Bruce Miles Touches on NSBB Themes

[MembersOnlyJacket]

I dug this up from Adam Greenberg in an interview last Fall (11.17.04):

 

"They led the league in home runs, but were near the bottom in on-base percentage (11th in the NL)," said Greenberg, who has a career OBP of .384. "Keep putting more people on base and keep hitting home runs, you do the math, you're going to score more runs. If they need a leadoff hitter, that's what I bring to the table. I have to believe that."

 

I've seen in several articles today only noting Greenberg's .275 BA at WT this season. No one mentioned that he's exactly on his career OBP number of .384 at the time of his call up.

 

While I don't expect Greenberg to play much, especially if Hairston continues to hit, his approach is refreshing.

[dalgreen]

If Braves manager Bobby Cox can win with three rookies in the lineup —— Wilson Betemit, Ryan Langerhans and Kelly Johnson —— the Cubs can give it a try.

 

It's important that Murton and Greenberg start when they come up. Dusty has a tendency to give the young guys an AB or two in a PH role when they are first called up and then let them sit a couple days before giving them a rare start. That's just a terrible way to debut a youngster in the majors in my opinion. Look no further than how Cox handled Francouer last night. He looked very nervous in his first couple AB's in front of the friends and family. Getting those AB's out of the way set up his blast in the 8th. There is no way in the world he comes off the bench in that spot and does anything similar. Now, he has Francouer's confidence elevated and if there were any doubts in his head that he could not handle ML pitching; they are eliminated.

 

Bobby Cox does this with all the young players. They start a game or two as soon as they arrive to the club. Then, Cox decides how to best incorporate those young players over the long haul. He did the same thing with Nick Green and Charles Thomas last season. The same goes this season for McCann, Langerhans, Johnson, and now Francouer.

 

I have utmost confidence in Dusty that he will handle Murton and Greenberg in the worst possible way.

 

I agree with almost everything you have stated. One thing is Francouer's homer had little to do with his previous at-bats, it had to do with Rusch throwing him multiple fastballs all at only around 90 mph. Rookies can hit fastballs. Anyway, I would love to see the new kids play.

[10man]

Can Bruce Miles be an MLB manager?

We could sure use those ideas practiced on this team.