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Thursday, October 13, 2005 |
Pickoff Moves
NLCS Game 1: Cardinals 5, Astros 3
Meanwhile, back in St. Louis, David Eckstein had an RBI and was responsible for scoring two runs. Orlando Cabrera defenders need to explain how his glove is so much better than Eckstein's bat that he is worth (a) all that money, and (b) all those many years.Andy Pettitte wasn't on his game, but the Cards were, with predictable results.
What is it with Fox that they can't air the games in separate time slots?
Jim Colborn Gone
Along with Jim Tracy has gone pitching coach extraordinaire Jim Colborn, thus ending the Dodgers' practice of only hiring coaches with the Christian name of James. He felt the itch to squawk to the press on the way out:"You want to be appreciated wherever you go, and I don't think we were," Colborn said. "I never heard anything to that effect. There is a lot of tugging and pulling and a lot of stuff I don't understand. But now, I don't have to worry about processing it anymore."Well, after Jim Tracy repeatedly -- as in more than a year's worth of repeatedly -- didn't execute those wishes, it's safe to say that DePodesta had a right to feel that way. Colborn did a fine job as the Dodgers pitching coach and while I'm puzzled by his comment that he didn't feel wanted or his opinion respected, I have to believe that the bath water was so bad that the baby had to be thrown out -- or risk getting gangrene. (Okay, that's testing the limits on the metaphor.) Jon, of course, has much more on this....
Colborn also implied the front office didn't consult Tracy and his staff enough before making major organizational decisions.
"You just never got the feeling you were part of the process," Colborn said. "You were part of it, but a dispensable part of it. But that's all right. Maybe they had their own point of view, and they probably figured (we) weren't going to carry out what they wanted done. They have the right to bring in their own people. But I don't really look at it is I did a bad job or that I failed any kind of test. But whatever I had to offer, they didn't think it was valuable."
More Pitching Coach Bitching: Mel Stottlemyre's Turn
Mel Stottlemyre follows in Colborn's path by lobbing a hand grenade at the Boss:"I laughed when I saw [Steinbrenner's congratulations to Mike Scioscia and the Angels]," Stottlemyre said. "My first thoughts were, `What about Joe? Joe had done a hell of a job, too.' To congratulate the other manager and not congratulate your own after what he'd done this year, I laughed."...
"I think it's absolutely ridiculous," he said. "I've been here with Joe for 10 years and this has by far been the toughest year for him, and it's the best job he's done. He's done a good job year in and year out -- this year the job he's done was really special because he had a lot of things to battle through."
Hershiser Interviews In Oakland
Orel Hershiser has been given permission to interview for the managerial opening in Oakland.ALCS Game 2 Wrap
- Pearly Gates has reactions in prose and poster form for those wishing to make their feelings known when the series moves to Anaheim.
- Chronicles concludes that while yesterday's contest may not proceed today in the 10th inning, "there's a pretty strong and unavoidable taint on this game."
- Other commentary, mostly agreeing with the party line from Mike: Sean; Joe Florkowski; Maya, who uses a naughty word; Seitz, who further suggests a tonic, if not a nasty, self-defeating form of revenge (what other calls might Eddings need to make that could go against the Halos?); and of course Matt.
- At Exile In Wrigleyville, one of the commenters notes that the White Sox won the game with no earned runs, testifying to the solid nature of the pitching.
- Post-dog-walking update: Rich Lederer has his commentary in full on the situation.
- Craig Burley at The Hardball Times says the call was a bad one, and that it's
hard luck for Mark Buehrle, whose brilliant pitching performance for the White Sox was completely overshadowed by controversy and Crede's heroics. If the rest of this series is as good as the first two games, we will have a long-remembered classic on our hands.
- Mike Carminati has his say.
Comments:
I like Orel, but if he gets a managerial position before Buddy Black, there is something very wrong with this game.
On the other hand -- if he does get it, maybe it's a sign that Beane's finally gone 'round the bend. Was Kendall the first sign? Or perhaps more insidiously, the Eric Chavez signing?
why is everybody so eager to proclaim that beane has "finally gone 'round the bend" or has "lost his touch" or whatever the particular cliche of choice is? and even if he DOES make a mistake, that doesn't mean he's suddenly lost his sanity. he's a smart guy, but he's human and thus fallible. one false step doesn't necessarily indicate many more to come unless it's part of a delineable pattern of consistent misjudgement.
To me, Colburn was the #1 guy responsible for the success the Dodgers did have. He made Weaver into a decent starting pitcher. For awhile, he enabled Nomo's comeback. He "basically" taught Mota how to pitch. He was probably the guy who recommended Gagne as a reliever. And so on. Same with Bud Black's excellent work with the pitchers this year.
Hard to say how Eckstein does on this Angels lineup, or Cabrera does surrounded by Cardinals studs. Or how Pettite struggled overall with his command, whereas the Sox starter absolutely owned the Angels for 9 straight innings. It was a cold night in Chicago, and it's very possible Cabrera's deep shot could have won the Angels the game were the weather warmer.
<< there is something very wrong with this game. >>
It'd be interesting if Arty Moreno tries to outbid other teams to keep Black. I feel pretty good about Santana under Bud Black's tutelage. Not so without him. Same with Lackey.
Hard to say how Eckstein does on this Angels lineup, or Cabrera does surrounded by Cardinals studs. Or how Pettite struggled overall with his command, whereas the Sox starter absolutely owned the Angels for 9 straight innings. It was a cold night in Chicago, and it's very possible Cabrera's deep shot could have won the Angels the game were the weather warmer.
<< there is something very wrong with this game. >>
It'd be interesting if Arty Moreno tries to outbid other teams to keep Black. I feel pretty good about Santana under Bud Black's tutelage. Not so without him. Same with Lackey.
# posted by 
: 10/13/2005 09:24:00 AM
: 10/13/2005 09:24:00 AM
why is everybody so eager to proclaim that beane has "finally gone 'round the bend" or has "lost his touch" or whatever the particular cliche of choice is?
One word: Moneyball. Fair or not, this is likely to be Beane's legacy, and a lot of people have a lot of interest in knocking him down as a result.
One word: Moneyball. Fair or not, this is likely to be Beane's legacy, and a lot of people have a lot of interest in knocking him down as a result.
Anon -- I don't know if Colby is the "number one" reason the Dodgers were successful in late years, but it seems to me he was a big part. DePodesta now has free reign to do as he pleases. He'd better do well. At this point he has no more excuses.
you included, apparently :)
i know that moneyball overdid it a little with its beatification of beane, and that's spawned a lot of resentment, but the fact remains that beane IS a shrewd fellow, and there's no reason to believe he's going to wake up one day having lost his capacity for insight and clever maneuvering no matter how eager you may be to take him down a peg. i think your best hope is that he wins a world series or two sooner rather than later and then gets bored with the whole enterprise.
i know that moneyball overdid it a little with its beatification of beane, and that's spawned a lot of resentment, but the fact remains that beane IS a shrewd fellow, and there's no reason to believe he's going to wake up one day having lost his capacity for insight and clever maneuvering no matter how eager you may be to take him down a peg. i think your best hope is that he wins a world series or two sooner rather than later and then gets bored with the whole enterprise.
"why is everybody so eager to proclaim that beane has "finally gone 'round the bend" or has "lost his touch" or whatever the particular cliche of choice is?"
Hello, Angels fans. Why wouldn't we be eager for Beane to drive the A's into the ground? A man can dream, can't he?
Hello, Angels fans. Why wouldn't we be eager for Beane to drive the A's into the ground? A man can dream, can't he?
<< He'd better do well. At this point he has no more excuses.
>>
Can't even use the "McCourt won't give me the payroll" excuse, either? :)
>>
Can't even use the "McCourt won't give me the payroll" excuse, either? :)
# posted by : 10/13/2005 10:42:00 AM
: 10/13/2005 10:42:00 AM
haha, fair enough, richard. all i'm saying is that jumping to such a conclusion on the scantest of evidence is more in dream territory than analysis territory.
Can't even use the "McCourt won't give me the payroll" excuse, either?
Not after dropping a wad on Lowe, Perez, and Drew.
Not after dropping a wad on Lowe, Perez, and Drew.
Since virtually everyone who has ever worked for depo thinks he's classless and arrogant, he probably is.
Its not like Tracy and Colburn are the only ones who have said this. In his two years here, he has alienated many more than just those two.
I sincerely hopes he learns that the ways that he deals with people are pretty much universally found to be insulting and belittling, and he needs to learn and change.
It certainly can be changed if he wants to, but its up to him to make the decision to be a better person.
Its not like Tracy and Colburn are the only ones who have said this. In his two years here, he has alienated many more than just those two.
I sincerely hopes he learns that the ways that he deals with people are pretty much universally found to be insulting and belittling, and he needs to learn and change.
It certainly can be changed if he wants to, but its up to him to make the decision to be a better person.
# posted by : 10/14/2005 03:20:00 PM
: 10/14/2005 03:20:00 PMNewer› ‹Older
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