2016 Baseball

[Mike Thomas]

Terry Francona is indeed one of the very best managers in MLB, because of things like this:

The man has a sense of humor. This is a pre-game 'tribute' to opposing manager Kevin Cash.

 

[Philpug]

Look also at the Tigers on how they are now under Brad Asmus who replaced Leyland. @Mike Thomas, maybe I am giving managers too much credit, but I don't think you are giving them enough.

 

[Philpug]

Terry Francona is indeed one of the very best managers in MLB, because of things like this:

The man has a sense of humor. This is a pre-game 'tribute' to opposing manager Kevin Cash.

Sparky Anderson just had a cup of coffee in the big leagues. Charley Lau was one of the best hitting coaches ever with Brett and others as students was a .250 hitter. Most successful managers were marginal players but students of the game.

 

[tromano]

Watching Matt Williams last season and Dusty this year on the nats dugout, the importance of a good manager vs a guy whose team has quit in him is pretty obvious.

I still think it's hard to measure the value a manager brings and so much of what they do is not obvious in game and it's the art of actually managing employees.

 

[crgildart]

Sparky Anderson just had a cup of coffee in the big leagues. Charley Lau was one of the best hitting coaches ever with Brett and others as students was a .250 hitter. Most successful managers were marginal players but students of the game.

This is true in most sports. You can't teach raw natural ability and instinct but you can teach hard work, grit and determination to keep scrapping relentlessly to be a decent player, but not all time all star..

 

[Mike Thomas]

(the score board tribute was a joke, he was kidding around with Cash. He played for Tito for 3 years)

My favorite team replaced Terry Francona with Bobby Valentine, trust me, I know the impact of a good manager. Good managers, in todays game, are utilizing entire teams of sabermetric analysts to determine when to use defensive shifts, how to attack hitters and how to attack pitchers. The game plan is developed by the front office, guys like Joe Maddon are not making these decisions on the fly... they aren't making these decisions at all.

 

[tromano]

Watching Strasburg start against the giants. He is pitching tough.

 

[SKI-3PO]

My stadium tour took me west last week.

Late Thursday afternoon in Anaheim - A's beat the Angels in 10 innings. Apparently, that is not a popular time for a ball game there as the crowd was a bit sparse. Good game though - lots of home runs and some good defensive plays.

 

[SKI-3PO]

Then to San Diego on Friday to see my Phillies in Petco Park. This is a great stadium in a great location. Even better, the Phillies won.

 

[Philpug]

Petco looks so much better than Jack Murphy, which was one of those awful multi purpose stadiums of the 70's

 

[Lorenzzo]

Petco is such a cool park and as SKI three alluded to the environs are really fun. The Big A has come a long way. Now they just have to get those Disney rocks out of centerfield.

 

[Philpug]

A-Rod is done this weekend. Yankees are cleaning house. I am a believer Hal is no George and I don't see another championshio under his ownership. Any thoughts?

 

[Mike Thomas]

selling off talent under short term contracts, or players that will not be part of a championship run (2018 to 2020 window?) was the smartest move the Yankees have made in 20 years. I certainly hope they never win another championship, ever- but this move was the best way to prevent that from happening. Cashman is pretty good at his job, when he is allowed to do it.

Best quote I've seen about ARod's retirement is: Now the happy children of Nicaragua will all get 'ARod 700 Club' tee shirts for Christmas!

 

[crgildart]

MikeC's kids little league team is representing Pittsburgh in Cooperstown at the Little League World Series regionals. He's a manager for his kid's team I believe. go Steel City 412- Cooperstown Team!!

 

[scott43]

Terry Francona is indeed one of the very best managers in MLB, because of things like this:

The man has a sense of humor. This is a pre-game 'tribute' to opposing manager Kevin Cash.

This is why there are no baseball gods.. But ya can't look at the opposing pitcher when you hit a dinger..

 

[Philpug]

This is why there are no baseball gods.. But ya can't look at the opposing pitcher when you hit a dinger..

@Mike Thomas's Red Sox have Bucky "bleeping" Dent, as a Phillies fan we have Joe "Effin" Carter. I hate Toronto.

 

[crgildart]

Most minor league parks don't nave a "bad" seat. However, Mrs crgildart's job has pretty good fringe benis. Last night we sat front row next to the visitor's dugout at the Bulls game..
Downside to front row? No cup holders..

Upside, other than the obvious.. Bat boy gives many balls away here After we each had one Chance or Snow was passing them out to every other kid within 50 feet that didn't have one yet..

Bulls DH robbed at the top of the wall on what looked like the walk off winning HR bottom of 12th.

We lost 4-3 in 13 innings, but still a pretty great experience. I've never had better seats to a baseball game.

It was Negro League Heritage Night. Every Bulls player wore #42.

 

[Philpug]

Most minor league parks don't nave a "bad" seat. However, Mrs crgildart's job has pretty good fringe benis. Last night we sat front row next to the visitor's dugout at the Bulls game..
Downside to front row? No cup holders..

Upside, other than the obvious.. Bat boy gives many balls away here After we each had one Chance or Snow was passing them out to every other kid within 50 feet that didn't have one yet..

Bulls DH robbed at the top of the wall on what looked like the walk off winning HR bottom of 12th.

We lost 4-3 in 13 innings, but still a pretty great experience. I've never had better seats to a baseball game.

It was Negro League Heritage Night. Every Bulls player wore #42.

It looks like a mini Camden Yards with the warehouse in the background.

 

[Lorenzzo]

That park has come a long way.

 

[Philpug]

The Rangers are 21 games over 500 and have a negative run differential. How does that happen and I am sure it will catch up to them at some point,