggio and wished the Cubs would get more players like him. I think that if we were in Dierkers shoes we would probably go with Biggio also.

 

On a side note didnt we not go after Biggio when he was a free agent because Sandberg came back. I love Sandberg but if we didnt get Biggio because of that it really didnt work out well for the Cubs in the long run.

 

I really liked his philosophy on the intentional walk. I almost always am against it unless it is walking the 8th hitter to get to the pitcher with runners in scoring position. Most other cases I think you are just adding fuel to the fire.

Who is this Sandberg and did he know Ryne Sandberg?

Carl Sandberg was a famous author. He died in 1967, so he probably didn't know Ryne. :D

[RonnieWooWooSanto]

Here's a new book by Larry Dierker. This should give you a glimpse inot how he assesses players. In the book, he assembles two teams of 25 from the players he encountered during his playing, broadcasting, and managerial days.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

don't get me wrong, many of the philosophies are in line with what I believe in, but you simply can't overlook the pitcher abuse.

 

if any of the "what ifs" could be reversed over that would have lead to better results over the past three seasons , it would have to be "what if Kerry Wood and Mark Prior were healthy." if Dierker had been the Cubs manager, nothing would be different. we would still be saying the same thing.

 

all those great, young arms that went through Houston during his tenure, and the only one who survived Dierker's abuse was Oswalt. I just get a feeling we would be saying the same things we've been saying for years if Dierker took over, and I don't think I can take another year of saying "if our starting pitching stays healthy, we'll be fine."

 

I don't disagree at all, but what other arms were there in Houston besides Oswalt? All I can think of is Elarton.

[UK1679666180]

don't get me wrong, many of the philosophies are in line with what I believe in, but you simply can't overlook the pitcher abuse.

 

if any of the "what ifs" could be reversed over that would have lead to better results over the past three seasons , it would have to be "what if Kerry Wood and Mark Prior were healthy." if Dierker had been the Cubs manager, nothing would be different. we would still be saying the same thing.

 

all those great, young arms that went through Houston during his tenure, and the only one who survived Dierker's abuse was Oswalt. I just get a feeling we would be saying the same things we've been saying for years if Dierker took over, and I don't think I can take another year of saying "if our starting pitching stays healthy, we'll be fine."

 

I don't disagree at all, but what other arms were there in Houston besides Oswalt? All I can think of is Elarton.

 

Wade Miller.

[rawaction]

don't get me wrong, many of the philosophies are in line with what I believe in, but you simply can't overlook the pitcher abuse.

 

if any of the "what ifs" could be reversed over that would have lead to better results over the past three seasons , it would have to be "what if Kerry Wood and Mark Prior were healthy." if Dierker had been the Cubs manager, nothing would be different. we would still be saying the same thing.

 

all those great, young arms that went through Houston during his tenure, and the only one who survived Dierker's abuse was Oswalt. I just get a feeling we would be saying the same things we've been saying for years if Dierker took over, and I don't think I can take another year of saying "if our starting pitching stays healthy, we'll be fine."

 

I don't disagree at all, but what other arms were there in Houston besides Oswalt? All I can think of is Elarton.

 

Wade Miller.

 

Dotel and Wagner were pretty young in his tenure.

[jjgman21]

don't get me wrong, many of the philosophies are in line with what I believe in, but you simply can't overlook the pitcher abuse.

 

if any of the "what ifs" could be reversed over that would have lead to better results over the past three seasons , it would have to be "what if Kerry Wood and Mark Prior were healthy." if Dierker had been the Cubs manager, nothing would be different. we would still be saying the same thing.

 

all those great, young arms that went through Houston during his tenure, and the only one who survived Dierker's abuse was Oswalt. I just get a feeling we would be saying the same things we've been saying for years if Dierker took over, and I don't think I can take another year of saying "if our starting pitching stays healthy, we'll be fine."

 

I don't disagree at all, but what other arms were there in Houston besides Oswalt? All I can think of is Elarton.

 

Wade Miller.

 

Hampton, Lima, Elarton, Holt. everyone blames Colorado on Darrel Kile's downfall. might have had something to do with his 40 inning increased workload in Dierker's first year. also, I said Oswalt survived him, but maybe just barely. Dierker abused him heavily in '02, then he missed 10 starts in '03.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

I have mixed feelings on Dierker. While I like most of his philosophies, have you seen his teams he lists in the book as the best teams assembled of the players during his tenure in baseball? He has Craig Biggio starting at 2B, and Jeff Bagwell is the backup 1B. He left out Pete Rose, Mark McGwire, Robin Yount, and the list goes on. I listened to a radio interview with him and he really didn't have any reason to backup his claims on those two guys (Biggio and Bagwell). Just seems like they were "his guys" which is all too familiar.

 

I don't get why Bagwell and Biggio are bad choices at all...Both are near the top of their positions on All-Time lists as it is.

[jjgman21]

I have mixed feelings on Dierker. While I like most of his philosophies, have you seen his teams he lists in the book as the best teams assembled of the players during his tenure in baseball? He has Craig Biggio starting at 2B, and Jeff Bagwell is the backup 1B. He left out Pete Rose, Mark McGwire, Robin Yount, and the list goes on. I listened to a radio interview with him and he really didn't have any reason to backup his claims on those two guys (Biggio and Bagwell). Just seems like they were "his guys" which is all too familiar.

 

I don't get why Bagwell and Biggio are bad choices at all...Both are near the top of their positions on All-Time lists as it is.

 

well it's all sticking by his guys, but nobody in their right mind would choose Bagwell and Biggio over Gerhig and Hornsby. maybe they had more grit that these two top 5 all time OPS+ players.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

I have mixed feelings on Dierker. While I like most of his philosophies, have you seen his teams he lists in the book as thebest teams assembled of the players during his tenure in baseball? He has Craig Biggio starting at 2B, and Jeff Bagwell is the backup 1B. He left out Pete Rose, Mark McGwire, Robin Yount, and the list goes on. I listened to a radio interview with him and he really didn't have any reason to backup his claims on those two guys (Biggio and Bagwell). Just seems like they were "his guys" which is all too familiar.

 

I don't get why Bagwell and Biggio are bad choices at all...Both are near the top of their positions on All-Time lists as it is.

 

well it's all sticking by his guys, but nobody in their right mind would choose Bagwell and Biggio over Gerhig and Hornsby. maybe they had more grit that these two top 5 all time OPS+ players.

 

You forget that these were playing during his tenure.

 

And on Dierker, I like that he is a thinking man. It's really hard to find that in an old timer in baseball. He, like Maddon in TB, has tried to understand the basics of statistical analysis. He sounds like a smart guy, I'm worried a bit about his pitching philosophy. The thing is, hiring a good pitching coach who puts control first would help this pitching staff alot.

[jjgman21]

I have mixed feelings on Dierker. While I like most of his philosophies, have you seen his teams he lists in the book as thebest teams assembled of the players during his tenure in baseball? He has Craig Biggio starting at 2B, and Jeff Bagwell is the backup 1B. He left out Pete Rose, Mark McGwire, Robin Yount, and the list goes on. I listened to a radio interview with him and he really didn't have any reason to backup his claims on those two guys (Biggio and Bagwell). Just seems like they were "his guys" which is all too familiar.

 

I don't get why Bagwell and Biggio are bad choices at all...Both are near the top of their positions on All-Time lists as it is.

 

well it's all sticking by his guys, but nobody in their right mind would choose Bagwell and Biggio over Gerhig and Hornsby. maybe they had more grit that these two top 5 all time OPS+ players.

 

You forget that these were playing during his tenure.

 

And on Dierker, I like that he is a thinking man. It's really hard to find that in an old timer in baseball. He, like Maddon in TB, has tried to understand the basics of statistical analysis. He sounds like a smart guy, I'm worried a bit about his pitching philosophy. The thing is, hiring a good pitching coach who puts control first would help this pitching staff alot.

 

gotcha. I wouldn't argue with those two.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

After reading this, I love Dierker even more, but now know Hendry would never hire him. :cry:

 

Statistics have changed the way the game is played too. It's more scientific now, less artful. Managers get a stat pack before every game which includes splits with useful information such as what individual hitters do against left and right handed pitchers and vice versa. The pack also includes what each hitter on one team has does against each pitcher on the other team and vice versa. These stats are helpful. Some of the others, such as how a player has performed at home and on the road, and how he has hit with men in scoring position are of dubious value.

[UK1679666180]

http://blogs.chron.com/larrydierker/2006/09/little_ball.html

[minnesotacubsfan]

http://blogs.chron.com/larrydierker/2006/09/little_ball.html

 

just read this.

 

lets git that kid in Chcago.

[TXCubsFan]

Once again, my philosophy was to play for the big inning on offense and to try to avoid letting the other team put up a crooked number.

 

Isn't this approach just an update of Earl Weaver's "three-run homer" philosophy?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Once again, my philosophy was to play for the big inning on offense and to try to avoid letting the other team put up a crooked number.

 

Isn't this approach just an update of Earl Weaver's "three-run homer" philosophy?

 

It's more a philosophy based on run expectancy. God, that would be nice!

[Warpticon]

Man, I would love to have Dierker running the offense. My only question whatsoever with him is his use of pitchers.