Found this while checking blogs today...from local sports guy

 

http://www.local10.com/willssportsblog/index.html

 

 

 

Does Marlins Manager Deserve Blame?

August 18, 2008 - One ResponseThe title of this blog post has been a popular question for Marlins fans over the last month or so. Between the e-mails I receive here at Local 10 from many of you, to the phone calls I?ve received while doing radio shows on WQAM, I have been asked this question dozens of times. To give you a simple answer: yes. Marlins Manager Fredi Gonzalez does deserve plenty of blame for the team?s recent struggles.

 

Gonzalez, in my opinion, has made some questionable moves over the last month. It?s in this month where the Fish have lost some close games, and a chance to make up ground in the National League East race. It begins with his line-up. Gonzalez has allowed Josh Willingham and Jeremy Hermida to slump near the top and middle of the order, and it has hurt the team a number of times. It?s not Fredi?s fault that this team has failed to hit after the All-Star break, but a manager has to make moves. Just standing pat and saying, ?oh well, these guys will start hitting again,? just doesn?t get it done. Gonzalez needed to shake up this line-up a while back, and he has just watched the same guys slump for a month now.

 

Another problem for Gonzalez is that he hasn?t made any in game decisions to try and remedy these recent struggles. For some reason, the Marlins skipper rarely moves runners or tries to hit and run. It?s an old saying in baseball that you have to be aggressive and put the pressure on the defense. Instead, the Marlins have been waiting back for the 3-run home run. That strategy was working in the first half when the Fish were crushing homers at a faster pace than anyone in baseball, but it has backfired of late. A manager must find ways to get his team back on track. Again, Gonzalez has taken a wait and see approach, and it has not worked.

 

Maybe the most criticized area for Gonzalez is his handling of the pitching. Many a time he has taken starters out late in games, only to see the bullpen blow the lead. I know Gonzalez can?t make the pitches, and these pitchers deserve the blame for blowing a lead, but the Marlins manager relies too much on numbers. I?ve said it before on TV and on the radio that Gonzalez doesn?t seem to have a good feel during games. Too many times it comes down to pitch count, opponents batting average or a lefty/righty match-up. That approach can work at times, but in can?t be used like a manager?s manual. Recently, his insistence on using Renyel Pinto over Arthur Rhodes has cost the Marlins a number of games. While Pinto was very good during the beginning of the season, it is clear he has hit a major wall. Rhodes was acquired for a reason, and he has not been used in some of the most important situations for the Marlins. Whether it?s a loyalty thing or a comfort factor, this has been a major mistake on the skipper?s part.

 

Another thing that has bothered me is the fact that Gonzalez never brings in closer Kevin Gregg when his team is down at home in the 9th inning. You don?t have to be a baseball expert to know that you?re reliever can?t get a save at home after the 9th inning. Yet, twice last week in the Cardinals series, Gonzalez had Gregg up in the 8th inning, only to bring in Joe Nelson in the 9th. Both times Nelson allowed runs and allowed Saint Louis to extend it?s lead. Doesn?t Gonzalez see that this is basically a save situation? You are saving the game by keeping it close. Why have Gregg get ready if you don?t use him? I know Gonzalez was hoping his team would grab the lead and then use Gregg in the 9th, but what?s the difference? Again, these are all questionable managerial moves that have led to Marlins losses.

 

I know I seem like I?m on a rant here, but that?s not the point. Based on your e-mails and phone calls, many of you feel the same way. Gonzalez has done a good job of keeping this team loose and believing in itself for most of the season. He can not be blamed for the fact that this team has just stopped hitting and the bullpen is falling apart. That said, he must be blamed for just sitting back and allowing all of these problems to continue. If he doesn?t fix things quick, this team will fall out of the race, and he will be a big reason why.

agree 100% on several of the points in this article

Rhodes was acquired for a reason, and he has not been used in some of the most important situations for the Marlins. Whether it's a loyalty thing or a comfort factor, this has been a major mistake on the skipper's part.

 

Agreed.

To give you a simple answer: yes. Marlins Manager Fredi Gonzalez does deserve plenty of blame for the team?s recent struggles.

 

 

After this statement, the article goes south, but I do agree about Rhodes and leaving Willingham to stink up the field.

I think it is way to harsh. Sometimes a players manager is a good thing. Look at the Sox, Tito doesn't take a guy out if he is slumping, he leaves faith in them and lets them rebound. Also, why is it his fault if he has a bunch of guys who swing for the fences. Maybe the hitting coach should of work on hitting. The manager makes game decisions, and as far as that goes he can only do so much in game. He keeps the team positive and keeps the team together which is important of a manager.

I think it is way to harsh. Sometimes a players manager is a good thing. Look at the Sox, Tito doesn't take a guy out if he is slumping, he leaves faith in them and lets them rebound. Also, why is it his fault if he has a bunch of guys who swing for the fences. Maybe the hitting coach should of work on hitting. The manager makes game decisions, and as far as that goes he can only do so much in game. He keeps the team positive and keeps the team together which is important of a manager.

BooYaa!

I think it is way to harsh. Sometimes a players manager is a good thing. Look at the Sox, Tito doesn't take a guy out if he is slumping, he leaves faith in them and lets them rebound. Also, why is it his fault if he has a bunch of guys who swing for the fences. Maybe the hitting coach should of work on hitting. The manager makes game decisions, and as far as that goes he can only do so much in game. He keeps the team positive and keeps the team together which is important of a manager.

BooYaa!

?

There are some clues here as to how this piece came to be.

 

1. Local10.

2. "...the phone calls I've received while doing radio shows on WQAM"

3. "...Why have Gregg get ready if you don't use him?" Because Will, you don't understand baseball.

4. "...You don't have to be a baseball expert to know that you're reliever can't get a save at home after the 9th inning" because I guess "saves" are more than "wins" to you Will, not to mention we're in agreement you aren't a baseball expert.

5. "...Rhodes was acquired for a reason, and he has not been used..." because Will, you don't seem to understand what Rhodes' job is.

 

Will, good luck this fall with your Dolphins sycophantic labors. It is after all a job you were born to.

I think it is way to harsh. Sometimes a players manager is a good thing. Look at the Sox, Tito doesn't take a guy out if he is slumping, he leaves faith in them and lets them rebound. Also, why is it his fault if he has a bunch of guys who swing for the fences. Maybe the hitting coach should of work on hitting. The manager makes game decisions, and as far as that goes he can only do so much in game. He keeps the team positive and keeps the team together which is important of a manager.

 

This is one of the things that bothered me about the story. I did agree with some of the info but the players seem to like Fredi...I think that is imporant. This is just typical local sports person looking to hype up a story...just like the newspaper columnists. Some points are okay...espeically Rhodes. I wish he would run more but he can't teach guys to hit.

Since this is a Fredi thread, I just wanted to make a point.....I was away for the weekend, so I don't know if this was mentioned anywhere else, but I know a lot of people want Fredi to show more fire to stand up for his players. I read in either the Herald or the Sun-Sentinel that when he removed Pinto from the game Sunday, he told Pinto to wait so he could walk back to the dugout with him. I thought that was a class move by Fredi and that's standing up for a player without having to get thrown out of a ballgame.

Not Fredi's fault.

I disagree with the hit and run strategy. I feel that we don't make contact enough at the plate and that the majority of our players are too slow for this strategy to be successful.

Was this Will Manso writing? If so, it's understandable. Just another idiot down here...

I think it is way to harsh. Sometimes a players manager is a good thing. Look at the Sox, Tito doesn't take a guy out if he is slumping, he leaves faith in them and lets them rebound. Also, why is it his fault if he has a bunch of guys who swing for the fences. Maybe the hitting coach should of work on hitting. The manager makes game decisions, and as far as that goes he can only do so much in game. He keeps the team positive and keeps the team together which is important of a manager.

 

This is one of the things that bothered me about the story. I did agree with some of the info but the players seem to like Fredi...I think that is imporant. This is just typical local sports person looking to hype up a story...just like the newspaper columnists. Some points are okay...espeically Rhodes. I wish he would run more but he can't teach guys to hit.

I can understand that, he has to make a point he has to have shock value.

I think it is way to harsh. Sometimes a players manager is a good thing. Look at the Sox, Tito doesn't take a guy out if he is slumping, he leaves faith in them and lets them rebound. Also, why is it his fault if he has a bunch of guys who swing for the fences. Maybe the hitting coach should of work on hitting. The manager makes game decisions, and as far as that goes he can only do so much in game. He keeps the team positive and keeps the team together which is important of a manager.

BooYaa!

?

I got bored of the old "+1", so this was my new form of agreement.

Was this Will Manso writing? If so, it's understandable. Just another idiot down here...

 

Yes it is. Why is it that we have so many people like this in town?? Is every place the same?? I grew up here so I dont have other examples. between Herald, Sentinel and local tv stations...every person seems to make arguments just for the sake of making arguments. It's like they make good points and then take it to another level to make it more silly

Was this Will Manso writing? If so, it's understandable. Just another idiot down here...

 

Yes it is. Why is it that we have so many people like this in town?? Is every place the same?? I grew up here so I dont have other examples. between Herald, Sentinel and local tv stations...every person seems to make arguments just for the sake of making arguments. It's like they make good points and then take it to another level to make it more silly

 

Its like that everywhere, fans in New York and Chicago hate 90% of the sportswriters in those towns.

So who gets the credit for the Marlins not losing 100 games as predicted?

I don't love or hate Fredi but can we just stop with this. The Marlins have not been hitting the ball. Not Fredi's fault. "Why hasn't Fredi tweeked the line-up.?" " Why doesn't he bench ______ (fill in the blank)?". Please stop! It's not like we have Ryan Braun or Adam Dunn sitting on the bench. The pitching has been ok except for two bad innings? Manso and his hysterical minions are idiots.

1. Arthur Rhodes was brought in to be the lefty specialist. When Pinto came in the other day, righties were coming up, and Fredi was thin in the bullpen, with Lindstrom unavailable.

 

2. If Fredi brings in Gregg for every save situation + everytime we're down 1 in the 9th...Gregg will get Pinto-itis (overused). Fact is, when Gregg comes out, it often takes him 20+ pitches to get out of the inning. He's not your typical dominant closer. He'll get the job done, for the most part...but if he keeps throwing 20 pitches every other outing, and you use him in more situations...count another arm out, for September.

 

3. When did Joe Nelson become an unreliable reliever? (especially to start an inning?)

 

4. If he doesn't use Willingham...who? Luis Gonzalez? Yeah...awesome. Too bad Gonzo hasn't exactly been tearing the cover off the ball of late, either. Oh...and he also isn't very good out there, in the outfield (if anything, Fredi made a mistake when he left Gonzo out there in the 7th inning, on Sunday).

 

5. Fredi hasn't tried changing the lineup? Well...at least we know Will Manso isn't watching the games.

 

Stick to football, Manso.

So who gets the credit for the Marlins not losing 100 games as predicted?

Who predicted that?

So who gets the credit for the Marlins not losing 100 games as predicted?

Who predicted that?

I don't have any links on me, but I remember a few predictions like that. I never took them seriously though.

I think it is way to harsh. Sometimes a players manager is a good thing. Look at the Sox, Tito doesn't take a guy out if he is slumping, he leaves faith in them and lets them rebound. Also, why is it his fault if he has a bunch of guys who swing for the fences. Maybe the hitting coach should of work on hitting. The manager makes game decisions, and as far as that goes he can only do so much in game. He keeps the team positive and keeps the team together which is important of a manager.

BooYaa!

?

I got bored of the old "+1", so this was my new form of agreement.

 

hahahaha is that the new hip thing to do rab

 

O and

LEAVE FREDI ALONE

they win as a team and they blow big ass leads and dont hit like they get paid for like a team

So who gets the credit for the Marlins not losing 100 games as predicted?

Who predicted that?

I don't have any links on me, but I remember a few predictions like that. I never took them seriously though.

One or two morons may have predicted 100 losses but reading this board one would think that most "experts" predicted 100 losses and that's ridiculous.

It's a difficult think to ferret out of the web because is it 100, 100+, 120. a hundred, etc. ? The search criteria would be maddening. But the consensus had to be the Marlins were the worst team in baseball finishing behind the Nationals and certainly below the resurgent Kansas City Royals.

I think Vegas had us at 70 wins (maybe 69.5?) so the consensus among the ones who put their money behind their opinion was 92 losses.