AN on managers, and A's fans miss Wash

by Adam J. Morris on Jul 20, 2009 2:02 PM CDT

Athletic's Nation had an interest post up last week about what it is that A's fans should really want in a manager, and asking why so many A's fans are pining over Ron Washington, who isn't terribly popular here and who has some questionable moves under his belt (the Nelson Cruz benching getting particular attention in this post).

I'd been meaning for a few weeks to go over there and do a FanPost, asking why so many A's fans are so high on Washington as a manager, so this is fairly timely.

Anyway, an interesting discussion, and one worth checking out, I think...

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They should be asking what they want out of their GM

by oc on Jul 20, 2009 2:08 PM CDT reply actions

And the Nippon Ham Fighters miss Trey Hillman.

Alma para conquistarte, corazón para quererte, y vida para vivirla junto a ti.

by chrisR on Jul 20, 2009 2:35 PM CDT reply actions

That is an interesting post

One quibble. She says that the Rangers turnaround has been mostly due to pitching, the credit should go to Maddux. Now, I think that the pitching is better than last year with essentially the same staff, but the stats back up the idea that the improvement is mostly defensive.

And what is Wash’s “special skill?” – defense. Granted, a big part of the improvement came from replacing bad defense at 3b with good defense at SS (and moving Young’s mediocre but ultimately probably sufficient glove from SS to 3b). But does that move get made without Wash, who was credited by Eric Chavez for his gold gloves?

I’m not saying that Wash is the manager of the year, but it is worth considering that the biggest area of improvement on this team is essentially the domain he was hired to improve.

Go Rice Owls!

by JBImaknee on Jul 20, 2009 2:56 PM CDT reply actions

if we make the playoffs

I do say Ron is manager of the year.

"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"

by Walter Sobchak on Jul 20, 2009 3:54 PM CDT up reply actions

No way.

Wakamatsu (that team lost 101 games last year) is getting it done with smoke & mirrors.

I’m wondering if there is a new superstar GM in the AL West up there in Seattle as well.

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

" I don’t feel like arguing with laxtonto about it for the same reason I wouldn’t argue with him if he said the earth was flat. He’s a person who is happy with his head up his ass so why should I make him sad?"

by Josey Wales on Jul 20, 2009 3:56 PM CDT up reply actions

that we passed on.

you’re right. But if they collapse late season, which I fully expect and hope they do, and we make the playoffs, I’m just sayin’

"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"

by Walter Sobchak on Jul 20, 2009 4:00 PM CDT up reply actions

yeah, I'll wait and see how the season finishes..

This time last year, Trey Hillman was the greatest manager since John McGraw according to some.

Wak has had a great season, but it appears to me that the rotation (plus the resurrection of Russell Branyan) is carrying most of the water up there and I’m not sure if he gets much credit for either of those.

The Texas Rangers have been synonymous with explosive firepower ever since they emptied 130 rounds into Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow in 1934. - Alyssa Milano

by bking on Jul 20, 2009 4:05 PM CDT up reply actions

The Royals saved their season with a very good September

and I don’t know of anybody in here who was extoling the greatness of Hillman last July.

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on Jul 20, 2009 4:08 PM CDT up reply actions

I may be wrong...

But I was pretty sure he was your “we should have hired him instead of Wash” candidate most of the year. Do I have my dates wrong?

The Texas Rangers have been synonymous with explosive firepower ever since they emptied 130 rounds into Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow in 1934. - Alyssa Milano

by bking on Jul 20, 2009 4:18 PM CDT up reply actions

bking

I liked Hillman’s resume before he took the KC job and thought he did a good job of improving several aspects of the Royals last year and it showed up in the standings.

I have been very, very careful not to annoint him as the second coming of Earl Weaver because that is one of the most difficult jobs in all of MLB but that team was better in 2008 than they were in 2007.

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on Jul 20, 2009 4:27 PM CDT up reply actions

THAT thing, though, Josey ..

This thing is one thing, ..

"Guys are visual creatures, that’s how we’ve been wired, for millennia…only fat and or ugly chicks use that word you just typed." - Rodney

by inactive lsb user on Jul 20, 2009 9:30 PM CDT up reply actions

Walter

Seattle looks like a good candidate to collapse in the second half. Too many errors, too many walks and a terrible obp.

I’m also quite worried about the Rangers. See the schedule and .316 obp.

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on Jul 20, 2009 4:07 PM CDT up reply actions

plus their best hitter won't be back until mid-August

I’d say they can keep pitching well, but eventually their lack of hitting should catch up to them

"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"

by Walter Sobchak on Jul 20, 2009 4:18 PM CDT up reply actions

Manager of the year is a meaningless award.

"You know, I’m playing entirely too much." - Andruw Jones

"After intense analysis, I have come to the conclusion that Neftali Feliz throws fucking hard." - John Sickels

Hello Win Column

by LSJ on Jul 20, 2009 11:45 PM CDT up reply actions

not if you receive it because

my Texas Rangers made the playoffs for the first time in a decade. then it means something to me.

"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"

by Walter Sobchak on Jul 21, 2009 1:06 AM CDT up reply actions

"Ron Washington, who isn't terribly popular here "

I disagree. I’ll acknowledge that there’s a lot of people that bitch about lineups and bullpen moves but there are also many who think that Ron’s bringing something to the table that isn’t easily quantifiable (me, for one). Just because Lonestarjon posts the most doesn’t mean he’s the majority.

I guarantee that every hardcore fan of any team can point out boneheaded moves by the manager. The boneheaded moves we can see are also the easiest to the fix since dumbasses like me can ever see them (lineups based on splits, moving people around in the lineup, etc).

I wish I could point to some sabermetric stat to defend Wash but I can’t. I just think the players like playing for him and he brings a good atmosphere to the clubhouse. No GACP+ stat (Good Atmosphere Clubhouse Presence).

Wash was supposed to be a defensive guru. Defense is better be it better play or position changes. He doesn’t get any kudos for that given it’s probably the reason the Rangers are where they are in the standings?

Remember Red, hope is a good thing. Maybe the best of things. And no good thing ever dies.

by WyoRanger on Jul 20, 2009 2:57 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

Wash

as also never hired by the Oakland A’s who put a major emphasis on getting their hitters on base and what is the Texas Rangers major weakness right now?

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on Jul 20, 2009 3:44 PM CDT up reply actions

*

“was also never hired…”

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on Jul 20, 2009 3:44 PM CDT up reply actions

and he had WHAT role in the A's offense exactly??

Does he really strike you as a guy that would have exhibited a “Swing hard all the time and damn the OBP” mindset while with the A’s??

The Texas Rangers have been synonymous with explosive firepower ever since they emptied 130 rounds into Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow in 1934. - Alyssa Milano

by bking on Jul 20, 2009 3:48 PM CDT up reply actions

I don't know exactly why Washington was passed over multiple

times by Beane (who is viewed as a very progressive person and GM).

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on Jul 20, 2009 3:54 PM CDT up reply actions

That's correct, so why do you keep insinuating reasons??

The Texas Rangers have been synonymous with explosive firepower ever since they emptied 130 rounds into Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow in 1934. - Alyssa Milano

by bking on Jul 20, 2009 4:06 PM CDT up reply actions

Washington was a candidate

several times when Beane was there and he was never hired.

Beane must have had his reasons.

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on Jul 20, 2009 4:10 PM CDT up reply actions

Beane is in last place

His decision making isnt the best in the world the last few years. I’m not saying he should have hired Warsh or shouldnt have. Just sayiing that those that worship BB might need to consider changing religions.

by BEW on Jul 20, 2009 4:22 PM CDT up reply actions