Why is Alou in the "good" list but Baker in the "some good, some bad"?

Both have massive weaknesses in some statheady aspects (pitcher use, lineup construction), but are good with their players.

If anything, I think Alou is a weaker manager than Baker, sicne Baker seems more adept at getting above-expectations performances.

I wouldn't put Torre in the top half of big league managers. I don't care how much gobbledygook the media spew about "how hard it is to manage the Yankees".

Alou's a stone cold freakin' genius at bullpens, though. I agree that he has weaknesses - his love for no-hit/some-field centerfielder/leadoff men is infuriating - but all in all he does well in most aspects of the game.

He's also really great at developing young pitchers.

Baker's obsession with his own righteousness is what I actually identified as his weakness. I think his pitcher abuse is related to that. Felipe doesn't have a prominent weakness like that.

What's Frank Robinson's weakness?

Paul, Frank Robinson is completely incapable of telling a player who can hit from a player who can't. It's a bit odd; because he has done such a good job in the past (along with Tommy McCraw, his hitting coach) at getting players to improve with the bat, I think he believes he can just stick anyone in the lineup and they will be able to hit. His genius, unfortunately, does not extend that far.

Watching the Expos' offense tank year after year under F. Robby despite having good hitters in the organization (and sometimes evenhe bench) has been pretty frustrating.

He also rips his own players a lot, probably because he speaks his mind a little too freely. I think that's a bad move - he's toned it down this year AFAICT.

Baker's obsession with his own righteousness is what I actually identified as his weakness

And preferences for veterans. Pudge could have been a Cub, but they had to go out and get the proven Derek Lee to replace Choi.

I think you have to give Jimy Willliams some credit in developing his managerial skills over the past several years.

It is agreed that Ozzie Guillen is starting to show weaknesses. Cito really got hosed by Kenny Williams in that one.

Cito really got hosed by Kenny Williams in that one

IIRC, Kenny Williams prefered Cito, but Reinsdorf prefered Guillen.

Sigh... Jimy Williams

About a week ago: Top of the 7th, Astros up 1-0 and batting. Pitcher's spot up, one out, runners on second and third, righty Kip Wells on the mound. Your PH choices:

Jason Lane: career .255/.352/.511 vs righties
Morgan Ensberg: .257/.337/.435
Orlando Palmeiro: .282/.359/.358
Jose Vizcaino: .266/.312/.347

Vizcaino pinch hit, of course. Lloyd McClendon repsonded by bringing in lefty John Grabow, an odd choice considering Viz hits lefties a little better than righties. Williams' choices against the lefty:

Stay with Vizcaino: career .287/.337/.332 vs lefties
Ensberg: .309/.423/.576(!)
Lane: .322/.406/.678(!!)
Palmeiro: .259/.335/.291

Vizcaino batted, of course.

Lou Piniella shouldn't be in the bottom ten -- no way. He's never had ANY pitching talent in Tampa. In fact, he's hardly had any talent at all outside of the outfield/DH spots there. Still, they play teams close, and the obvious manager-related benchmarks (like stealing percentage) are very good.

As for his Mariners tenure...if you subscribe to the "playoffs are all luck" school, then you have to give him props for their outstanding 2001 season, when the M's were talented, but not 116-win talented.

Buck Showalter should be promoted at least to 'good'. He played a big role in constructing the Yankees dynasty as well as the D-Backs championship. It looks like he's well on his way to doing it again in Texas. If there was a rift between him and A-Rod: so what. It seems that every team A-Rod leaves goes on to be the tops in the division.

Really: Carlos Tosco should be in the 'significant weakness' category. His significant weakness: over-managing. Not just with the bullpen. Sure: Catalonotto and Woodward have iffy numbers against lefties, but that's no reason to bench them when they're both doing their best hitting of the year. Perhaps this is the time they can turn it around against lefties, reverse the trend, beat the monkey. Instead they have to ride the pine, let their stroke cool, and believe they can only hit right-handers. I will admit though Gomez has been hitting well in place of Woodward.

I liked seeing Frasor closing last night, would like to see more of that.

I liked seeing Frasor closing last night, would like to see more of that.

I liked that too.
Who gets the next save situation assuming all arms are ready to go? I'm assuming Adams, I think the bullpen would raise a collective eyebrow if he was pulled so quickly from the role.

No huge disagreements with the list. I like Scioscia, Tracy and McKeon more than Craig and Tosca, Bobby Cox and Torre less. If I were an Astros' fan, I'd probably be wish that Jimy be sequestered with Bowa as punishment for his sins.

I'd break the 'Good' group into another level. To me, Tracy, Scioscia and McKeon are clearly above Tosca (who I would have with the the MEHs - I'd rather Showalter or Wedge at the very least), Yost and Trammell.

It feels like Frank Robinson has really lost his patience for the situation this year (most mortals would have lost it long ago).

I think you are a little rough on Gardenhire and Piniella, but not on LaRussa. :)

The non-use of Jason Lane this year is borderline criminal- he's got like 10 PA. Craig Wilson Syndrome- they won't play him, but they don't want anyone else to either.

I will admit though Gomez has been hitting well in place of Woodward.

Is Woody still hurt?

A few days ago I read that Woody would be out until Friday as a precaution. I don't remember the source.

http://cbs.sportsline.com/mlb/players/playerpage/44930
Is Woody still hurt?

Apparently he might be available for the 7th. COMN

I might classify LaRussa as one who is good, but with significant weaknesses. He loves multi-position players who are incapable of swinging the bat, and he might mismanage his bullpen with too frequent switches and carrying too many relievers, however he has accomplished a lot, most noticably the success the Cards had after the tragic passing of Kile. LaRussa has his problems, but I think he also has his positive aspects.

It's hard to be "meh" towards your own manager, but I think Tosca would probably fit into that category. I'd rank the Jays coaches as good, and I'm very positive towards Butterfield and Patterson, but Tosca himself is probably "meh." He has his faults, but they aren't as significant as Baker's or Robinson's, but his positives aren't as positive as theirs either, and I wouldn't classify him equal to Scoscia or McKeon.

Here is a Managerial Question...

Jeter is clearly struggling at the plate, he is on the "worst batting averge for the last 14 days" list at .125.. also worst slugging at .208 and worst OBP at .192 ... (in the top(bottom) 5, not that absolute worst)...

So I think he needs about 3 days off to clear his head... BUT.. who plays shortstop????

Enrique Wilson. I wouldn't give Jeter three whole days off, but I would rest him tomorrow and then again on Sunday (or tonight and Sunday) and let Wilson start both games at short. I'd let Jeter start either game if he pulls out of his slump the day before, though.

A-Rod is miles ahead of Wilson as a defender, but I don't think it's fair to him to shuffle him from third to short and back.

Lucas, I think I can get into Jimy's head (ouch) on the situation you describe. He needs a singles hitter with runners on second and third, down by one run. Using a power hitter in this situation is a waste, and therefore Ensberg and Lane are out. You gotta save the big guys for when you really need the power.

Jimy Williams, the closet baseball environmentalist. If I only knew this before...

Art Howe needs to be downgraded from bad to "Grady Little Memorial 30th Best Active Manager Award" winner.

Taking Tom Glavine out of a game with a 2-0 lead over PIT through seven innings. Two-hits, one walk, 0 ER on 97 pitches at that point. Howe turns it over to the Arson Squad, and it's 7 runs on 6 hits in the next 0.2 IP by three Mets' releivers.

Documenting all his blunders would take an eternity. So let's just take the biggest mistake of the past three days:

At Arizona Monday, 12-5 Mets trail with 1 out in the fourth inning. Dan Wheeler has gone 1.1 IP of 6 ER ball after starter James Baldwin gave up 6 in 2.0+.

Howe knows the bullpen is overused and he's down 7 runs in the fourth. Does he leave Dan Wheeler in to finish the inning, hope to get him thru the 5th inning, let a rookie take 6 and 7 and Todd Zeile mop up the rout in the 8th? No, he COMMITS TO USING HIS BULLPEN by bringing in Ricky Bottalic to finish the fourth inning.

Bottalico gets the next two batters on 8 pitches, and the Mets rally to score two runs in the fifth inning and have the bases with two outs and Bottalico due up. It's 12-7, bases juiced....

Howe leaves Bottalico in to hit for himself! After committing to using his pen in the fourth down by 7, he conceeds victory to save his bullpen in the fifth with the TYING RUN ON DECK, who just happens to be MIKE PIAZZA!

Mets lose, 12-8. Now, if he just let Wheeler absorb the beating, he has his bullpen rested for the rest of the week. But no, he half-assed the decision, didn't save the pen and didn't win the game. He used Bottalico for 2.2 IP, Wheeler for 2 IP, and Orber Moreno for 2 IP.

The next day, he takes a struggling Al Leiter out after 4 innings, 5 ER, and 76 pitches. The taxed bullpen...Moreno can only go one inning, now Mike Stanton has to pitch in the sixth inning and not be a specialists. He serves up a grand slam, Mets lose 9-5.

And in game three of the series, Mike Piazza and his 61 innings of MLB experience at first base was STILL PLAYING FIRST BASE with a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the eighth! It was only after his error to put the tying run on base did Howe think to swap Piazza to C and bring in a more experienced 1B.