Probably the opposite of what we've seen lately. Oh, I know, it looks like the way the Astros play when they have their big 2nd half of the season and just make it into the playoffs.
I guess it would be easier to have this conversation if I knew just what exactly a "sense of urgency" was, and how it would manifest itself for us fans. 'Cause as it stands, it sounds like an empty & meaningless catchphrase to me.
To me, too. But, do you think he may be talking about guys not running out groundballs, boneheaded baserunning (not the Pence pickoff), and the lackluster defense? Some of that has indeed been hard to watch.
I've wanted Garner gone for some time now. I don't think he should be fired in the middle of the season though. I think they need to wait it out until the end of the year and make the move in the offseason. I'm not convinced it will happen though even with a sub .500 record.
Well, the Pence pickoff *was* ****ty baserunning. Very. Never, ever, ever, never put your hands/forearms on your knees. I imagine the kangaroo court will have a little fun with him for that. What you're mentioning is just fundamental stuff (aside from some of the defense: Lamb is who he is at 3rd; Burke just doesn't have the instincts for CF; Scott has a crappy arm for RF; Loretta doesn't have the range at SS)...no amount of "urgency" is going to change that. To me...urgency = pressing = bad. Especially in the first week of May. Hell, I'll go the opposite route: just relax & focus on the basics. "Don't think, meat." "I'm worrying too much." Carlos Lee, Tuesday night.
This team acts like losing 8 of 9 or being 10-15 at this point isn't such a big deal...and looking back on past seasons and the comebacks they've made maybe it isn't...but then they missed out on the playoffs by one game last season...so maybe it is. That's all I'm saying. But then come July or August this team may have quietly climbed up to first place...it's the way they operate I suppose...but it can be frustrating at times.
I really don't see how any manager could make this a good team. I've always felt baseball managers have the least impact of the big three sports here in the USA. His only real job is to choose what bullpen pitcher to call in the game. Lineups and positions pretty much sort themselves out. It doesn't take much education to put your best hitters on the field and and your best 5 pitchers in the starting rotation. When you're at the plate, your on your own. When your pitching, it's just you and the catcher. Sounds like a scapegoat to me. Give Garner better batters and pitchers and we'd be winning. The same goes for almost every other crappy team out there. All Garner can really do is give those heart warming, touching, inspirational speeches you see in movies that inspires the underdog to win. However anybody that's played even youth sports can tell you those speeches go in one ear and out the other since they've heard them everyday their entire life and the better team usually wins. We're just not the better team most of the time.
I think you're underestimating the role of the manager... I think a lot of catchers get their calls from the dugout; Ausmus is an exception. And what about what to do in certain situations of the count...on a 3-1 or 3-0 do you let 'em swing away or do they take a pitch...what about the hit n run, the squeeze play, the steal, infield/outfield shifts, the trips to the mound, pinch hitting, when to take a pitcher out of the game, how to approach certain pitchers at the plate, etc. Obviously you're not gonna be diagramming any plays in baseball, but they're are so many small decisions made over the course of the game that could have a huge impact on the outcome. And just like any sport, what it comes down to in the end, is execution by the players.
then why isnt Lamb at third. loretta at second? loretta everett berkman lee lamb pence scott ausmus/quintero make them pitch to everett and have a good mix of R/L in there.
redgoose, as JYD points out, you've totally neglected key roles a manager plays. pudge rodriguez, while great at picking players off trying to steal, couldn't call a game to save his life. he got each and every pitch from the dugout. when dierker was our manager our steal attempts were up drastically from when terry collins was around. same players different results.
garners getting on my nerves already. luke scott is 5/10 this year against lefties. lane is 4/26 and 0/12 now against Milton. scott hit a 3-run homer yesterday. i dont care if it's lefty/righty matchup thats just stupid. loretta since his 4/5 hit game he took what 2 pinch hit AB.
A wise man once told me not to worry about baseball until after Memorial Day. It's still too early. I think Garner should stay Besides, look at who is the best team in baseball right now....
