Girardi

[Larry Horse]

It looks like Joe is going to be the next Marlins manager. I think he would have looked pretty nice as the Cubs boss. Oh well........

[TrueBlueCubFan]

It looks like Joe is going to be the next Marlins manager. I think he would have looked pretty nice as the Cubs boss. Oh well........

Link? Source?

[Tedward]

It looks like Joe is going to be the next Marlins manager. I think he would have looked pretty nice as the Cubs boss. Oh well........

Link? Source?

 

The Marlins have received permission to speak with Girardi. That might be what he is referring to. I highly doubt they have spoken with him yet, however, since the Yanks are still playing.

[UK1679666180]

Girardi did meet w/Jeffrey Loria yesterday as Loria has an office in Manhattan and the Yanks gave Girardi permission to do so.

 

He is the leading candidate to replace McKeon.

[BigbadB]

Well, ya know....

 

Hendry doesn't have to wait until the World Series is over before firing his manager.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Girardi might have been nice, but he still would have been no higher than fourth or fifth on my list. So far, my top three are still available should the Cubs can Baker.

[ZMovieman]

For memories sake Vance, your top three were Fredi Gonzalez and who else?

[RockTheIvy]

For memories sake Vance, your top three were Fredi Gonzalez and who else?

 

Rick Wrona and Marvell Wynne?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

For memories sake Vance, your top three were Fredi Gonzalez and who else?

 

1. Fredi Gonzalez

2. Davey Johnson

3. Larry Dierker

4. Ned Yost (I may even move Yost up a slot or two, but I'm not sure if he could get away from Milawukee)

[donobr]

Why would he want to?

[stitchface]

What makes you think Joe would be a good manager? He was a terrible, terrible hitter. Ned Yost is the worst in-game manager I have ever seen (save Brenly). I would almost rather keep Dusty than see Ned coaching the Cubs.

[MembersOnlyJacket]

What makes you think Joe would be a good manager? He was a terrible, terrible hitter.

 

So was Bobby Cox. Of course, both were drafted by the Cubs.

[stitchface]

I'm not saying he would be bad, just what makes you think he would be good? His first pitch swinging was abominable - you would think a hitter that understands the game would have been more patient.

[Outshined_One]

4. Ned Yost (I may even move Yost up a slot or two, but I'm not sure if he could get away from Milawukee)

 

I dunno, I've watched enough of Yost to have a pretty good idea of what kind of manager he is. He would be a definite improvement over the current dunce in the Cubs' dugout, but as an in-game manager...eh. I can't say I'm a fan of the way he manages a game. He makes some weird bullpen choices and calls some plays that have me scratching my head.

[stitchface]

He's just another manager that has to interfere with the game and thus makes dumb moves just to make a move. No thanks.

[Outshined_One]

I'm trying to figure something out, and this applies to other sports as well...

 

In this world, I'd say that every nation/region with baseball as one of the top sports (The US, Canada, Japan, Taiwan, Venezuela, The Dominican Republic, etc) combined has a population of roughly one billion. The number of men of sound mind and body who have played baseball in their lives and are an appropriate working age probably numbers in the hundreds of millions.

 

So why in the heck is it that we can't find 32 competent managers? How many managers in major league baseball today would we qualify as not being a complete idiot when it comes to either in-game management, bullpen management, making out lineups, and playing guys who are the best choices on a given day to play baseball? 3? 4?

 

Should it really be this difficult? Why are there so many complete dunderheads out there managing the game?

[imb]

cant we just hire a computer? what would a B.A. computer connected to baseball prospectus run us? 2 grand? SAVING MONEY FOLKS

[stitchface]

I think the answer is that baseball people refuse to change the way they think. They just keep hiring retreads and ex-players.

[stitchface]

Here's a good example: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2185132

 

 

Why not find some new candidates?

[AAApittsburgh]

I'm trying to figure something out, and this applies to other sports as well...

 

In this world, I'd say that every nation/region with baseball as one of the top sports (The US, Canada, Japan, Taiwan, Venezuela, The Dominican Republic, etc) combined has a population of roughly one billion. The number of men of sound mind and body who have played baseball in their lives and are an appropriate working age probably numbers in the hundreds of millions.

 

So why in the heck is it that we can't find 32 competent managers? How many managers in major league baseball today would we qualify as not being a complete idiot when it comes to either in-game management, bullpen management, making out lineups, and playing guys who are the best choices on a given day to play baseball? 3? 4?

 

Should it really be this difficult? Why are there so many complete dunderheads out there managing the game?

Because it seems like teams hire coaches based on their history as a player. Former players know people and they get the job. And since they're former players, they sometimes rely on hunches, gut feelings, and old baseball myths to make decisions. The best manager would probably be some no-name stat geek out of college who has never played the game. However, he might end up overmanaging, like TLR.

[Outshined_One]

cant we just hire a computer? what would a B.A. computer connected to baseball prospectus run us? 2 grand? SAVING MONEY FOLKS

 

The irony is, this might not be a bad idea.

 

Just have the bench coach be the motivator with the various coaches doing their things. If you have the computer set with complete statistics (including the psychotically crazy and complex ones) and have definitions set up regarding the way it goes about its operations (top OPS guy batting 3rd, best SLG guy batting 4th, etc) and you'd be good to go.

 

Seriously, I don't see it as being a worse option than the majority of managers out there. Hire Deep Blue or something and see where it can take you.

[Cubfanintheknow]

I think the answer is that baseball people refuse to change the way they think. They just keep hiring retreads and ex-players.

 

I see what you're saying about the re-treads, but there is some merit to having an ex-player manage. My business is crawling with creepy consultants. Many have not spent any time at all in my shoes. Yet they think they know how to do my job. Now I don't completely dismiss their suggestions. But I've been doing what I'm doing now for 14 years. And I've done pretty well for myself. I have a fairly good idea of what works and what doesn't. And it is hard to take orders from someone who has no clue about my job and how it's done.

 

I think the same principle applies to managers. Players want to hear from a guy who's "been there, done that." They don't want to listen to someone who hasn't walked in their shoes.

[RynoRules]

I think the answer is that baseball people refuse to change the way they think. They just keep hiring retreads and ex-players.

 

I see what you're saying about the re-treads, but there is some merit to having an ex-player manage. My business is crawling with creepy consultants. Many have not spent any time at all in my shoes. Yet they think they know how to do my job. Now I don't completely dismiss their suggestions. But I've been doing what I'm doing now for 14 years. And I've done pretty well for myself. I have a fairly good idea of what works and what doesn't. And it is hard to take orders from someone who has no clue about my job and how it's done.

 

I think the same principle applies to managers. Players want to hear from a guy who's "been there, done that." They don't want to listen to someone who hasn't walked in their shoes.

 

Right. Which is why catchers tend to make very good managers. They have both been there and have been in charge of executing the manager's wishes and strategy on the field.

 

Yet another reason to dump Dusty in favor of Girardi.

[Backtobanks]

The Tribune stated that his first move would be to hire Don Zimmer as bench coach. Zimmer has always been one of my favorite baseball people. Let's take a vote: Girardi & Zimmer or Baker & Pole. I'd go for Girardi & Zimmer in a second.

[fromthestretch]

I'm not saying he would be bad, just what makes you think he would be good? His first pitch swinging was abominable - you would think a hitter that understands the game would have been more patient.

 

Knowing the best approach to hitting and actually being able to use that approach as a player are two completely different things. Look at Billy Beane's career numbers as a player. Not exactly impressive.