Foster's comments

[RFS62]

I was reading some of the "Trade Dunn Now" thread, and just before my ears started bleeding, I thought I noticed someone say that George Foster had commented that (paraphrasing) Dunn's job isn't to take walks, his job is to drive in runs.

If I got that wrong, I apologize, but there ain't no way I'm going back into that thread.

This really ties into a thought that has been rattling around in my head for a while and I've been meaning to write about.

Foster is right.

Now, he's not right because walks are bad or any of the Dunn bashing crap I read here all the time.

He's right within the context of the "system" that Miley is trying to use.

Miley's lineup construction speaks volumes about his theories. He's looking for a contact hitter in the two spot, someone who can put the ball in play on the right side and move a runner up. He's looking for a big guy in the 5 or 6 spot to drive in runners.

Within the "offense" he's trying to run, those are his criteria for lineup construction.

And make no mistake, a lot of the baseball world subscribes to this style. It's an offensive philosophy, just like in football, a scheme.

The problem is that his personnel is ill-suited to play this offense. By sheer luck and random chance, he has the components of a great Earl Weaver style attack, but he either can't or won't see it.

It's an offensive philosophy, make no mistake about it. But it's about like running a T formation instead of a pro-set in the NFL.

He's got one of the most devestating onbase machines in modern baseball history, and he's horribly miscast in his role.

A good coach plays to the strengths of his personnel. A good coach isn't afraid of change.

Miley is neither.