TLR is a super genius.
]]>My opinion is this. Players/manager share responsibility for the outcome of the game. The more input the manager has, the more the share of the responsibility. For instance, if all the manager does is fill out the lineup card, and then makes no changes during the game (ie, the same 9 players that started the game, finish it) then the responsibility is heavier on the players than the manager. If the manager makes numerous changes during the game, his responsibility increases. The share of the responsibility is different depending on the change made and their relative effect on the outcome. I don’t have this as a statistical formula because this is just my subjective opinion. It is laughable to me to suggest that when the team loses (or wins) , it is entirely the execution of the players that is determinative of the outcome. The manager can put players in situations that maximize their potential to either succeed or fail and to the extent that he does that, he should share in the responsibility for the outcome, whether good or bad.
I don’t have a problem with giving TLR a share of the credit for the team’s successes. What I have a problem with is the extreme position of declaring that the successes go to TLR and the failures go to the players.
]]>And, in my opinion, you’d be right to do so, c-woman. I have expressed here and elsewhere that I’ve grown tired of TLR, and am ready for a change. I’m still hacked at him for pulling Carp about a month ago when he had a shut-out into the 9th, and we lost the game. Still, as I said, IF we do make the playoffs, then all the Cardinals should be praised…including the Manager. Or, maybe even ESPECIALLY the Manager, because he DOES determine who plays when and where. I’d have screwed it up pretty badly by now were I the Manager…that’s for sure. But it’s the players who actually determine the final score. GO, CARDINALS!!!
]]>I suspect you’re right, but still…no denying TLR, while he’s had his moments, has put together one of his best performances…IF we make the playoffs.
]]>I give the players more credit for the surge than the manager. I get sick and damn tired of hearing how the players are all to blame when the team loses, but when they win, TLR is a genius.
]]>I suspect Kirk Gibson and Ron Roenicke are the favorites.
]]>Gotta love it!! TLR wins Manager of the Year if we actually make the playoffs!! I may not be his biggest fan, but I do believe in giving a man his due, if he’s earned it. And to make the playoffs with the challenges he’s encountered…he’s EARNED it!! IF…we make the playoffs!
]]>The Cards went up to Milwaukee for 3 games. The Vegas line gave them 1 percent chance to sweep, but they did.
Now they go to Philly, against the best team in the league and Cy Young Halladay, and take 3 of 4.
9 more games to go.
]]>Furcal 6, Punto 4, Pujols 3, Berkman 7, Craig 9, Jay 8, Laird 2, Descalso 5, Lohse 1.
Am typing up a TLR recap from this afternoon’s discussion for subscribers now. Have interviewed most of the September callups and had a long chat with Memphis pitching coach Blaise Ilsley that will be appearing on the site in the upcoming days…
]]>Unless you are one of his teammates, who might get upset by the implication in those words.
]]>Well, there can be a problem when a player’s ego borders on delusional. I don’t think that there is any objective measure that would indicate that Theriot is a major league quality shortstop any more. That said, there’s only so much more time that he can make a fuss over it before he is hopefully sent packing.
]]>Theriot noted, “When I was playing shortstop we were in first place. I know that. It is what it is.”
You have to be effing kidding me.
]]>I have a highly developed sarcasm meter, bling. 😉 “The best .500 pitcher in baseball” was not meant as a compliment.
I know you are disappointed in Carp. You have expressed so on this board. I don’t fault you for that, it’s just that my fairness meter implored me to comment. There are things about Carp to criticize but his W/L record was the very worst thing in my mind to do it with.
]]>I was unaware of having trashed him. He is now the best 10-9 pitcher in baseball.
]]>1. Ryan Theriot (R) 2B
2. Allen Craig (R) RF
3. Albert Pujols (R) 1B
4. David Freese (R) 3B
5. Lance Berkman (S) LF
6. Yadier Molina (R) C
7. Rafael Furcal (S) SS
8. Jon Jay (L) CF
9. Chris Carpenter (R) P
Yes, winning is more important. And if winning were 100% within the control of the pitcher, then a W/L record would mean something. So if you want to trash Carp I would suggest you do it with a stat that does mean something.
]]>No, of course not. But I would say that winning is more important than being good.
]]>Not unless he wants me to laugh uncontrollably at him.
]]>Octavio broke into the Majors as a starter with the Mets in 1999. During 2001-3, with Houston, he was an awesome reliever. In 2001, he struck out 145 in 105 innings. In 2002, his ERA was 1.85 in 83 appearances.
In 2004, the season when traded to Oakland, he had 122 Ks in 85 innings. That’s manly stuff.
For the As, he went 6 and 2, with 22 saves in 28 opportunties. The claim that he jinxed Oakland is pretty silly, if you look at his performance numbers.
Octavio suffered a serious injury in early 2005. It took about three years for him to work his way back. Some thought him washed up, but he persevered and had fine seasons for the White Sox in 2008/9.
1,069 Ks in 883 innings in the Bigs, 107 saves. A distinguished ML career.
W/L records for pitchers is a worthless stat. You want to say that Westbrook is a better pitcher than Carp?
]]>But wait, tonight we’ve got the best .500 pitcher in baseball going.
]]>Well, you can’t exactly quantify a curse with stats. 🙂
It’s probably more important to take away from this that adding a reliever at the deadline isn’t likely going to put a team over the edge.
]]>