Back Seat Manager

[Lee Stone]

I'm originating this thread for one purpose: Second-guessing the moves of Don Mattingly - hurling criticism (or praise, I guess) at managerial decisions. Did he leave a starting pitcher in the game too long? Fail to sacrifice a runner or attempt to steal a base? Play the wrong lineup?

[Lee Stone]

Opening gripe: Dietrich and Brinson listed at 1 and 2 in today's lineup and I wouldn't do that. Maybin has faced Velasquez twice and had hits both times. He's the only guy with any demonstrated success. Maybin should hit first with Brinson way down or on the bench.

[Erick]

This team has way bigger issues than the manager.

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Opening gripe: Dietrich and Brinson listed at 1 and 2 in today's lineup and I wouldn't do that. Maybin has faced Velasquez twice and had hits both times. He's the only guy with any demonstrated success. Maybin should hit first with Brinson way down or on the bench.

You overrate the order of a lineup.

[Lee Stone]

Bour continues to bat fourth, no matter what.

Rojas and Castro hit best when waiting on the ball and going to right field. Too bad they didn't look that way in the ninth last night. Too bad Brinson refuses to go to RF - it could only help. Interestingly enough, Miami's best hitters (Anderson and Dietrich) are happy to go oppo.

[fish16]

Bour continues to bat fourth, no matter what.

Rojas and Castro hit best when waiting on the ball and going to right field. Too bad they didn't look that way in the ninth last night. Too bad Brinson refuses to go to RF - it could only help. Interestingly enough, Miami's best hitters (Anderson and Dietrich) are happy to go oppo.

christ dude between the loving small sample sizes and not having a clue about anything related to prospects youre a lot to handle

[Lee Stone]

christ dude between the loving small sample sizes and not having a clue about anything related to prospects youre a lot to handle

fish16, from my preseason preview, posted on this site: "The starting pitching staff returns a cast of proven mediocrity (Straily and Urena), broken promise (Nicolino, Conley, and of course Chen, who actually seems to be broken), and some looming talent. With volumes of statistical data available these days, it’s easy to lose track of the one stat that tells the entire story: WHIP (walks plus hits divided by innings pitched). No matter how quick the fastball, how crisp the slider, the bottom line is limiting the number of hitters who reach base. Low WHIP and success align perfectly. Really good pitchers keep it under 1.25. Top pitchers get it much lower. Thing is, if a pitcher can’t dominate with a low WHIP number in the minors, they certainly can’t be expected to do it in the majors. With that in mind, at least three credible rotation guys stand out, all mature arms. Over nearly 100 innings in AAA last season, Caleb Smith went 9-1 with a 1.05 WHIP. The lefty, acquired from the Yankees, was the team’s top starter. Another lefty, Dillon Peters, put up a 1.00 WHIP over two minor league seasons before getting six starts for the Marlins in September. Results were mixed, but his first and last starts were outstanding, as in no runs over 12 1/3 innings. Trevor Richards, a righty, was the farm’s Pitcher of the Year. In 146 innings split between A+ and AA, his WHIP stood at 1.03."

You are free to criticize the views of others, that's part of sports forums. I will cheerfully and politely react to your ideas should any be forthcoming.

[fish16]

and even that one paragraph is just flat out nonsense. WHIP is important but there is a lot more that goes into evaluating prospects that you flatly seem to not understand.

[Lee Stone]

Traditional wisdom suggests that a closer should be the relief pitcher who is least likely to allow baserunners. Brad Ziegler, of course, is the Miami pitcher who allows the most. Using him in that role takes the "c" out of closer.

[fish16]

Traditional wisdom suggests that a closer should be the relief pitcher who is least likely to allow baserunners. Brad Ziegler, of course, is the Miami pitcher who allows the most. Using him in that role takes the "c" out of closer.

for once i agree

[Nick]

I mean it's not ideal, but also the guy who would be his most likely replacement gave up 2 HRs the inning before yesterday.

[gustavopim]

I mean it's not ideal, but also the guy who would be his most likely replacement gave up 2 HRs the inning before yesterday.

Steck has a better chance of being a closer than Claw. Steck doesn't walk as many people, has more control of the FB. Since coming to the Marlins bearclaw has been loading the bases with bad control just to strikeout the next 3 batters. My heart can't keep up with that. Just like it was with Ramos and Ziegler.

[Lee Stone]

Wittgren is capable of providing still another option. I'm not an advocate of pre-defined roles. If a pitcher enters in the 8th, breezes in 12 or 15 pitches, I bring him back in the 9th. Burning up four or five pitchers a day makes no sense to me. I'd further say that Tazawa looks very different this season. His effectiveness with offspeed pitches is the difference.

[tjfla]

Ziegler is in the closer spot because they are trying to build up his value. U get more for a closer than u get for some 7th inning guy.(Remember Paddock for Rodney?)Also it keeps down money numbers on Bearclaw and Steck.

Wittgren will be up but he is just getting back into shape. No point in rushing guys back to win 64 games instead of 62 in 2018

By way is the "Back Seat Manager" still moving Bour out of the 4 spot?

[Lee Stone]

Two front row opposite field homers was not a world-changing event for Bour, but I was certainly smiling for him. He's a great personality. Anderson needs more ab's. I'd hit him in the top three for sure.

A play by Brinson last night should be highlighted. On a straight away (or less) fly to right center, he waved off Braxton Lee (who was coming from the right direction to facilitate a throw to the plate). Brinson's subsequent throw was 15' up the third base line, allowing Frazier to score. What was wrong with that picture? Brinson had all of five OF assists last season. Lee led all of baseball with 18.

[rmc523]

Two front row opposite field homers was not a world-changing event for Bour, but I was certainly smiling for him. He's a great personality. Anderson needs more ab's. I'd hit him in the top three for sure.

A play by Brinson last night should be highlighted. On a straight away (or less) fly to right center, he waved off Braxton Lee (who was coming from the right direction to facilitate a throw to the plate). Brinson's subsequent throw was 15' up the third base line, allowing Frazier to score. What was wrong with that picture? Brinson had all of five OF assists last season. Lee led all of baseball with 18.

If you're talking about the play toward the end of the game, that ball was more toward center than right.