MLB managers '08 chopping block - Round 1

We’re over a month into the season and I figured what better time than to roll out the first chopping block of the ’08 campaign for major league managers. As I mentioned in our season preview, there seems to be a lot of parody in the league this year and while the D-backs and Red Sox are off to solid starts, I don’t think a team will eclipse 95 wins this year.

Despite the tremendous parody, upstart teams and early season surprises, there are a few managers around the league that are running out of excuses. With that being said, I’d like to see the following wheeled onto the block for their execution…ahem termination, excuse me.

Texas Rangers – Ron Washington
The Rangers are off to a 16-20 start and are coming off back-to-back shutout wins over the disappointing Seattle Mariners (read more below). That may have saved Ron Washington for now, who led his club to a 10-18 April, the worst in club history. Sidney Ponson and Vincente Padilla are simply overachieving and will likely plateau sometime soon, getting lit up every five days as they’re accustomed to doing in the real world.

There are some big names on offense, including Josh Hamilton who leads the league in RBI’s. David Murphy, Michael Young, Ian Kinsler and Milton Bradley are some other notables who should provide the Rangers with firepower every night. Btu the team is batting a combined .264, which is a solid .001 higher than last year and on pace for the 2nd lowest in the last eight years. Given that they’re 4th in the AL going into today, you can attribute that to a slow start across the league. But what’s happening on the other side of the ball is what’s keeping this team from winning more games.

The staff ERA sits at 4.80, 13th in the AL. Texas has surrendered the most hits, walks and highest BAA and has struck out the fewest number of opposing batters. Sure, you can point the blame at the Mark Connor. But let’s face it. Ron Washington keeps trotting out Jason Jennings, who is 0-5 with an 8-plus ERA. Jennings hasn’t won more than 9 games since 2004. And his career ERA sits at a healthy and robust 5.00. And why does Kevin Millwood still sit at the top of the rotation? I realize he used to be a big name, but how many times are you going to let the guy stay in the game and get abused as he tires? His number suck from the 6th inning on, so throw him five then hand it over to the bullpen. I don’t care if he’s throwing a no-hitter. You leave him in there, he’ll let it get away.

I will say that the bullpen, aside from the excessive use of Joaquin Benoit, has been managed fairly well. But here’s what I propose is done with the Rangers:

One night usher everyone in the organization, from the starting lineup to the interns that makes faxes in a backroom, into the ballpark. Then blow the park into the high heavens and the organization can just start from scratch. As Rich suggested, you could have Kinsler, Young, Hamilton and Murphy wait outside the stadium and wait, perhaps even lighting the fuse.

While that most likely won’t happen, Washington’s days in Texas should be monitored closely. Next time the Rangers drop 10 in a row, send him packing and don’t ever let him manage another team again. I wouldn’t want this guy coaching my brother’s little league team.

Seattle Mariners – John McLaren
Dude, what are you doing? I realize Mike Hargrove bolted mid-season last year and left everyone between a rock and a hard place, but the grace period has expired. And in my opinion, your time in Seattle has expired, as well. You traded for Erik Bedard in the offseason to solidify a starting rotation that was already littered with established major league pitching. King Felix, Carlos Silva, Miguel Batista and Jarrod Washburn are all capable of winning double digit games. Bedard and Felix should each win at least 15. You have JJ Putz as your closer. And while the rest of your bullpen may not be worth noting, it’s certainly not the worst thing I’ve ever seen.

Offensively, this team has more ability than people give credit for. Ichiro is the best leadoff hitter in the game. Raul Ibanez is one of the most underrated players in the game. Adrian Beltre and Richie Sexson are 30-40 homer guys despite their lack of ability to hit for average and avoid only playing well in contract years. Jose Vidro needs to play the Placido Polanco card and take some time off before coming back. And instead of having Jeff Clement go 2 for 22 in May, maybe you should look elsewhere for an alternative in your lineup.

I’m also bothered by the fact that Putz has only thrown four times since his return on April 22. I realize the save situations haven’t been in abundance, but the guy needs to work. That may be why he blew a save on May 1 and will probably blow his next save opportunity, as well.

There’s too much talent on this team for it to be 14-22 and lose three straight to the Rangers while being shutout two days in a row. When you haven’t scored for 22 straight innings, maybe you should try something different. Bunting, stealing, hit and run, things like that in hopes of creating opportunities rather than saying a prayer and waiting for them to be delivered.

Sorry, John, but it’s just not working out.

San Diego Padres – Bud Black
Let’s think about this. You have Cy Young winner Jake Peavy, 6-foot-12 Chris Young, future HOF’s Greg Maddux and Trevor Hoffman, a solid bullpen and you’re staff ERA is ranked 8th in the NL? Combine that with the worst offense in the league and you have problems. The pitching has been the biggest issue because the offense was the 2nd worst in the NL last year and the team still won 89 games. But nonetheless, you’d think adjustments would be made in your teams approach to find ways to score runs.

Bud Black has yet to do that, and he’s paying a dear price. The team is 12-23 and going to have a hard time bouncing back with Arizona playing so well and Joe Torre keeping the Dodgers in the mix. The team is 2-8 in its last ten games, is 6-9 at home and is 11 games back from Arizona. Wowzer. Good luck with alllll that.

My biggest beef with Black is his management of Trevor Hoffman. The HOF closer has thrown just three times in the last 18 games. While his 6-plus ERA is tough to fathom, you can’t help but think that his inactivity isn’t helping to bring that down and get him into a rhythm. Take, for example, yesterday’s one-run loss to the Braves. A tie game in the 9th and a perfect opportunity for Hoffman to come in and hold the fort while also getting some much needed work in. Instead they cough up a run and another potential win.

Like the Mariners, there’s too much talent to be falling behind so far, so early. Let’s shake up the clubhouse and get a new guy in there to provide a resurgence of sorts.

Others to monitor closely…
New York Mets – Willie Randolph
The injury to Pedro and acquisition of Johan Santana will both keep him on ice for now, believe it or not. The Pedro injury is an excuse and Santana is the best left-hander in the game, so that should pile some wins up nicely. But after last September’s collapse, Randolph better keep this train on the tracks. Otherwise, the leash will get shorter and shorter until the blade finally drops.

Toronto – John Gibbons
This pitching staff is awesome, led by Roy Halladay who at times seems like a comic book superhero. Four consecutive complete games and three losses to show for it. Super. This offense stinks, and with guys like Alex Rios, Vernon Wells, Scott Rolen and Matt Stairs, you’d think they’d do more. David Eckstein has been a bust at leadoff which hasn’t helped, but this a team that is picked to break through the AL East barrier every year, and fails to do so. Whether Gibbons goes or not, J.P. Riccardi better watch his back, too.

Detroit Tigers – Jim Leyland
The bullpen has been ravaged by injuries and the starting pitching has been atrocious. A lot of that is not Leyland’s fault, but he can’t continue to let the Tigers lose games. With the 2nd highest payroll and a 15-21 record, the only thing saving his job is a high powered offense and a mediocre division that lands his team only 3.5 games back. For starters, he might want to tell Miguel Cabrera to stop playing like a prima donna. According to Jayson Stark on ESPN.com, a scout had Cabrera clocking in at over five seconds down the first base line. Most guys can jog down the line that fast, which is exactly what Cabrera is doing.

Lost Faces in the Crowd

-Keefe
TRISTAN BESSE

New Bedford, MA > Baseball

This must have slipped through the fingers of the people at SI roughly 7 years ago, but luckily we here at the Sports Brief are bringing it back to life. It's our first edition of "Lost Faces in the Crowd." Why not start with one of our own. That's right, Tristan Besse is our first subject. His accomplishments will no longer go unnoticed by the masses. Here is the actual write-up following the game on that fateful afternoon.

The following is courtesy of Jana Brown.

Besse '02 Throws a No-Hitter 5/16/2001

What a day it was for SPS pitcher and slugger Tristan Besse '02. Besse not only threw a no-hitter in the Big Red baseball team's 15-3 win over St. Mark's, but he also went five for five from the plate with a double, two triples, and five runs scored.

St. Mark's scored all of its runs in the second inning off an error, three walks, a hit batsmen, and a wild pitch. Besse then settled down and retired the next 18 batters he faced, striking out 12. St. Paul's (6-6) scored two runs each in the first, second and fourth innings before exploding for five in the sixth and four more runs in the seventh inning to break open the game.

In the first inning, SPS scored on respective singles by Besse and Brian Sharkey '02 to open the game. A walk to Mike Hutchins '02 (3-4, 2B, 3B, 5 RBIs ) loaded the bases, setting the stage for Ryan Davey's '01 (1-4, 3 RBIs) two-RBI double. In the second inning, Kris Desmarais '03 (2-4, 2 runs) beat out a one-out infield hit, stole second and scored on a double by Besse. Besse took third on a passed ball and Sharkey drove him in on a groundout to short. Besse smacked a one-out single in the fourth inning, stole second base and scored on a Kent Frees '01 (2-4, 3B, 3 runs) triple over the right fielder's head. Frees then scored when Hutchins hit a two-out single left field.

Desmarais led off the sixth inning with a line-drive single to right center, and scored on Besse's triple into the left-center gap. Sharkey and Frees walked to load the bases, and a wild pitch scored Besse and moved the others to second and third. Hutchins drove them in with a double and took third base on a wild pitch. Davey continued to produce with runners in scoring position by lifting a sacrifice fly that scored Hutchins and gave SPS an 11-3 advantage.

The SPS bats stayed alive in the seventh as Besse tripled with two outs and scored on a passed ball. Allin Bond '03 reached first on an error, Frees singled, and an opposite-field triple by Hutchins drove in two runs for his fourth and fifth RBIs of the game. Hutchins scored on a wild pitch to round out the scoring. Hutchins is now batting .576, putting him at the top of the ISL, and has an incredible 1.000 slugging percentage.

What a shame that we scored 15 runs and I can't find my way into the write up. What happened there? I did play in this game, and was a part of history, you'll just have to take my word for it. Hope you enjoyed it.