Quote:
Originally Posted by duncan_idaho
I actually agree with this. This is Yost's strength.
Every fanbase in America second-guesses its baseball managers. I think Royals fans are actually more forgiving of managers than in other places. Low expectations.
Was there consternation in this thread about going to Hochevar when he did?
Yost's strengths (team unity, chemistry, development of young players) have started being outweighed by his weaknesses (poor tactical decisions, inconsistent tactical decisions, extreme loyalty to struggling players) this year.
Yost's yo-yo tendencies for strategies are my biggest problem with him. He's like the blackjack player who keeps changing his decision points on hit/stay. If you don't have a consistent approach, you run the risk of having the odds screw you more often than they should.
This team is going to go right down to the wire and probably fall a few Ws short. Ned Yost isn't atrocious or even the worst manager in baseball. But he is slightly below average (-1 or -2 a year). Swap him out with a good manager (Francona, Maddon, etc.) and you're looking at +3 or +4 instead. That's a big swing, big enough to put KC in the driver's seat for the WC.
|
If Carlos Pena would have swung at one lousy pitch and fouled it off before striking out nobody in Kansas City would even think of replacing Ned Yost.
Ned's wikipedia page says he tried a career as a taxidermist after his playing career. I think that explains pinch-hitting Carlos Pena when he was scared to death and his appendix was expanding.
I can't see how Ned won't get a new contract. IIRC, he got a 2 year deal before the 2012 season. I think he gets a 3 year deal, IMO they should pay him a little more than he deserves per year, in exchange for having team options after each year, but I doubt his agent would go for that.