Category: Managers

Book Excerpt on Dusty Baker's Managerial Career

December 1, 2009 by cubsnet

The Hardball Times is running excerpts from Chris Jaffe's new book Evaluating Baseball Managers. Today's installment discusses Dusty Baker. It's an excellent recap of Baker's managerial career and offers some explanations for Baker's success in San Francisco and relative failure in Chicago.

Among other things, Jaffe discusses the difficulty Baker had in playing younger players in Chicago, something I reviewed in May 2006 here.

Ryne Sandberg replacing Lou Piniella in Cubs' dugout next year?

September 14, 2009 by cubsnet

Ryne Sandberg replacing Lou Piniella in Cubs' dugout next year?

Zumsteg Discusses Piniella

October 17, 2006 by cubsnet

The hiring of Lou Piniella got Derek at Cub Town and Rob G. at The Cub Reporter talking to USS Mariner proprietor Derek Zumsteg about Piniella's preferences and tendencies.

A few of the nuggets we learn:

• Piniella likes veterans. Piniella overworks his pitchers unless constrained by a suitable pitching coach. At least we'll avoid anxiety resulting from change.

• Piniella doesn't like platoons. Good news for Jacque Jones and lefthanded National League pitchers.

• Piniella likes scrappy players with no talent. But, really, who doesn't?

Hendry Discusses Piniella; & Bochy Is a Managerial Possibility

October 11, 2006 by cubsnet

In an article mostly speculating about the Cubs acquiring Alex Rodriguez, the Chicago Tribune's Paul Sullivan quotes Jim Hendry as saying about Lou Piniella: "I enjoyed my time talking to Lou Piniella. He's an outstanding baseball person and for all the things he has accomplished in the game he certainly deserves to be a candidate." Notice that Hendry believes Piniella deserves to be a candidate, as if he is not one already. Also notice that Piniella deserves to be one for all of the things he has accomplished in the game, not because he would be a good fit for the Cubs. Either Hendry is trying to depress Piniella's market price, or he just isn't that enthused about him. Or, I'm reading too much into Hendry's statement.

Girardi not returning to Marlins

September 22, 2006 by cgalik

This MLB.com article writes commenting on sources in Florida:
Girardi has "zero" chance of returning for a second season.
I'm a Dusty fan, but I say goodbye to Baker and hello to Girardi.

Brenly Would Manage Again, in Right Situation

September 9, 2006 by cubsnet

The Chicago Tribune's Melissa Isaacson profiles Bob Brenly, and the possibility that he could be a big league manager again soon, perhaps for the Chicago Cubs:

"If the right situation came along, absolutely I'd like to get back on the field. But I don't have to go out searching for that job or be standing by my phone 24 hours a day waiting for the call. I'm perfectly content to do what I do for the rest of my life."

Dan LeBatard Answers Questions on Joe Girardi

September 8, 2006 by cubsnet

Ruz at The Cub Reporter has an insightful interview with Miami Herald columnist Dan LeBatard on Joe Girardi. Ruz comes away from the interview endorsing Jim Hendry making a move for Girardi, if he becomes available -- LeBatard says he will -- in the offseason.

A couple of LeBatard's responses make me leary of going after Girardi: