Managerial Prospects for Next Year...

[Texsox]

This is what I don't get about all of the Ozzie supporters. All of you are more or less saying that the manager doesn't matter but you will perform some incredible mental gymnastics to defend Ozzie. Look, you can't have it both ways. Either Ozzie deserves some accountability and actually influences the outcome of the game or we should hire a traffic cone to be manager.

 

How important is the X% that the manager can control. The GM hands him players and a strategy. They have to be working in concert with each other. My defense of Oz is this season, with the level of suck from key pieces of the plan, he's being way over criticized.

 

Bottom line to me, baseball managers get too much credit, and too much blame for the outcome of a season. Perhaps that seems like having it both ways.

[ThunderBolt]

Since Manny Acta and Davey Johnson (my guys) are both employed at the moment i'd agree that Dave Martinez really is the most inspired choice here. Sandberg is an interesting name but i have a feeling his style is a little too Ozzie-like for my comfort.

[Lemon_44]

This is what I don't get about all of the Ozzie supporters. All of you are more or less saying that the manager doesn't matter but you will perform some incredible mental gymnastics to defend Ozzie. Look, you can't have it both ways. Either Ozzie deserves some accountability and actually influences the outcome of the game or we should hire a traffic cone to be manager.

I think the manager hsa little influence on the game itself. They have influence on the clubhouse, and that's where I think Ozzie is good. But, you're right, if the players don't perform, and they haven't this year, it really doesn't matter who the manager is. I'm not saying I'm righ, but that's what I think.

[Balta1701]

How important is the X% that the manager can control. The GM hands him players and a strategy. They have to be working in concert with each other. My defense of Oz is this season, with the level of suck from key pieces of the plan, he's being way over criticized.

 

Bottom line to me, baseball managers get too much credit, and too much blame for the outcome of a season. Perhaps that seems like having it both ways.

Apparently on this team, the manager controls a whole lot, because he has had veto power over addition of players for several years now. The GM has had only partial control of players and limited control of strategy.

[Kyyle23]

Since Manny Acta and Davey Johnson (my guys) are both employed at the moment i'd agree that Dave Martinez really is the most inspired choice here. Sandberg is an interesting name but i have a feeling his style is a little too Ozzie-like for my comfort.

 

how could you possibly know this?

[Balta1701]

how could you possibly know this?

Players who've gone back and forth on the Iowa Shuttle this year seem to be of one mind when it comes to playing for Ryne Sandberg.

 

"It's awesome," said pitcher Jeff Samardzija, who was optioned by the Cubs to Class AAA Iowa early this season. "The best thing about Ryno is there is no panic button, whether you're down 1 or down 6. We've lost four of five, five or six here, and never is there any push to do anything different.

 

"I think the big thing is we play hard every day, and I think we're happy with what the results are after every game. As long as he's happy with how we played on the field every day and we gave it what we had, what happens after that is just icing on the cake. I probably picked up 3 or 4 early wins out of the pen when I first got here because of that mentality."

 

The percentage of rookies on the Cubs at one time this year reached 40, and many of those players have played for Sandberg in the minor leagues. Outfielder Sam Fuld is back at Iowa after getting a quick call-up last week. He has spent most of his time this year playing for Sandberg.

 

"He's been great," Fuld said. "He basically keeps it really simple. Obviously, he commands a lot of respect based on who he is. You get a sense of his work ethic. He's very consistent. He's got this amazing preparation and routine, and you just kind of follow that. It's really, really simple: You play hard, and you're on time. Everybody's aware of that. Other than that, he just lets you play.

 

"There's nobody trying to cut any corners or anything like that. He's obviously not tremendously vocal. He can be if he needs to be, and everyone's aware of that."

 

Beyond running a tight ship, Sandberg also has gotten his hands full of infield dirt, especially around the second-base bag, where he carved out a Hall of Fame career as a player.

 

"For me, he has a lot to do with my development," infielder Darwin Barney told cubs.com. "The way he comes off as a manager and makes the clubhouse feel good ... guys just want to play hard every day. You know what he expects, and you know he wants to compete as much or more than you. That's his nature."

 

Players say they're fully aware Sandberg is a Hall of Famer, but not by anything Sandberg says about it.

 

"You'd never know," Fuld said. "He's out there every day doing the same things. I think he really prides himself on his routine and discipline. It shows, and it rubs off on guys."

 

Read more: http://saxo.dailyherald.com/article/201008.../#ixzz1X5ptbCJW

 

Iowa - As popular a player as Ryne Sandberg was with the Cubs, he's somewhat of a mystery as a manager.

 

That's to be expected. He's labored in the minor leagues for four years, and most fans of the big-league team have not seen him work.

 

More Coverage

 

Stories

 

Iowa Cubs players go to bat praising the Sandberg way [8/24/10]

 

Sandberg gets ejected -- again [8/24/10]

 

The record certainly is good. Sandberg's Class A Peoria team tied for a half-season division title in 2007. He led Class AA Tennessee to the Southern League championship series last year, and he currently has the Cubs' Class AAA Iowa farm club poised to make the playoffs in the Pacific Coast League.

 

Like all minor-league managers, Sandberg is on the field early, sometimes 1 p.m. for a 7 o'clock game. He hits grounders and flyballs, throws batting practice and coaches third base.

 

Tuesday morning, he had his I-Cubs on the field at about 10 a.m. for a light session of outfield and infield work. Sandberg hit fungoes and let his players engage in some lighthearted banter.

 

"You might consider getting your mug in front of it," veteran infielder Bobby Scales told catcher Chris Robinson after Robinson missed a throw home.

 

Robinson said the same thing to Scales a minute later.

 

"Too good-looking," Scales said of his own mug.

 

Fun and business at the same time.

 

"My style is I work hard at it," Sandberg said. "I feel like I'm prepared every day. I do my homework. I come to the ballpark, and I relay any message that I need to relay to the players. I get that off my chest. I talk to the players, either individually or as a group, what I'm feeling, and I think the players appreciate that. And I think they respond to that. I've jumped on their (butts) at times. I've patted them on the back."

 

The job of major-league manager is also multifaceted, but there are some key differences. The big-league manager has a larger coaching staff, which includes a bench coach, who may serve as sounding board or alter ego, depending on what's needed.

 

Media scrutiny is amped up in the major leagues, and the manager must deal with players whose paychecks contain many more zeros to the left of the decimal point.

 

Sandberg is a candidate to become the manager of the Cubs for 2011. The Hall of Fame player discussed several aspect of managing.

 

In-game managing: Part of the fun of following baseball is discussing the manager's moves the next day. Sandberg says he prefers an aggressive style of managing.

 

"I think I go with what players I have," he said. "I let the players use their abilities and what they're capable of doing. If they're capable of stealing bases, I'm going to give them the green light. I'm going to teach them to pick their spots and to get a base when they can get a base.

 

"I like movement on the bases. I like to hit-and-run. I like to go for the win and force the issue and try to win a game as opposed to sitting back.

 

"It's somewhat gut feeling. It's somewhat experience. It's all those things making a split-(second) decision. It's whatever the game calls for at that time, and whatever my instincts tell me to do."

 

Dealing with the media: A taciturn player, Sandberg has gotten ejected from his fair share of games in the minor leagues. He also seems to have grown more comfortable dealing with the media.

 

There doesn't seem to be a magic formula. Even veteran managers such as Lou Piniella and Dusty Baker found the Chicago media tougher than advertised at times.

 

"I've had a small taste of that the last four years, a small taste," Sandberg said. "That's a big part of the job, along with handling the dugout and the locker room and handling the players. That'll be more of a daily job that I've done here, but it's a big part of the job. That's the next step."

 

And when Sandberg is asked by the media why he didn't bunt or trot out a different lineup?

 

"I'll have answers for that," he said. "Those are questions that need to be answered. To deal with that is part of the daily job as a manager."

 

Handling big-leaguers: Sandberg laid the law down to Carlos Zambrano this year when Zambrano went to Iowa for a rehab stint. He told Zambrano he expected him to work hard so he could return to the major leagues.

 

It'll be different, though, on a daily basis.

 

"Of course," he said. "That will be different. Going from A-ball to Double-A was different. Going from Double-A to Triple-A was different. I've made adjustments. I've learned. I've experienced that. I would experience that at the major-league level. I feel I have a way of doing things that I feel is my way of doing things. I think there's an organizational way of doing things."

 

The stats revolution: Many major-league front offices employ statistical analysts who have input into the procurement of players.

 

From there, it's up to the manager to use those players. Most managers don't throw around sabermetric terms such as VORP, WARP and fielding-independent pitching, but they usually know what they mean in different terms.

 

When former manager Lou Piniella was talking about a pitcher's baserunners per inning one day, he was really talking about WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched).

 

"There are facts there," Sandberg said. "There are stats there that mean something. What you can do with that is accumulate that type of information and relay that to the players, if necessary. You can have certain guys that you want to be aware of those type of things that that's their job in the lineup, primarily at the top of the order, making the opposition work a little bit and making the pitcher work.

 

"There are other guys you want to go up there, with a guy on base, you want them to be aggressive and swing the bat and make something happen. All that information you can use."

 

Read more: http://dastage.sx.atl.publicus.com/article.../#ixzz1X5q1p24R

[Texsox]

Apparently on this team, the manager controls a whole lot, because he has had veto power over addition of players for several years now. The GM has had only partial control of players and limited control of strategy.

 

I was thinking the manager as compared to the player's control. I'd say the players have a little bit more control of the outcome.

[Wanne]

I think the manager hsa little influence on the game itself. They have influence on the clubhouse, and that's where I think Ozzie is good. But, you're right, if the players don't perform, and they haven't this year, it really doesn't matter who the manager is. I'm not saying I'm righ, but that's what I think.

 

I wish I had a dollar for every time Ozzie left a pitcher in for too long or pitched to somebody with an open base... thus stringing together 4 full pages in the game thread of what an idiot he is. Yes...they do have influence. You think Rios pencils himself in the 4-hole?

[ThunderBolt]

how could you possibly know this?

Pretty much what Balta just posted. I've just heard a lot of stories and read a lot of quotes that show me he's not as interested in the statistical side of the game as i'd want a manager to be.

[Cerbaho-WG]

How important is the X% that the manager can control. The GM hands him players and a strategy.

 

First, the manager controls the use of the bullpen, the order of the lineup, benching or starting players and in game strategies. To imply that X is a small percentage is unbelievably ignorant. Second, in this organization we have no clue what the overall strategy of the team is. KW will get his way one year (Dunn) and Ozzie will get his way another year (insert any s***ty grinder player here).

[BigSqwert]

First, the manager controls the use of the bullpen, the order of the lineup, benching or starting players and in game strategies. To imply that X is a small percentage is unbelievably ignorant. Second, in this organization we have no clue what the overall strategy of the team is. KW will get his way one year (Dunn) and Ozzie will get his way another year (insert any s***ty grinder player here).

Please post more in this forum.

[Marty34]

A bad manager is easier to recover from than a bad GM. Guillen has to go, but it can't stop there. Williams has put together a team that no manager could win with.

[Wanne]

A bad manager is easier to recover from than a bad GM. Guillen has to go, but it can't stop there. Williams has put together a team that no manager could win with.

 

I'm a firm believer that the coaching staff plays a MAJOR role in all of this too...it's just not Ozzie and KW. I know I keep pointing at these guys...but if any of you looked at the DBacks opening day lineup and thought they would compete you're full of it. They've put together an incredible staff IMO. We have the ubber-exciting combination of Cora, Harold Baines and Greg Walker. Those guys could motivate a house plant to grow...

[Milkman delivers]

Ozzie Guillen. I say this not to be flippant or dismiss the post because a change might certainly happen, but my bet is since Ozzie has a contract for 2012 and Jerry ius a loyal owner, who likes both KW and Ozzie. 2012 might be the make or break year.

 

It makes me absolutely sick that anyone can still be of this opinion.

 

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Ozzie Guillen could piss straight in some of your faces, and you'd find a way to cut him some slack for it.

[Cerbaho-WG]

A bad manager is easier to recover from than a bad GM.

 

This is absolutely true. KW's all-in mode since 2006 was bound to bite the team in the ass and it finally has. We're looking at 2013 or 2014 until we have a good amount of payroll flexibility. Normally you could partially offset this by investing heavily in the draft/international free agency, but JR doesn't do this.

[Texsox]

First, the manager controls the use of the bullpen, the order of the lineup, benching or starting players and in game strategies. To imply that X is a small percentage is unbelievably ignorant. Second, in this organization we have no clue what the overall strategy of the team is. KW will get his way one year (Dunn) and Ozzie will get his way another year (insert any s***ty grinder player here).

 

Strategy without execution is meaningless.

[macsandz]

Tony Pena (Yankees bench coach & former KC manager) should get heavy consideration as the next manager.

Edited September 5, 2011 by bucket-of-suck

[oldsox]

Matt Williams, third base coach of D-Backs, would be a good choice. He could also be the hitting coach. He wants a Mrg. gig.

[Lemon_44]

I wish I had a dollar for every time Ozzie left a pitcher in for too long or pitched to somebody with an open base... thus stringing together 4 full pages in the game thread of what an idiot he is. Yes...they do have influence. You think Rios pencils himself in the 4-hole?

4 pages of what fans on a message board gamethread is meaningless. Everybody is right after the fact. I think Ozzie is 100% right not batting Viciedo 4th. I don't like Rios batting 4th but his options were pretty limited at the time. Are you happy with AJ hitting 4th? Dunn not hitting has killed this lineup. My lineup would have had De Aza 3rd and PK 4th. But De Aza is not a #3 hitter either.

[Dick Allen]

If Ozzie is gone, I believe the odds on favorite to be the new manager is Sandy Alomar Jr. His baseball acumen is beloved by the White Sox organization. They have said he's a manager in waiting for years, since he was playing. The Sox generally like guys with no major league managerial experience the last 20 years or so.........

Edited September 5, 2011 by Dick Allen

[chw42]

Wasn't Trey Hillman a hot, can't miss prospect before KC hired him?

Not trying to flame, but even if KC hadn't hired him, wasn't he the next great thing? Those 4 names of guys I've never heard of are dangerous like Trey-dangerous..

When Oz is shown the door ... I want either an old, "name" manager or I want Sandberg.

Why hire some unknown for a high (or at least competitive) payroll organization like the White Sox??

 

Trey Hillman managed in Japan before he came back to the States. That's completely different.

[greg775]

Tony Pena (Yankees bench coach & former KC manager) should get heavy consideration as the next manager.

 

See, this is what I mean.

If you are gonna get guys like are mentioned in this thread, then keep Ozzie.

Ozzie Guillen vs. Tony Pena??

My god.

[kjshoe04]

See, this is what I mean.

If you are gonna get guys like are mentioned in this thread, then keep Ozzie.

Ozzie Guillen vs. Tony Pena??

My god.

You want Sandberg. He's the same type of manager as Ozzie too.

[2nd_city_saint787]

Give me Super Joe! Give me Tim Laker while you're at it...this team obviously needs more Knights

[macsandz]

See, this is what I mean.

If you are gonna get guys like are mentioned in this thread, then keep Ozzie.

Ozzie Guillen vs. Tony Pena??

My god.

 

Please, please explain. "what you mean". This outta be good...