No security for managers
This decision was handled poorly. The Mets were home for a week and nothing happened. The team then flies to the West Coast and after a win, the firing occurs. It was announced after midnight, local time (3:00 a.m. New York time). Makes one think somehow they were trying to sneak the announcement past the media. Sneaking something by the New York media is like trying to sneak a burrito past this author, it is not going to happen.
A general manager can put together a bad team and hand it over to the field manager. When the team does not win the GM fires the manager, since the reverse is not possible. However, general managers can be fired, too. Seattle Mariners GM Bill Bavasi, who I was fortunate enough to meet a couple of years ago, was fired this week as well. You can’t fire the owner who sometimes is the biggest problem in the organization. Professional baseball is a wonderful game and a brutal business.
It shows just how great managers like Bobby Cox and Tony LaRussa are. Both have successfully managed for years with the same organization, winning consistently with a lot of turnover in their players. They are a combination of both types of managers and know when to emphasize which side. It is a skill you can recognize but not teach.
Chipper Jones is hitting .403, attempting to do what no one has done since Ted Williams in 1941 (.406), qualify for the batting championship with a .400 average.. A few players have come close. Tony Gwynn hit .394 in 1994, George Brett .390 in 1980, and Rod Carew .388 in 1977. Ted Williams himself came close, hitting .388 in 1957.
This is one of the more difficult feats in baseball. While I would like to see Chipper reach this goal, I find it highly unlikely he will. Even if he does not reach the goal, this season for Jones is shaping up as something special.
Jim Sandoval can be reached at casandman@aol.com
