KW34

This article from 2012 says Maddon is fluent in Spanish: :-k http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/page/OneNation-MLB120919/major-league-managers-speak-spanish-bring-competitive-edge-game

Here's some info on Kyler Burke. This sounds promising. He was an OF/LHP in high school so maybe the Cubs see hm as a pitcher? http://www.brewerfan.net/ViewAmateurPlayerProfile.do?playerId=647&draftId=4

Are you serious?

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:

Why is this so horrible? I see a 24 year old who had a minor league career OBP of .368, .402 in his last full season in AA.

First: the stats in the original posts aren't necessarily indicative of a good manager. Second: (and maybe this is what you meant, obp is pretty interesting. Girardi has coaxed a similar/better hitting team out of less talent. And a lot less experienced hitters. I'll give you less experienced, although Girardi really didn't have a choice. Less talent is questionable. I'll take the Cabrera at 3B, Hanley Ramirez at SS and Uggla/Walker is close at 2B. Hermida in RF, and Willingham in LF. That's 4 or 5 of 8 position players where I'd rather have Marlins. And that's right now, not future. That's pretty depressing when you think of it.

Serious question, why are some so strongly advocating Girardi as Cubs manager? Sure the Marlins are playing pretty good baseball, but I see signs that Girardi would not be the forward thinking manager many here crave. Florida has 38 sacrifice bunts good for 7th in the league. The Cubs are 6th with 42. Florida is 5th with 61 SB attempts, successful on 69%. The Cubs are 6th with 57 SB attempts, successful on 67%. Florida is 14th in walks, the Cubs are 16th. Zambrano is 3rd in baseball prospectus' pitcher abuse points. Dontrelle is 5th. The next worst from both teams is Josh Johnson at 58, but in only 11 starts. Sean Marhall checks in at 175. Virtually all of Borowski's appearances have been of the 1 inning, 3 run lead save variety or traditional closer situations. Joe's career OBP was .315 (although this really doesn't tell us much more than Joe wasn't a very good hitter himself). Am I missing something here?

I respectfully disagree. I don't see how playing the game does anything to make you more likely to be a better manager. It gives you the respect of the players, which is more than any ability to pull together a lineup. It's the same as any job: if you don't have respect for your boss, would you do a good job? The way the baseball world works you have to put in your time in the minors, in the front office, etc. for the major league level. It's an old-school mentality that wouldn't readily accept a manager who has no playing experience. Of course. There are questions of "would you do what your boss told you to", but with baseball, doing a good job is generally straightforward. Get on base. Keep the opposition from getting on base. I disagree with the straightforwardness of doing a good job. A guy with 40 homers and a .320 OBP will get a better contract than a guy at 20 HR/ .360 OBP. So I would think a player would do better for himself at the expense of the team by swinging for the fences every at-bat. I submit that the negative differences between these two hypotheticals is less than the impact of batting neifi 600 times a season Maybe. But what happens when 24 guys are playing for themselves (assuming Neifi must be the 25th by your scenario)?

I respectfully disagree. I don't see how playing the game does anything to make you more likely to be a better manager. It gives you the respect of the players, which is more than any ability to pull together a lineup. It's the same as any job: if you don't have respect for your boss, would you do a good job? The way the baseball world works you have to put in your time in the minors, in the front office, etc. for the major league level. It's an old-school mentality that wouldn't readily accept a manager who has no playing experience. Of course. There are questions of "would you do what your boss told you to", but with baseball, doing a good job is generally straightforward. Get on base. Keep the opposition from getting on base. I disagree with the straightforwardness of doing a good job. A guy with 40 homers and a .320 OBP will get a better contract than a guy at 20 HR/ .360 OBP. So I would think a player would do better for himself at the expense of the team by swinging for the fences every at-bat.

That doesn't sound like an absolutely to me. I think the clubhouse plays a rather large part of the equation.

Many of the things being said by dusty, hendry and MacPhail indicate a frightening lack of understanding of how to win baseball games and they should be questioned. For instance, blaming losing solely on not hitting with runners in scoring position when the team is last in nearly every offensive category - or near last. I think the questioning of every one of his comments is the result of his long track record of silly comments. Think about it - instead of talking about Prior's start in Peoria you're talking about a perceived assinine Dusty quote. I may be off base but it seems that Dusty takes the heat off of his players quite a bit.

It seems to me that this is Dusty sticking up for his players (Prior, in this case). I think that's one of the great qualities of Baker.

I know many are given to hyperbole, but I am still curious.

It means bad bench players should never play because they're bad. If you're not going to play someone they shouldn't be on the team.

So does this mean that bench guys should never start, and every position player should play 162 games?