Who is making the Reds in game decisions?

[RedsFanInMS]

I'd really like to know everyone's opinion on what they think. I hear many on here say managers don't matter in today's game. Well, how are in game decisions made? By Krall? By the analytics department? A computer? Some secret Reds god of analytics? Bell and the coaches? A combination? A printed out paper before every game? What says the board?

[LeatherPants]

I'd really like to know everyone's opinion on what they think. I hear many on here say managers don't matter in today's game. Well, how are in game decisions made? By Krall? By the analytics department? A computer? Some secret Reds god of analytics? Bell and the coaches? A combination? A printed out paper before every game? What says the board?

There’s plenty of proof out there that the front offices are making most of the decisions these days. World Series winner Joe Maddon wrote an entire book complaining about it (and is not currently in a dugout).

There’s a reason why these teams keep hiring guys with no experience, and why there’s been one mid-season firing in the last 3-4 years, it’s because a manager’s job has changed.

[RedsFanInMS]

There’s plenty of proof out there that the front offices are making most of the decisions these days. World Series winner Joe Maddon wrote an entire book complaining about it (and is not currently in a dugout).

There’s a reason why these teams keep hiring guys with no experience, and why there’s been one mid-season firing in the last 3-4 years, it’s because a manager’s job has changed.

How's it done? A direct line to the dugout?

[LeatherPants]

How's it done? A direct line to the dugout?

They were doing that with the Mets a couple years ago.

From what I’ve been finding in my reading of this is that before each game the front office sends down a game plan to the clubhouse, including bullpen usage and lineups, etc.

They’ve got iPads in the dugout, so they are getting information all the time.

[LeatherPants]

Here’s some passages from Maddon’s book. If the Angels were doing this to Joe, think about what other teams are doing with managers without his resume.


https://www.si.com/mlb/2022/10/06/jo...i-book-excerpt


https://www.si.com/mlb/angels/news/a...wrote-his-book


Here’s one paragraph regarding bullpens:

Moreover, what Maddon calls a pregame “choreography” took root, spearheaded by Minasian and Tamin. Those two, not Maddon and his coaches, would decide which relief pitchers were not available for the game that night. It was based on a proprietary algorithm developed by Tamin that kept track of a pitcher’s work in rolling 30-day increments. In recent years it had become common for front offices to usurp control of the bullpen from managers. So-and-so “is down tonight” entered baseball parlance, and it came from upstairs. “In that losing stretch that led to my demise, a lot of relievers were made unavailable,” Maddon says. “I couldn’t use them.

[LeatherPants]

Here’s a story from five years ago about the Mets calling down to the dugout during games. Can’t imagine that it’s not even more so now.


https://es.pn/2FwIhf9

[LeatherPants]

Just found this one, and David Bell is actually mentioned. It’s about “load management” for players. Resting players based on how far they run during a game (or a week or a month)

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/...-rock-baseball

[Bob Sheed]

"Dave... Phil's on the phone again. He's slurring his words pretty badly, but if I'm understanding him, he wants you to put Elly in at pitcher, because, and I quote, "because I'm the ****ing boss and I ****ing said so, so do it.""


Yessir, right away sir.

[RedsFanInMS]

So, do the Reds have an analytical team doing this, or is it Krall, Meador, and a few more front office guys? Here's the thing with this, most of these analytical guys are computer nerds who never played. There is a personal, camaraderie part of the game, i.e. Joe Maddon's lucky Mohawk, that these nerds don't understand. It's more about just stats and numbers. Sometimes a "gut" feeling is needed.

[LeatherPants]

So, do the Reds have an analytical team doing this, or is it Krall, Meador, and a few more front office guys? Here's the thing with this, most of these analytical guys are computer nerds who never played. There is a personal, camaraderie part of the game, i.e. Joe Maddon's lucky Mohawk, that these nerds don't understand. It's more about just stats and numbers. Sometimes a "gut" feeling is needed.

BASEBALL OPERATIONS
Front Office

Nick Krall - President, Baseball Operations
Sarah Vedder - Executive Manager, Baseball Operations
Brad Meador - Senior Vice President, General Manager
Sam Grossman - Vice President, Assistant General Manager
Jeff Graupe - Vice President & Assistant GM, Player Acquisition & Strategy
Cam Bonifay - Senior Advisor to President of Baseball Ops. & GM
Eric Davis - Senior Advisor to President of Baseball Ops. & GM
Shawn Pender - Senior Advisor to President of Baseball Ops. & GM
Mark Edwards - Director, Baseball Operations
Bo Thompson - Director, Integrated Baseball Info & Video
Nick Perez - Coordinator, Baseball Ops. & Player Development
Cameron LeBlanc - Coordinator, Baseball Operations
Matt Boyd - Player Development Pitching Analyst
Brooke Coneeny - Player Development Hitting Analyst
Sam Nalli - Major League Advance Analyst
Alyssa Rasmussen - Major League Video Content Specialist
Gabrielle Mayo - Analyst
Carlos Polanco - Analyst
Baseball Analytics

Nick Wan - Senior Director
Chris Jackson - Assistant Director
Sean Fischer -Manager
Sam Gasell - Data Scientist
Matthew Lehman - Data Scientist
Sam Rizzuto - Senior Quantitative Analyst
Sydney Newman - Quantitative Analyst
Andrew Helmreich - Quantitative Analyst
Baasil Ebrahim - Quantitative Analyst
Max Hammersmith - Quantitative Analyst
Maggie Langheim - Quantitative Analyst

[LeatherPants]

It’s 2024 not 1924, moxie and gumption isn’t enough for a manager.

[mth123]

I'd really like to know everyone's opinion on what they think. I hear many on here say managers don't matter in today's game. Well, how are in game decisions made? By Krall? By the analytics department? A computer? Some secret Reds god of analytics? Bell and the coaches? A combination? A printed out paper before every game? What says the board?

I think Individual decisions are made by the Manager, but they are constrained by the organization's vision for players. For example, if the organization sees Benson as a long-term player who can provide offense platooning in the OF, I don't think Bell has the power to bench him against RHP. He can sit him for health reasons and decide whether to yank him or leave him in if the opponent brings in a lefty. This is the reason I don't think Managers matter. It's not that they don't make decisions, but given the constraints, any Manager would make most of the same decisions. Personally, I'm not a Bell fan, but I don't think firing him will make any difference, because the new guy will be a guy who shares the same vision as the organization and do all the same stuff.

It's less clear about the Bullpen. I don't know Johnson's exact title, but in theory he makes all the pitching decisions for the organization. I don't know if that only pertains to development or if it includes in game pitching changes. I'm sure he's consulted, and my guess is that Bell defers to him. There are also organizational constraints here as well. If the organization envisions Cruz as the fireman, he's getting the ball in those situations if he's available. I think Johnson decides who is available and the organizational constraints generally dictate who is used in what spot. This is another case where I think it's largely out of Bell's hands. I think Cruz should be optioned to AAA, but I don't think Bell has the power to do that. If he's stuck with him, he's going to have to use him.

[RedsFanInMS]

It’s 2024 not 1924, moxie and gumption isn’t enough for a manager.

Who is to say? As Maddon states there is a place for analytics, but a manager with the know how to handle players, situations, etc. is needed. Nerds don't see any value in this, but most who have played at a high school level or above should understand.

[LeatherPants]

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...s/73487653007/

– It was the constant media criticism and interference from the Astros’ analytics department that ultimately led Dusty Baker to retire as manager after last season.

[LeatherPants]

Who is to say? As Maddon states there is a place for analytics, but a manager with the know how to handle players, situations, etc. is needed. Nerds don't see any value in this, but most who have played at a high school level or above should understand.

Nerrrrrrrredds!!!!!