Apparently It's Not Just Dusty

[billroper]

Last night, Phil Garner demonstrated how it's possible to become a major league manager without learning to comprehend the most fundamental principles that one learns by playing baseball strategy games -- such as APBA or Strat-o-Matic. In this case, the missing principle was "Defense Is For When You're Ahead".

It's a one-run game, winner-take-all. It's the bottom of the ninth. And your third baseman is Miguel Cabrera, while your left fielder is Carlos Lee, neither of whom are notably good defensively. In fact, they're both notably bad defensively. Meanwhile, as you look down your bench, you see Andruw Jones, Gold Glove winning outfielder, and Scott Rolen, Gold Glove winning third baseman.

Your average APBA manager who is smarter than a turnip will probably decide it's time to put in the defensive replacements. Your average big-league manager who apparently is somewhat dumber than a stone will not.

Rolen and Jones might not have made the plays on the balls hit by Konerko and Glaus. But they might have. And I guarantee that Rolen would have at least gotten his uniform dirty making a dive for Konerko's ball. As slow as Konerko is, had Rolen gotten any part of his body in front of the ball, the National League would be celebrating it's first All-Star win in a very long time.

Comments

(frozen)

[jennlk]

For all that I like ScrapIron as a player and (in general) as a manager, there is a reason why I was glad to see him dropped from the Tigers, and that's it. He's reasonably good at motivating, and managing from a pitching/offense standpoint, but a little shaky on the concept of 'late inning defensive replacement'.

(frozen)

[bedlamhouse]

Based on local sports radio reporting, Andruw Jones was asked to go in the game in the ninth. He refused. His stated "reason" was because he wanted Carlos to have a chance at MVP. The interviewer believes it was becaused he was miffed by not being put in the game in the 7th inning.

Sometimes things are different when real people are involved...

(frozen)

[billroper]

If the player refuses to go into the game, that is -- of course! -- a different kettle of fish.