Is Bob Brenly going to be our next manager?

[Getting there]

He's done some things I don't like, but I'd have zero problem with him managing a better baseball team. No manager was going to make this team better.

 

So his blatant mis-managing of the pitching staff and pen is fine with you? Really? REALLY?

 

REALLY?!?!?!

 

No, those are the main things of the "things I don't like" about him that I mentioned in the very post you quoted. He's left his starters in an inning too long too many times this season, and his use of Mateo was a dick move, but in the grand scheme of things, no, I don't find him to be an exceptionally bad manager. The Cubs haven't lost most of their games due to his handling of the pitchers. They've lost most of their games by not being very good.

 

Well, if that's the case, you would be fine if Dusty were back? He and Quade are two peas in a pod.

[Sammy Sofa]

If Brenly was such a great manager, as you seem to believe, then why is he still in the booth? I wouldn't be particularly upset if the Cubs did hire him, but don't pretend like he's some cure all to the many problems this organization has.

 

Waiting for the right opportunity?

 

I can't believe two people in this thread have said that Brenly chose to stay in the booth instead of taking a managing job. All of the reports in the offseason indicated that he was, yet again, trying his damndest to get hired as a manager, including with the Cubs, and came back emptyhanded.

 

Maybe Brenly doesn't want to take ANY managerial job. It could be that once he gets into the negotiations, he sees how the franchise is run by the owners and says no thanks. There's plenty of reasons... He's got a good job in broadcasting and isn't desperate. If the right job opens up and he's interested then, he'll interview.

 

Bunting is a fundamental of the game and EVERYONE needs to know how to do it. Like how to throw to the right base, etc.. Even slow-footed ARAM needs to know how to bunt.

 

Ugh. You're an awful troll that's wrong about everything. Yeah, Brenly had zero clue how the Cubs were run despite being their color man for several years until he was pushing to manage them and only then did he willfully step aside because he was appalled by what he saw. Brilliant conclusion.

 

Brenly would manage the Astros in a heartbeat if they asked him to. He's not turning down any managing offers.

[imb]

brenly would be cool with me. In the last decade i have liked one coach, Piniella in 2008. Just get good players and I don't care who the hell the coach is.

[Sammy Sofa]

He's done some things I don't like, but I'd have zero problem with him managing a better baseball team. No manager was going to make this team better.

 

So his blatant mis-managing of the pitching staff and pen is fine with you? Really? REALLY?

 

REALLY?!?!?!

 

No, those are the main things of the "things I don't like" about him that I mentioned in the very post you quoted. He's left his starters in an inning too long too many times this season, and his use of Mateo was a dick move, but in the grand scheme of things, no, I don't find him to be an exceptionally bad manager. The Cubs haven't lost most of their games due to his handling of the pitchers. They've lost most of their games by not being very good.

 

Well, if that's the case, you would be fine if Dusty were back? He and Quade are two peas in a pod.

 

They're really not. And I've made it clear twice now how I think Dusty is an exceptionally bad manager compared to how most managers are just "typically" bad. Pretty much any manager is a dinosaur-brained oaf who does more harm than good if left to their own devices and given a bad team. The key is to construct a good team that can win despite the manager. Thinking that a manager can make a team win is completely ass-backwards and futile.

[Benchwarmer]

If Brenly was such a great manager, as you seem to believe, then why is he still in the booth? I wouldn't be particularly upset if the Cubs did hire him, but don't pretend like he's some cure all to the many problems this organization has.

 

Waiting for the right opportunity?

 

I can't believe two people in this thread have said that Brenly chose to stay in the booth instead of taking a managing job. All of the reports in the offseason indicated that he was, yet again, trying his damndest to get hired as a manager, including with the Cubs, and came back emptyhanded.

 

Maybe Brenly doesn't want to take ANY managerial job. It could be that once he gets into the negotiations, he sees how the franchise is run by the owners and says no thanks. There's plenty of reasons... He's got a good job in broadcasting and isn't desperate. If the right job opens up and he's interested then, he'll interview.

 

Bunting is a fundamental of the game and EVERYONE needs to know how to do it. Like how to throw to the right base, etc.. Even slow-footed ARAM needs to know how to bunt.

 

Ugh. You're an awful troll that's wrong about everything. Yeah, Brenly had zero clue how the Cubs were run despite being their color man for several years until he was pushing to manage them and only then did he willfully step aside because he was appalled by what he saw. Brilliant conclusion.

 

Brenly would manage the Astros in a heartbeat if they asked him to. He's not turning down any managing offers.

 

And you know this how? Do you know Bob Brenly personally? Please provide a link.

[Sammy Sofa]

And you know this how? Do you know Bob Brenly personally? Please provide a link.

 

http://bobbrenlyreallywisheshewasmanaginginsteadofannouncing.org

 

Weird that you demand that I back up my reading between the lines when all you've done is decided out of thin air that Bob Brenly decided to not manage the Cubs because he decided he's too good for them.

[Getting there]

They're really not. And I've made it clear twice now how I think Dusty is an exceptionally bad manager compared to how most managers are just "typically" bad. Pretty much any manager is a dinosaur-brained oaf who does more harm than good if left to their own devices and given a bad team. The key is to construct a good team that can win despite the manager. Thinking that a manager can make a team win is completely ass-backwards and futile.

 

Dusty is a bad manager because he beats up his pitching staff and doesn't know how to use a pen. Mike Quade is exactly the same. So, yes, they are two peas in a pod.

[XZero771679666304]

The only approach related issue that has any bearing whatsoever on why the Cubs are so bad is a lack of patience at the plate, but the overwhelming majority of the problem is a simple lack of talent.

 

To echo what others have said, give Brenly (or any other manager) a really good team and he looks good by default. But to pretend like castigating guys like Soriano for not running out grounders and popups and bunting more would have any meaningful effect is utter nonsense.

 

We're all fed up with the results we're seeing, but focusing on the minutiae to the exclusion of the real problems is the realm of sports radio imbeciles.

[Getting there]

The only approach related issue that has any bearing whatsoever on why the Cubs are so bad is a lack of patience at the plate, but the overwhelming majority of the problem is a simple lack of talent.

 

To echo what others have said, give Brenly (or any other manager) a really good team and he looks good by default. But to pretend like castigating guys like Soriano for not running out grounders and popups and bunting more would have any meaningful effect is utter nonsense.

 

We're all fed up with the results we're seeing, but focusing on the minutiae to the exclusion of the real problems is the realm of sports radio imbeciles.

 

We all know this team lacks enough talent, so I am not sure where the "exclusion of the real problems" fits in to your comment.

[Tryptamine]

If Brenly was such a great manager, as you seem to believe, then why is he still in the booth? I wouldn't be particularly upset if the Cubs did hire him, but don't pretend like he's some cure all to the many problems this organization has.

 

Waiting for the right opportunity?

 

I can't believe two people in this thread have said that Brenly chose to stay in the booth instead of taking a managing job. All of the reports in the offseason indicated that he was, yet again, trying his damndest to get hired as a manager, including with the Cubs, and came back emptyhanded.

 

Maybe Brenly doesn't want to take ANY managerial job. It could be that once he gets into the negotiations, he sees how the franchise is run by the owners and says no thanks. There's plenty of reasons... He's got a good job in broadcasting and isn't desperate. If the right job opens up and he's interested then, he'll interview.

 

Bunting is a fundamental of the game and EVERYONE needs to know how to do it. Like how to throw to the right base, etc.. Even slow-footed ARAM needs to know how to bunt.

 

Jesus Christ, again with this?

[pitchcs]

If Brenly was such a great manager, as you seem to believe, then why is he still in the booth? I wouldn't be particularly upset if the Cubs did hire him, but don't pretend like he's some cure all to the many problems this organization has.

 

Waiting for the right opportunity?

 

I can't believe two people in this thread have said that Brenly chose to stay in the booth instead of taking a managing job. All of the reports in the offseason indicated that he was, yet again, trying his damndest to get hired as a manager, including with the Cubs, and came back emptyhanded.

 

Maybe Brenly doesn't want to take ANY managerial job. It could be that once he gets into the negotiations, he sees how the franchise is run by the owners and says no thanks. There's plenty of reasons... He's got a good job in broadcasting and isn't desperate. If the right job opens up and he's interested then, he'll interview.

 

Bunting is a fundamental of the game and EVERYONE needs to know how to do it. Like how to throw to the right base, etc.. Even slow-footed ARAM needs to know how to bunt.

 

Jesus Christ, again with this?

 

Seriously, it's not like Quade or Brenly or Guillen or whoever the manager is is teaching these guys how to bunt.

[CubColtPacer]

""We were a blue-collar team," left fielder Luis Gonzalez said.

 

"We weren't all about showboating and fancy and things like that. We wanted to go out there and play hard."Brenly's hire was the first big move of the 2000-01 off-season. After interviewing several candidates, including future managers Terry Francona and Clint Hurdle, the Diamondbacks chose Brenly, who had been their television analyst and was rumored to be Showalter's successor as far back as the previous summer.

 

Replacing the fastidious, detail-oriented Showalter, Brenly wasted no time in implementing a more laissez-faire managerial approach, starting with his first team meeting in spring training. He made a loud thud when he threw a supposed rule book in the garbage.

 

"That was more for effect than anything else," Brenly recalled. "Buck did not have a Manhattan phone book-sized rule book. He had his own rules, but the book that I dropped into the trash can was the organizational manual. . . . I used that because it had some heft to it. I knew it was going to make some impact."

 

Brenly then pulled out a cocktail napkin with two rules written on it: Be on time, and play hard. He got the reaction he wanted. The players already felt they had Brenly's respect.

 

"I think the biggest thing was that the players really enjoyed playing for him," said Joe Garagiola Jr., the organization's first general manager. "They wanted him to do well, and they approached their task that way."

 

So do you want a laissez-faire type manager or not? This article seems to mostly contradict what you've said you want in a manager. In fact, Showalter seems more like the manager you would want. Please correct me where I have missated you, but I feel like I'm missing something after seeing this.

[dew1679666265]

""We were a blue-collar team," left fielder Luis Gonzalez said.

 

"We weren't all about showboating and fancy and things like that. We wanted to go out there and play hard."

 

This sounds good and most teams say this after they've won because it does sound good and it resonates with their fans. However, it wasn't an accurate statement at all.

 

The Diamondbacks had two future Hall of Famers at the top of their rotation - Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson - a guy who hit 52 home runs that year - Luis Gonzalez - and a few multiple time all-stars - Matt Williams and Mark Grace in particular. That was a very star studded team that put up pretty impressive stats.

 

Their .342 team OBP was 8th in the majors and their .442 SLG was also 8th in the majors. A top 10 offense in both OBP and SLG in all of baseball and their pitching was even better - thanks to the two Hall of Famers. They were fourth in the majors in ERA (3.88), 8th in the majors in FIP (4.08) and they were 2nd in the majors in WHIP (1.24).

 

Teams - including the 2001 Diamondbacks - don't win because of hustle and bunting - though hustling can help to a minimal degree, as can bunting if it's used correctly. Teams win because they get guys on base, hit for power to drive those guys in and their pitching keeps the opponents from scoring. The best thing a manager can do is work on the correct approach at the plate (patience) and on the mound (don't walk people) and then stay out of the way on gameday for the most part (the obvious exception being making the correct pitching changes).

[dew1679666265]

As for a manager I'd like to see the Cubs hire, I'm not vehemently opposed to the vast majority as I think a talented enough team can win despite the manager. If I could create my own manager, however, he'd resemble very closely Lou Piniella. Especially his first couple of years in Chicago he kept Larry Rothschild, hired Gerald Perry, stressed a patient approach at the plate and didn't put undue stress on the pitchers. Like anybody else he had negatives - loved Koyie Hill and put Ryan Theriot at the top of the order way too much, for instance - but his good far outweighed his bad.

 

I'm not sure who out there right now fits that description, but if there is one I'd be all for bringing him in.

[Sammy Sofa]

They're really not. And I've made it clear twice now how I think Dusty is an exceptionally bad manager compared to how most managers are just "typically" bad. Pretty much any manager is a dinosaur-brained oaf who does more harm than good if left to their own devices and given a bad team. The key is to construct a good team that can win despite the manager. Thinking that a manager can make a team win is completely ass-backwards and futile.

 

Dusty is a bad manager because he beats up his pitching staff and doesn't know how to use a pen. Mike Quade is exactly the same. So, yes, they are two peas in a pod.

 

Quade and Dusty are light years apart when it comes to abusing their starters. Quade's issue is from time to time leaving a guy in too long when he's too hittable, not grinding the starter into the ground. And Quade's mistakes with the bullpen are pretty typical. In no way does he handle it exceptionally poorly or unusually so. Comparing Dusty to Quade is absurd.

[pitchcs]

dew, Luis had 57 HR (!) and let's not forget that even with those pitching stats in the regular season that Randy & Curt were starting even more playoff games.

[Sammy Sofa]

So do you want a laissez-faire type manager or not? This article seems to mostly contradict what you've said you want in a manager. In fact, Showalter seems more like the manager you would want. Please correct me where I have missated you, but I feel like I'm missing something after seeing this.

 

Oh man, I forgot to bring this up. I love that his argument for Brenly is using an article where Bob basically slams Buck [expletive] Showalter.

[dew1679666265]

dew, Luis had 57 HR (!) and let's not forget that even with those pitching stats in the regular season that Randy & Curt were starting even more playoff games.

 

I knew it was 50-something, 52 just came to mind. And you're right, Schilling and Johnson carried that pitching staff to the awesome numbers it posted. The DBacks won that year because their stars were stars, period. They had great players who played great.

[XZero771679666304]

dew, Luis had 57 HR (!) and let's not forget that even with those pitching stats in the regular season that Randy & Curt were starting even more playoff games.

 

I knew it was 50-something, 52 just came to mind. And you're right, Schilling and Johnson carried that pitching staff to the awesome numbers it posted. The DBacks won that year because their stars were stars, period. They had great players who played great.

 

This discussion reminds me of the 2005 White Sox "Ozzieball" farce.

[SouthSideRyan]

Can somebody please just lock this nonsense.

[Rob]

FWIW, I care less now about managers who love bunting, stealing, hit and runs, etc... than I did a few years ago. They're not as bad tactically in this lower offensive environment.

 

That said, Bob makes me roll my eyes plenty when he acts when Soriano and Aramis are the problem spots on this team.

[rocket]

my gut tells me getting there is a joke account

[Guest]

my gut tells me getting there is a joke account

My gut tells me he hasn't been responding because he's been banned.

[Benchwarmer]

And you know this how? Do you know Bob Brenly personally? Please provide a link.

 

http://bobbrenlyreallywisheshewasmanaginginsteadofannouncing.org

 

Weird that you demand that I back up my reading between the lines when all you've done is decided out of thin air that Bob Brenly decided to not manage the Cubs because he decided he's too good for them.

 

I'll take that as a 'No'. Not every team is a perfect fit for every manager.

[Sammy Sofa]

my gut tells me getting there is a joke account

My gut tells me he hasn't been responding because he's been banned.

 

Whoops, looks like you forgot Benchwarmer.