I'm pretty sure this is 2009. We might not have flying cars and jet packs yet, but dammit we do have some pretty cool shit. Like, well, like... I can't think of anything but, trust me, we do. The reason I bring it up is because we should be beyond hiring morons in 2009. I mean, its fucking 2009, right? Well, OK, fine, hire morons, but not to run multi-million dollar businesses, like, oh, off the top of my head, say the New York Mets.
The other day Jerry Manuel was interviewed about something, it doesn't matter what, and said this:
My emphasis will be on team vs. individual. I think that message is so critical. This is not about statistical success. This is about winning as a team, and you have to put people in positions that you feel is best to win as a team. Whether that means Jose [Reyes] batting second, third, whatever -- first or leading off -- you have to accomplish that. And that's a big part of the message throughout spring training: The game takes precedent over individual stats.
Has Jerry Manuel ever actually seen a baseball game? If he had he should know that basically baseball is an individual sport masquerading as a team sport. What's best for the individual is almost always (like 99.99% of the time) best for the team. So there is just about no distinction to be made between "statistical success" (assuming he means individual success) and what is best for the team.
Exactly how are a player's individual stats going to take precedence over the team? I hear this all the time, and maybe in some pitching situations it could happen (for example, a guy wants to go five innings to get credit for a win), but how exactly is Jose Reyes going to forsake the team for individual stats?
Manuel: Thanks for coming in, Jose. Have a seat.
Reyes: No problem. Whats on your mind, coach?
Manuel: I think you are forsaking the team and playing for individual stats.
Reyes: How so coach?
Manual: Take yesterday against Philly. You swung away while I was giving you the sacrifice bunt signal!
Reyes: But coach, I was leading off the game.
Manuel: No back talk Reyes! I'm serious. If I so much as see an individual stat from you for the next week I'll bench your ass!
There's a fine line between knowing what you are doing and trying desperately to pretend like you know what you're doing. Jerry Manual is on the wrong side of that line. Fortunately he's only in charge of the team. Looks like the Phillies should be safe for another year.
1 comments:
So he's not going to let Delgado go up to hit 5 times in an inning to pad his stats this year?
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