Dusty Bad Managerial Moves Thread

[Transmogrified Tiger]

BP 2005 says that Macias was one run below average at third last year in 10 games, and predicts the same rate this year.

 

What does one run below average mean?

 

It means that in 10 games Macias played at 3rd, he cost the team 1 run compared to an "average" fielder. This year they project him with 37 games at third, and being three runs below average in that time.

 

Kelton, anyone?

 

Not sure if you were asking, but in his last stint at 3rd base, 29 games in '03 for Iowa, BP has him 6 runs below average.

 

Thank you. Just curious... I wonder what the combined defensive and offensive numbers would be for Kelton vs. Macias.

 

Of course, I'm pretty biased; I think Macias should be summarily executed if Hendry won't release him. Just kidding about the release part.

 

Like VORP? Kelton projects at 2.8, Macias at -2.3. Of course, that considers Kelton strictly as an outfielder, so I don't know how his 3rd base defense would affect that total. Not enough to drop him 5 points is my guess though.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

If we need a back-up 3B, Dean Palmer is still looking for a job. And as bad as a 37 year old Palmer may be, he can't be any worse than Macias.

[E.J.]

Dusty is batting Cpatt 2nd today against the Brewer's. Stupid. Corey has no right batting 2nd. :x

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Dusty is batting Cpatt 2nd today against the Brewer's. Stupid. Corey has no right batting 2nd. :x

 

Does that mean Hairston is leading off?

[E.J.]

Dusty is batting Cpatt 2nd today against the Brewer's. Stupid. Corey has no right batting 2nd. :x

 

Does that mean Hairston is leading off?

 

Yep. Hairston is leading off and playing 2nd. The lineup is in Game Thread.

[brinoch]

Dusty is batting Cpatt 2nd today against the Brewer's. Stupid. Corey has no right batting 2nd. :x

 

Does that mean Hairston is leading off?

 

That would be my guess. If Dusty is playing Dubois for Hollandsworth as has been assumed, my guess is that Walker will be sitting.

[lumafia35]

I hate Dusty.

[frostwyrm]

Dusty is batting Cpatt 2nd today against the Brewer's. Stupid. Corey has no right batting 2nd. :x

 

I have no objection to Hairston at leadoff and Corey 2nd. I think Dusty is lame but this lineup doesn't bother me at all.

[JC]

Dusty is batting Cpatt 2nd today against the Brewer's. Stupid. Corey has no right batting 2nd. :x

 

I have no objection to Hairston at leadoff and Corey 2nd. I think Dusty is lame but this lineup doesn't bother me at all.

 

I can live with it.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Dusty is batting Cpatt 2nd today against the Brewer's. Stupid. Corey has no right batting 2nd. :x

 

I have no objection to Hairston at leadoff and Corey 2nd. I think Dusty is lame but this lineup doesn't bother me at all.

 

I agree. Of course I want Corey batting 5th, but whatever.

[treebird]

I don't really care about the lineup. I won't complain about the order Dusty puts the players in except for extreme cases, like if Nomar is getting a day off so Neifi plays and bats second instead of eighth.

[E.J.]

The problem I have with it is that like many I'd rather see Corey batting 5th. You want someone who's going to take pitches and be able to make contact batting 2nd for you. Corey is too impatient for the 2-hole. He wants to be an RBI man, so let him be an RBI man. Dusty is too caught up in speed at the top.

[BigbadB]

Corey hits lefties pretty decent. I'm not going to harp about him hitting 2nd. The fact he can lay down a bunt to get on base in front of our two premier right handed hitters is just that much more of a plus, in my opinion.

 

Now, let's talk about Dusty's poor non decisions yesterday, like not releasing Macias. :D

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Now, let's talk about Dusty's poor non decisions yesterday, like not releasing Macias. :D

 

Wouldn't that be Hendry's bad?

[don_kessinger_was_good]

Cubs lose in extra innings the home opener. So many Dusty mistakes it boggles the mind. Does he throw the games on purpose? Is he incorrigibly mule-headed? Or just mentally [expletive]?

 

I'll pick just one, what the hell. Dusty goes to Hawkins again, who starts dirtying his drawers before he even hits the mound. Predictably, Hawkins blows the save.

 

Of course, Baker had no other options besides Hawkins and Leicester, since he burned his best reliever (Wuertz) in a one-out appearance earlier in the game.

 

Oh, what the hay, here's some more. Walker sits on the bench until the 12th; but oh sure, both Macias and Neifi get their time in well before that.

 

Always smart to take your best hitter (Nomar) out of the game early.

 

Does the double-switch ever work?

 

Please let me know when it was that Todd Hollandsworth became a defensive specialist and replacement, I'd like to know that.

 

Baker sucks. So do the Cubs so long as he's at the helm. Go nuts apologists.

[B]

Baker sucks. So do the Cubs so long as he's at the helm. Go nuts apologists.

 

I agree. I almost want to root against them if it means Dustbag will get fired.

[TruffleShuffle]

Dusty goes to Hawkins again

 

I second this as being a terrible managerial decision.

[mhuber92211]

Cubs lose in extra innings the home opener. So many Dusty mistakes it boggles the mind. Does he throw the games on purpose? Is he incorrigibly mule-headed? Or just mentally [expletive]?

 

I'll pick just one, what the hell. Dusty goes to Hawkins again, who starts dirtying his drawers before he even hits the mound. Predictably, Hawkins blows the save.

 

Of course, Baker had no other options besides Hawkins and Leicester, since he burned his best reliever (Wuertz) in a one-out appearance earlier in the game.

 

Oh, what the hay, here's some more. Walker sits on the bench until the 12th; but oh sure, both Macias and Neifi get their time in well before that.

 

Always smart to take your best hitter (Nomar) out of the game early.

 

Does the double-switch ever work?

 

Please let me know when it was that Todd Hollandsworth became a defensive specialist and replacement, I'd like to know that.

 

Baker sucks. So do the Cubs so long as he's at the helm. Go nuts apologists.

 

 

Well not going nuts per se...then again many can argue the point that I am already there....

 

1st off, Hawkins is the closer. He is the best option to begin the season with. Wuertz will get there (just like Leicester proved his worth in mid year last year) but he needs more then 3 innings to prove he has made strides over last season. Besides, its still extremely early to be anoiting Wuertz as your best reliever. Remmy had a solid game & Hawkins' inning actually was pretty solid until the walk in which he should have had strike 3 twice.

 

Walker belonged on the bench until the 12th. In an extra inning game like this one where a double switch was going to come again, I would rather have Walker be the one switched not Macias.

 

The double switch was nessacary at that point. You have to figure if you use your long man you would expect him to pitch 3 innings before you get to him again. Otherwise you would burn your Pen too quickly. Unfortuately, Rusch's performance led to the switch not working.

 

Again, Hollandsworth was a double switch that made sense at the time. Even Brenly & Kasper made mention of it. One thing to remember is, just because the moves don't work out each time, its doesn't mean it was the wrong gametime decision. Hindsight is a luxury that we anaylsts have. I would have to say that if many of us were managing a team in thes circumstances we would make similar changes.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Walker belonged on the bench until the 12th. In an extra inning game like this one where a double switch was going to come again, I would rather have Walker be the one switched not Macias.

 

The double switch was nessacary at that point. You have to figure if you use your long man you would expect him to pitch 3 innings before you get to him again. Otherwise you would burn your Pen too quickly. Unfortuately, Rusch's performance led to the switch not working.

 

So don't double switch and let Rusch hit. He's better than the alternatives if you aren't going to use Walker.

[mhuber92211]

Walker belonged on the bench until the 12th. In an extra inning game like this one where a double switch was going to come again, I would rather have Walker be the one switched not Macias.

 

The double switch was nessacary at that point. You have to figure if you use your long man you would expect him to pitch 3 innings before you get to him again. Otherwise you would burn your Pen too quickly. Unfortuately, Rusch's performance led to the switch not working.

 

So don't double switch and let Rusch hit. He's better than the alternatives if you aren't going to use Walker.

 

That was the plan! And the point of the double switch with Nomar. Unfortunately, Rusch (who is apparently better then Dempster as a 5th starter according to this forum, but hasn't proven anything more then Dempster) couldn't last as a long man in the game. Now look at De La Rosa. His performance was supposed to be what Rusch was to do. Rusch's performance is not Dusty's fault, therefore calling the double switch a poor move is illogical.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

...

Unfortunately, Rusch (who is apparently better then Dempster as a 5th starter according to this forum, but hasn't proven anything more then Dempster) couldn't last as a long man in the game.

 

Rusch was pretty successful last season as a starter, Dempster hasn't had a good season as a starter since before TJS and that was 5 years ago.

[ZZ Thorn]

I honestly blame Jesus, Zeus and Shiva more than Dusty for this loss... Dusty didn't give up the runs, or bobble the ball, or hit 2 million pop ups.

[mhuber92211]

...

Unfortunately, Rusch (who is apparently better then Dempster as a 5th starter according to this forum, but hasn't proven anything more then Dempster) couldn't last as a long man in the game.

 

Rusch was pretty successful last season as a starter, Dempster hasn't had a good season as a starter since before TJS and that was 5 years ago.

 

Prior to last season, what how good of a pitcher was Rusch? He was demoted to bullpen work for Milwaukee! Thats almost as bad as not being able to make Tampa's staff as a lefty. Don't get me wrong, I think that Rusch had an excellent season last year. Certainly beat the odds. But if I recall, at the time many of these same people were railing the decision to go with Rusch and not Mitre or a different pitcher due to the same reasons that are now going against Dempster. I think we all agree that Dempster has talent and a similar background of sucess as Rusch. Why rail against Dempster already? Lets try something new and give him the support we have given Nomar this season and see how he responds. Heck Nomar is in a slump too currently. How come no one is complaining about him?

[CaliforniaRaisin]

...

Unfortunately, Rusch (who is apparently better then Dempster as a 5th starter according to this forum, but hasn't proven anything more then Dempster) couldn't last as a long man in the game.

 

Rusch was pretty successful last season as a starter, Dempster hasn't had a good season as a starter since before TJS and that was 5 years ago.

 

Prior to last season, what how good of a pitcher was Rusch? He was demoted to bullpen work for Milwaukee! Thats almost as bad as not being able to make Tampa's staff as a lefty. Don't get me wrong, I think that Rusch had an excellent season last year. Certainly beat the odds. But if I recall, at the time many of these same people were railing the decision to go with Rusch and not Mitre or a different pitcher due to the same reasons that are now going against Dempster. I think we all agree that Dempster has talent and a similar background of sucess as Rusch. Why rail against Dempster already? Lets try something new and give him the support we have given Nomar this season and see how he responds. Heck Nomar is in a slump too currently. How come no one is complaining about him?

 

There are differences though. Rusch's successful season was the most recent, while Dempster's good season was five years ago and he's coming off a major injury, operation and rehab. It is true that Rusch beat the odds, but Dempster has shown no signs of that thus far. He has had an awful spring, and followed it up with an awful first outing. Rusch did well in Iowa and had a good first start in San Diego, making him an obvious choice to replace the injured Wood and allow Mitre to go back to working on improving his lefty out pitch in Iowa.

 

No one's complaining about Nomar because he's an established superstar (actually some folks are complaining). He also had a spectacular spring. But most importantly, he's the best player in the system at his position and deserves the nod as starting SS. Dempster's not the best option as the 5th starter and was handed the job with 10 days left in the spring, at which time, he was being outpitched by Mitre, a slumping Rusch and a rusty and rusty Guzman. A comparison between Nomar and Dempster in this case is not apt.

[mhuber92211]

JUst out of curiosity. If mitre was the 5th starter and doing average or slightly above average, how easy would it be for everyone here to replace him with Guzman when he has shaken off the rust.

 

Essentially, Guzman is on a rehab assignment right now. Isn't it easier to replace Dempster in this kind of spot? I guess similar to the school of thought of having a minor leaguer get to play everyday or have them be on a the bench for the big club.