An Alternate View?

[Rex Hudler]

Time will prove Manuel correct

 

Jerry Manuel didn't cost the White Sox the season by starting rookie Neal Cotts instead of Mark Buehrle in Thursday's 7-5 loss in New York. He made a very good decision that won't cost his team a thing and could help it in October.

 

Of course, that's not the way it will be viewed if the Sox suddenly lose the confidence that rode shotgun with them on the bus to Yankee Stadium. The Sox had won eight of nine, including back-to-back thrashings of the Yankees, and many players wanted to see Opening Day starter Buehrle try to finish off the sweep.

 

There's no guarantee he would have done that, of course. But the wolves were howling when Cotts allowed a 2-0 lead to turn into a 5-2 deficit before Manuel had to go get him. There was only one out in the first inning.

 

Buehrle had wanted to test himself against the Yankees. Manuel decided to hold him back for Friday night's game in Detroit. Embattled for most of the season, the manager will appear foolish if Buehrle falters and the Tigers win.

 

If the Sox miss the playoffs by one or two games, you can bet lots of fans are going to blame this bit of planning by Manuel. But the reality is that it's consistent with Manuel's long-haul mentality, which appears to be paying dividends.

 

I wrote in April, May and July that the White Sox needed to strongly consider a managerial change—that the Manuel era had reached a point of steadily diminishing returns. But that 26-14 record in the second half suggests that crow will be served for me and several others in the Chicago media at some point in late September.

 

This is a playoff team. It looks like one because it is one, and that's all there is to it. This latest harangue about Buehrle should die as quickly as it arrived.

 

Here's why Manuel's critics, who included broadcasters Ken Harrelson and Ed Farmer, missed the mark with the indignation they vented after Cotts was knocked out of the game:

 

Regardless if he started Thursday or Friday, Buehrle will make six more starts this season. That is, unless the Central race hangs in the balance on the last weekend of the season in Kansas City.

 

Esteban Loaiza, Bartolo Colon and Buehrle are lined up to work the final weekend on three days' rest, with Buehrle getting Game No. 162, if that's the case. If the Sox don't have to sweat a playoff spot, then Manuel can groom his horses for the first round of the playoffs.

 

Because of a goofy day off on Labor Day, Buehrle's next start was going to be next Wednesday against Boston, whether he started Thursday or Friday. The impact of this decision on his schedule for the rest of the season is a moot point.

 

Remember 2000? You better believe Manuel does.

 

The White Sox won 95 games and an unexpected Central title, but the second-half push and grind took a huge toll on the pitching staff. The starters were in such sad shape physically entering the playoffs that Manuel sent reporters searching through Bibles with his reference to "a Gideon's army."

 

Guys like Mike Sirotka, Jim Parque, James Baldwin, Bill Simas, Kelly Wunsch and Bob Howry pushed themselves beyond the limit to secure that playoff spot. The result was a run of pitching injuries that crippled the division champs in 2001.

 

In Buehrle, Loaiza and Colon, Manuel has the cards to play Chicago's first winning hand in October since 1917. The key is not to weaken your hand before you have to show it.

 

Buehrle had made five consecutive starts working on the standard four days rest. He needed a little break, whether it came now or next week.

 

Don't forget that the goal for this Sox team, with the luxury of competing in the watered-down Central, is to win in October, not merely get there.

 

All these victories will count the same when they're totaled on Sept. 28. If Buehrle beats the Tigers on Friday night, it'll count exactly the same as a victory over New York would have. There was a better chance that he could have pitched well and still have the White Sox lose against the Yankees' Mike Mussina than there will be Friday against Detroit's Nate Robertson, who will be making his fourth career start.

 

As for Cotts, sure he would have had a better shot against Detroit than the Yankees. But here's some relief for those bemoaning his inconsistent performance:

 

The White Sox are in position to win a division title despite a 3-10 record and 6.77 earned run average from their fifth starters, who have worked 24 games.

 

Here's another comforting thought:

 

They won't need one again until Sept. 9.

[YASNY]

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! ...... That has been my point all along. It was, in JM's opinion, for the good of the team over the long haul. Some people can't see the forest for the trees.

[IndySoxFan]

Time will prove Manuel correct

 

Jerry Manuel didn't cost the White Sox the season by starting rookie Neal Cotts instead of Mark Buehrle in Thursday's 7-5 loss in New York. He made a very good decision that won't cost his team a thing and could help it in October.

 

Of course, that's not the way it will be viewed if the Sox suddenly lose the confidence that rode shotgun with them on the bus to Yankee Stadium. The Sox had won eight of nine, including back-to-back thrashings of the Yankees, and many players wanted to see Opening Day starter Buehrle try to finish off the sweep.

 

There's no guarantee he would have done that, of course. But the wolves were howling when Cotts allowed a 2-0 lead to turn into a 5-2 deficit before Manuel had to go get him. There was only one out in the first inning.

 

Buehrle had wanted to test himself against the Yankees. Manuel decided to hold him back for Friday night's game in Detroit. Embattled for most of the season, the manager will appear foolish if Buehrle falters and the Tigers win.

 

If the Sox miss the playoffs by one or two games, you can bet lots of fans are going to blame this bit of planning by Manuel. But the reality is that it's consistent with Manuel's long-haul mentality, which appears to be paying dividends.

 

I wrote in April, May and July that the White Sox needed to strongly consider a managerial change—that the Manuel era had reached a point of steadily diminishing returns. But that 26-14 record in the second half suggests that crow will be served for me and several others in the Chicago media at some point in late September.

 

This is a playoff team. It looks like one because it is one, and that's all there is to it. This latest harangue about Buehrle should die as quickly as it arrived.

 

Here's why Manuel's critics, who included broadcasters Ken Harrelson and Ed Farmer, missed the mark with the indignation they vented after Cotts was knocked out of the game:

 

Regardless if he started Thursday or Friday, Buehrle will make six more starts this season. That is, unless the Central race hangs in the balance on the last weekend of the season in Kansas City.

 

Esteban Loaiza, Bartolo Colon and Buehrle are lined up to work the final weekend on three days' rest, with Buehrle getting Game No. 162, if that's the case. If the Sox don't have to sweat a playoff spot, then Manuel can groom his horses for the first round of the playoffs.

 

Because of a goofy day off on Labor Day, Buehrle's next start was going to be next Wednesday against Boston, whether he started Thursday or Friday. The impact of this decision on his schedule for the rest of the season is a moot point.

 

Remember 2000? You better believe Manuel does.

 

The White Sox won 95 games and an unexpected Central title, but the second-half push and grind took a huge toll on the pitching staff. The starters were in such sad shape physically entering the playoffs that Manuel sent reporters searching through Bibles with his reference to "a Gideon's army."

 

Guys like Mike Sirotka, Jim Parque, James Baldwin, Bill Simas, Kelly Wunsch and Bob Howry pushed themselves beyond the limit to secure that playoff spot. The result was a run of pitching injuries that crippled the division champs in 2001.

 

In Buehrle, Loaiza and Colon, Manuel has the cards to play Chicago's first winning hand in October since 1917. The key is not to weaken your hand before you have to show it.

 

Buehrle had made five consecutive starts working on the standard four days rest. He needed a little break, whether it came now or next week.

 

Don't forget that the goal for this Sox team, with the luxury of competing in the watered-down Central, is to win in October, not merely get there.

 

All these victories will count the same when they're totaled on Sept. 28. If Buehrle beats the Tigers on Friday night, it'll count exactly the same as a victory over New York would have. There was a better chance that he could have pitched well and still have the White Sox lose against the Yankees' Mike Mussina than there will be Friday against Detroit's Nate Robertson, who will be making his fourth career start.

 

As for Cotts, sure he would have had a better shot against Detroit than the Yankees. But here's some relief for those bemoaning his inconsistent performance:

 

The White Sox are in position to win a division title despite a 3-10 record and 6.77 earned run average from their fifth starters, who have worked 24 games.

 

Here's another comforting thought:

 

They won't need one again until Sept. 9.

cant argue with that....

[Capn12]

To quote Fletcher Reed in "Liar, Liar"....

 

AND THE TRUTH........SHALL SET...YOU FREE!~!!

[Dick Allen]

Well, if Phil Rogers thinks conceding games when you have a one game lead is the correct thing to do, then I, for one, stand corrected.

[mreye]

Well, if Phil Rogers thinks conceding games when you have a one game lead is the correct thing to do, then I, for one, stand corrected.

That's rediculous!

[cwsox]

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! ...... That has been my point all along.  It was, in JM's opinion, for the good of the team over the long haul.  Some people can't see the forest for the trees.

YASNY says it for me too.

[Dick Allen]

YASNY says it for me too.

I just don't see the for the good of the team argument. Your switching these guys around, Buerhle would be getting his usual rest. The object is to win, and if Buerhle and Cotts are going to be pitching the 2 games the matchups that give you the best chance to win 2 are Buerhle vs.NY Cotts vs. DET. If Buehrle would have jumped up a day and had a day fewer rest, then I would understand. It would be my understanding that everyone who agrees with JM's move would be definitely opposed to a 4 man rotation, which was another thing JM was talking about.

JM is a windsock, if he makes a decision and goes with it fine. He couldn't have handled this situation more poorly. When he said Buerhle had a 99.9% chance of starting, that probably was code for no chance in hell he starts. He mentions a 4 man rotation with his 4 starters, stays with 5 and is still looking for extra days of rest.

[cwsox]

JM's job is not to make everything he anticipates doing so very crystal clear that every opponent knows his every move but what the hell, the members of this board will be happy. If JM blows smoke about possible moves, that is his job, and it is more important to keep the opponents guessing than to do a single damn thing so that everyone here stops calling him a "windsock."

 

Ever consider that Cooper may have advised not to start MB, to give him an extra day's rest, or maybe Herm did - and why the hell would they make public, so Trammel knows that MB might be hurting a little?

 

And given that MB has lost 12 games already, why is he a guarenteed win all of a sudden when he himself said that because he has never pitched there, he may have been nervous as hell. In fact, a few months ago, I was one of the few here defending MB at all when he was 2-10. A few months ago a bunch of posters wanted to ship him out, not start him against the Yankees. I think the windsock accusation goes to a lot of members of Soxtalk, not to JM.

 

Rogers makes an excellent point about playing the staff apropos of our experience in 2000.

 

For the rest, I cannot help what anyone else does not understand. Visceral hatred is just that and is beyond reason, logic, or understanding.

 

However, I will note that I feel very comfortable about something when I am in agreement with rexhudler and YASNY. Two of us have been around a long time and seen a lot of baseball and the other two are people that I consider baseball exoperts and veterans.

[Dick Allen]

If MB is hurt than he should not start at NY, and should not start at Det. He is not hurt, he wanted the ball. JM said there was a 99.9% chance he would start.MB won 15 in 2001, and 19 in 2002. If he was average, JM would probably be selling computers right now. He has also been on a role. JM owed him the ball yesterday if he wanted it. If the Sox face the Yankees in the playoffs and Mussina starts game 1, does JM start Cotts to get everyone else an extra day rest?By the way catching teams off guard with "surprise" starters I'm sure is not JM's motivation for his windsocking. He showed no confidence in his team yesterday.JM is quoted in the NY Daily News as saying the Sox will "probably go to a 4 man rotation" now. So Rogers' argument how this is saving the staff is now moot.

[Molto]

THANK YOU.

 

was this a decision Manuel was 100% right in? no, you have the right to question it, but people have been idiots to be honest in how they've handled this situation and how they've taken it too much out of context.

[Chisoxfn]

Very good article.

[Molto]

the matchup gives you the best chance to win two? yes but does it not give you the best chance at losing two too?

 

this team has played with fire all year with their start, I'd take the VERY good chance at one win over a small chance at two wins.

[Jordan4life_2003]

I just don't see the for the good of the team argument. Your switching these guys around, Buerhle would be getting his usual rest. The object is to win, and if Buerhle and Cotts are going to be pitching the 2 games the matchups that give you the best chance to win 2 are Buerhle vs.NY Cotts vs. DET. If Buehrle would have jumped up a day and had a day fewer rest, then I would understand. It would be my understanding that everyone who agrees with JM's move would be definitely opposed to a 4 man rotation, which was another thing JM was talking about.

JM is a windsock, if he makes a decision and goes with it fine. He couldn't have handled this situation more poorly. When he said Buerhle had a 99.9% chance of starting, that probably was code for no chance in hell he starts. He mentions a 4 man rotation with his 4 starters, stays with 5 and is still looking for extra days of rest.

I agree man. I don't care what Phil Rogers says. JM is a f***in idiot...

[YASNY]

Those damn trees are still blocking some peoples' view, I see.

[Soxfest]

Won 2 now lost 2 ..........keep playing Detroit Sox can forget October, Tigers have 23 % of wins vs Sox