August 9, 200422 yr MIAMI -- As long as he feels he has a chance to win, Jack McKeon is interested in managing. The savvy 73-year-old Marlins manager reached a milestone on Saturday by becoming the seventh active skipper to log 900 career victories. Under contract through the end of the season, McKeon said he isn't thinking yet about next year. His immediate focus is getting the Marlins back into the playoffs. It's an uphill climb because the defending World Series champs are seven games behind the Braves in the National League East and 5 1/2 games out in the Wild Card race. "I ain't even thinking about it," McKeon said when asked if he will be back in 2005. "The one thing I'm thinking about is making the playoffs." McKeon, the oldest active manager in the league, still has the desire to stay in the game. "As long as you've got a competitive club," McKeon said, "you aim to be able to compete." McKeon says he feels Marlins management is committed to winning, not just now, but in the upcoming years. "I like this organization," he said. "They are very good to work with. They treat you fair and I think they have a determination to put a winning team out here on a yearly basis." McKeon has seen the game evolve since he began his Major League managerial career with the Royals in 1973. "The players are the same, but the mechanisms have changed a little bit," he said. The designated hitter arrived when he did in 1973. The role of the closer and specialist relievers has also emerged. "You didn't have closers then, you went with the hot hand," McKeon said. Of the seven active managers with 900 or more victories, McKeon believes Joe Torre, Bobby Cox and Tony La Russa have an excellent shot of eventually being voted into the Hall of Fame. McKeon doesn't believe he has enough wins to reach Cooperstown. "The players make the manager," McKeon said. "My hat is off to all the guys." http://florida.marlins.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/...s_fla&fext=.jsp If we don't make the postseason, I think he will retire after this year.
August 9, 200422 yr After this season, I would like to see us change the guard. Get me Willie Randolph or just promote Doug Davis. I think Jack isnt good if the team starts to struggle...seems he is inclned to alienate some players...
August 9, 200422 yr I have mixed feelings. But I'm just an outsider, I can only see the W - L record. Hopefu;y. keeping Jack is the right move.
August 9, 200422 yr I don't know, he could of chosen to keep the lineup in tact yesterday.. a line-up which was working, but he decided to switch things around (could of put someone else in loduca's spot).. i mean, the lineup the day before was still basically the same, with loduca and lowell out of the lineup... my point is, i think mckeon is shaking things up too much in a desperation to win, and is blowing winning combinations in doing so... if he continues as he has all year, i think its time for a change, as much as i love trader jack.
August 9, 200422 yr IMO Jack will manage next year and then retire as the oldest person to ever win two World Series. Never too early to make predictions for next year. Hopefully he'll double up on his church sessions this off-season and come back next year with more miracles.
August 9, 200422 yr I don't know, he could of chosen to keep the lineup in tact yesterday.. a line-up which was working, but he decided to switch things around (could of put someone else in loduca's spot).. i mean, the lineup the day before was still basically the same, with loduca and lowell out of the lineup... my point is, i think mckeon is shaking things up too much in a desperation to win, and is blowing winning combinations in doing so... if he continues as he has all year, i think its time for a change, as much as i love trader jack. 503383[/snapback] Redmond batting 3rd? no thanks
August 9, 200422 yr Boog said the magic in the clubhouse was gone....so they better make some new magic or bye bye Jack.
August 9, 200422 yr Keep Jack. Damion Easleys and Mike Redmonds in a lineup isn't going to win another world series.
August 9, 200422 yr I don't know, he could of chosen to keep the lineup in tact yesterday.. a line-up which was working, but he decided to switch things around (could of put someone else in loduca's spot).. i mean, the lineup the day before was still basically the same, with loduca and lowell out of the lineup... my point is, i think mckeon is shaking things up too much in a desperation to win, and is blowing winning combinations in doing so... if he continues as he has all year, i think its time for a change, as much as i love trader jack. 503383[/snapback] Redmond batting 3rd? no thanks 503396[/snapback] atleast dont switch cabrera and lowell around! come on, thats logic.
August 9, 200422 yr Lowell is like 3 for his last 30. 503523[/snapback] but we were doing well with the lineup of cabs after lowell so no need for a change... as stupid as it sounds "if something isn't broken, dont fix it"... the lineup wasn't "broken" we were scoring runs.
August 10, 200422 yr After this season, I would like to see us change the guard. Get me Willie Randolph or just promote Doug Davis. I think Jack isnt good if the team starts to struggle...seems he is inclned to alienate some players... 503232[/snapback] I tend to agree. Jack has not shown an ability to get the team to play to their ability this year. The got into a quagmire, and the way he handled difficulties with several players seemed to sap all of the enthusiasm from the team. He antagonized controversial situations instead of diffusing them. Are there any other explanations for why the team underperformed for 2 1/2 months?
August 10, 200422 yr Yeah, The players did not hit with RISP, the pitchers did not get hitters out when they need to. Do we forget that this is a similar team to last years team without a few key hitters. Instead of being 7 deep in good hitters regularly, now we have only 4 deep with good hitters. Gap/Power hitting is missing badly from this lineup other than Lowell and Cabrera of which both have struggled mightily during key stretches of this season. Any manager will look different ways to make things happen in a positive manner. Second quessing is always easier when you lose.
August 10, 200422 yr He will be back but i dont like alot of moves he has been doing this year. Last year he was great at keeping the team well organized and knew when to and when not to bring in players.
August 10, 200422 yr It's difficult to know exactly where a difference could have been made. But when you look at all the long hitting slumps from most of our key players...you have to wonder if other managers or coaches would have brought them back faster. Look at all the adversity/injuries the Braves had to endure the first half of the season, and look at how Bobby Cox has them playing right now. How did he accomplish what McKeon and his staff couldn't? Or look at the underperforming Phillies with Bowa at the helm. Sure it is the players who play the game, so it is easy to argue the players are in full control. But it is also apparent that good coaching has a big effect on performance as well. So when a team has underperformed for an extended period of time, the coaching staff has to shoulder a good part of the responsibility as well.
August 10, 200422 yr Jack is definitely the man, don't know if he will be around for next year. Right now I am leaning towards no. I say if make playoffs but do not win the WS he will be back. Any other situation he is gone I think.
August 10, 200422 yr Jack is definitely the man, don't know if he will be around for next year. Right now I am leaning towards no. I say if make playoffs but do not win the WS he will be back. Any other situation he is gone I think. 503981[/snapback] Sure, if this team finds a way to come back and makes the playoffs, then all sins will be forgiven. If we finish the season with 85 wins or less, then I would expect him to be gone.
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