Lineup construction is also not the only criteria. For example:
#1 lineup OBP
TB - .315, 21st in baseball
Toronto - .294, 26th in baseball
#2 lineup OBP
TB - .304, 26th in baseball
Toronto - .319, 15th in baseball
Just looking at the teams of the 2 candidates you mentioned.
You don't have to be omniscient to understand how it works. Dusty and Jocketty are in this together. They are on the same team. They work together to build a good roster. They are not working in isolation on opposite sides of the planet.
Managers and General Managers work together throughout baseball. Walt and Dusty have telephones they can use to communicate with each other. Walt's office is in the same building as Dusty's office. They can talk with each other.
Do you honestly think Jocketty goes out and makes personnel moves without discussing them with Dusty first? That would be ridiculous.
I am not going to re-post here all the previous threads where we discussed this topic, but I will say a few words again. Dusty and Jocketty communicate almost every day. Both of them have mentioned this to the media several times this year and in previous years. They discuss the roster. They talk about their options. They discuss the minor league players that could come and help. They discuss players in other organizations that could be upgrades for the Reds and hence potential trade targets. In the off-season they discuss which players they want to re-sign and which players they should let walk. They discuss the free agents that they would like to sign. Dusty and Walt come to a consensus on players they both like and want, then Walt goes out and tries to obtain them. Sometimes he is successful and sometimes not. This results in a roster that is full of players both Jocketty and Dusty want on the team.
Of course they can't get everyone they want. Other teams want many of the same players the Reds want after all. You can't get them all. But what is certain is that Jocketty is not going rogue and bringing in a bunch of bad players that Dusty never wanted. Jocketty is not forcing Dusty to use players he doesn't want. If Dusty really wants a player I am sure Jocketty will make an effort to obtain that player, Corey Patterson for example. Patterson was Dusty's centerfielder and leadoff hitter in Chicago. I would bet good money that Dusty is the one that lobbied for the Reds to go out and and sign Corey Patterson and Jocketty obliged. It is a team effort. Jocketty brings in players that Dusty has expressed interest in. Jocketty isn't cramming players down Dusty's throat.
I'm torn about this.
2 division titles in 3 years, followed by embarrassing exits in the first round.
Granted, the Phillies pitching staff was incredible but the Reds never threatened. This year, after thrashing the Giants for two games, they couldn't must a third win in 3 attempts at home.
Jocketty built this team. And they did pretty well while Dusty was not in the clubhouse.
As a Mariners fan who has seen multiple managerial changes since Sweet Lou was traded to the Rays, I can say this without hesitation. The problem with wishing for change is that often you get an even worse pair of hands at the helm. And it can be maddening.
We've reached an equilibrium with Dusty in Cincy that I'm comfortable with at least comfortable enough to fear what might come with a replacement. We know what we got. And, yes it could be worse-alot worse. At least Price is allowed to smooth over one of Dusty's biggests failings-managing the pitching staff.
"This isn’t stats vs scouts - this is stats and scouts working together, building an organization that blends the best of both worlds. This is the blueprint for how a baseball organization should be run. And, whether the baseball men of the 20th century like it or not, this is where baseball is going."---Dave Cameron, U.S.S. Mariner
If they'd have had a good manager, they would have won 110 games this year. Dusty held them back.
Okay, I made it a joke, but sometimes I think it's true.
Good man. Poor strategist.
1. Low OBP guys in the 1 & 2 -holes. Ridiculous. Patterson. Taveras. Stubbs. Cozart. Give me a break. How in the crap does Votto (when healthy) not knock in 120+ rbi's? Should be a given. It's not with a Dusty lineup.
2. Overly aggressive hitters. What's the Dusty quote? Something like "nobody walks but the mailman"????? Is that the quote? These guys are always behind in the count giving the pitcher the advantage. I'm nearly 50 years old and I've seen alot of baseball. The hitting approach of this team is one of the worst I've ever seen. If they actually had a hitting plan.......they might win 110+ games. Seriously.
3. Dusty cannot see the wheels coming off of his pitcher to save his soul. See Leake - Game 4. See Latos - Game 5. See plenty of games during the last 4 or 5 seasons. Drives me up a wall.
4. Dusty has no sense of urgency to win. He is always thinking about tomorrow's game. I think in Game 5 with Latos on the mound he was thinking about Opening Day 2013 and saving his bullpen for the winter.
I guess I'll have to live with 2 more years of Dusty driving me crazy. He's a good guy. But he can't win the big one.
"This isn’t stats vs scouts - this is stats and scouts working together, building an organization that blends the best of both worlds. This is the blueprint for how a baseball organization should be run. And, whether the baseball men of the 20th century like it or not, this is where baseball is going."---Dave Cameron, U.S.S. Mariner
I just wish he'd quit giving up grand slams, getting injured, and not getting hits with the tying or winning runs on base.
Baseball is like church. Many attend, few understand
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