Quote:
Originally Posted by alnorth
I don't really agree, because in my view the manager has very little relevance, especially in the American League. If you give a terrific team to an idiot, they will contend for the championship, and if you give this year's Astros to a great manager, they will be terrible.
The only thing I think a manager can do is two bad things and zero good things: he can hurt your pitchers, and he can bunt too much. If the Royals manager does neither, then he's pretty much a zero and I don't really care about him.
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I disagree with this assessment. I do not believe the Indians have the season they have had without Francona, and conversely, I feel we could be 3-5 games better in the standings with someone remotely competent leading the Royals. 3-5 games may seem small, but at this point in the season, it can be difference between someone who sitting home in October and a World Series Champion.
Ned has no feel for the game, as evidenced by his completely inane decision to send Guthrie out for the eighth today. Ned overmanages the pen, leads with no consistency, and worst have all, has shown no evidence that he can learn from his mistakes.
Would anyone be shedding tears if the Royals pulled a Milwaukee and let go of Ned right now? I certainly wouldn't be.