Could you be a baseball coach??

Jagger · 06-08-2011, 02:04 PM

Could you be a baseball coach???

I could never be a baseball coach because the first time a reliever walks on and loses a 2 run lead faster than Lou Brock stealing 2nd base, I would strangle him. With my current team, I would have strangled all of my relievers but two and I haven't even completed the first month of the season. There are even a couple starters that might have to sneak out of the park quickly or suffer the consequences.

An example:

My 2007 Giants at 10-9 are facing the 13-5 Braves in the Giants park. Jason Schmidt is the Giants starter and puts in 7 superb innings allowing only 2 hits, 2 runs, 1 earned run, 2 bases on balls and 6 strikeouts. The score is Giants 4 and Braves 2.

Excellent performance by Jason Schmidt and only two innings left before the game goes into the books. I decide to personally visit my bullpen.
As I gaze into my bullpen, I see my brood of quivering relievers and all seem to be looking anywhere but at me. I cross my fingers and point to Matt Herges. Herges on the mound...double, single, flyout with score on tag up, double, single. Three quick runs and suddenly the score is Giants 4-Braves 5, one out and one frisky Atlanta runner dancing around on first.

Ummmmm...So I decided Herges might have been a mistake and call up Dustin Hermanson to the rescue. Single, single, flyout, flyout... Thank goodness, out of the inning leaving the bases loaded and only trailing by one....whew....

Bottom of the eighth and my Giant batters come through with 3 hits and 2 runs!! Giants lead by 6-5 going into the top of the 9th. Three outs and chalk up another big win for the mighty Giants.

Hermanson back on the mound...walk, double.

Ummmm, no outs, men on second and third and only leading by one. Ok, Hermanson out, infield in and Jim Brower to save the day. First man up...strike out. One down. Second man up, Wild Pitch!!! Man on third scores....Score 6-6...

Ummmmm

Man on third, one out and Brower pitches a nice hanging curve over the fat part of the plate..a long shot deep and a DOUBLE!!!

Argggghhhh...Score Braves 7-Giants 6. Man on second then tries to steal third and thrown out. Then a ground out..... Out of the inning only trailing by one, Braves 7-Giants 6.

Bottom of the ninth...Giants batting...ground out, ground out, strikeout. Into the books as Braves win 7 to 6.

Two innings....my bullpen only had to get me through two lousy innings without giving up 5 runs....

Jason Schmidt with 5 starts, 30 innings pitched, 22 strikeouts, 9 walks, 2.67 ERA and .227 OAvg still does not have a win.

No I could never be a baseball coach. If I didn't strangle one, two, three relievers a game, I would have a heart attack.

So do you really think you could be a baseball coach???

Peterk · 06-09-2011, 12:00 AM

Yeah, I think so. I'm patient.
Baseball is zen. Baseball is more than one game. Baseball is controlling your emotions. Just lost a game tonight 1-0 that I should've won. There's always tomorrow. I think winning series instead of just winning games.

But if a reliever blows 4-5 nice leads in a row like that, he's gone!

fintach · 06-09-2011, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jagger

I cross my fingers and point to Matt Herges.

Well, that was your first mistake.

Matt Herges was the Johnnie Disaster of the 2000's -- finding a way to fail where others would succeed.

I could probably manage a baseball team, but the stress might kill me.

fintach · 06-09-2011, 11:39 AM

Oh, and I'm not guaranteeing that I could manage a team well.

Jagger · 06-09-2011, 02:45 PM

Quote:

But if a reliever blows 4-5 nice leads in a row like that, he's gone!

Quote:

Matt Herges was the Johnnie Disaster of the 2000's

Yesterday, I traded Matt Herges to the Arizona Diamondbacks for relief pitcher Brian Bruney and AA 3B Chris Burrell. Brian Bruney has stats of S83/M71/C22 and is only 22 years old. If he doesn't bean the batter, throw a wild pitch or walk the batter, he darn sure ought to strike him out. I tried Bruney out in one major league inning. For two outs, he only gave up 2 hits, 2 walks and 4 runs. I think he needs a bit more seasoning in AAA.

I also picked up 21 year old, free agent Chad Gaudin. His ratings are S50/ M50/C60. I got him into one major league game and he knocked off 5 hitters and only gave up one hit. Maybe I have a winner with Gaudin.

I have started relying heavily on my performing relief pitchers. Anyone who is doing poorly is used very rarely unless it is a lost cause. Fortunately, right now 4 of my 5 starters are performing very well. So my top three relievers can carry most of the relieving weight. And maybe Gaudin can sneak into my stable of performing relievers. I am sort of giving up on ratings and just looking at performance.

Is it my imagination or do pitchers perform better as the season progresses? It seems almost all my starting pitchers are doing better in May vs April.

neugey · 06-09-2011, 03:47 PM

No, OOTP is only a microcosm of the baseball manager job. I did not play the game long enough to gain skills necessary to survive as manager and I'd be very hit-and-miss with the inter-personal relations between coaches/players/fans/media.

I could be a decent scout, perhaps.

Chicagofan76 · 06-09-2011, 07:24 PM

I've coached Little League before, but thats more about teaching the game then winning, but since I am Uber Competitive, i used the overall team speed as our best weapon. Lost the Championship Game 4-0. i like Umpiring more, I like when people hate me.

PW MAX · 06-09-2011, 07:38 PM

I might in some ways be custom-made to be a little league coach: one of my little OCD-like issues leaves me somewhat motivated to make sure all my players in OOTP have at least a little something in the way of stats, might just make that whole "every kid has to have at least 1 AB" dilemma a no-brainer for me.

Beyond that, I really doubt I have the knowledge or experience to be a decent coach on any level of baseball though.

D-BacksJosh · 06-09-2011, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jagger

Yesterday, I traded Matt Herges to the Arizona Diamondbacks for relief pitcher Brian Bruney and AA 3B Chris Burrell.

Hey, why would you do that to the D-backs? LOL

D-BacksJosh · 06-09-2011, 08:13 PM

I think I could handle my temper quite well actually if I was getting paid 2.6 million a year like Joe Girardi..

Chicagofan76 · 06-10-2011, 02:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D-BacksJosh

I think I could handle my temper quite well actually if I was getting paid 2.6 million a year like Joe Girardi..

I would have to go the route of Ozzie, Senile Lou, Earl Weaver & Billy Martin, I would never be as in control as my fav mgr TLR.

Carlton · 06-10-2011, 10:07 AM

Yes I could and unlike the LaRussa method of bullpen abuse, I would have let Schmidt pitch the CG and get the win

Jagger · 06-10-2011, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Yes I could and unlike the LaRussa method of bullpen abuse, I would have let Schmidt pitch the CG and get the win

And Noah Lowry actually had the first complete game for a Giants starter against the Cincinnati Reds on May 9, 2004. 106 pitches and only gave up 7 hits and 2 runs. He looked very good but I did have a couple of relievers warming up under the cracking whip. They were ready to go if he showed any sign of slacking. But he didn't.

Jagger · 06-10-2011, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Hey, why would you do that to the D-backs? LOL

Actually it is too soon to say who got the better end of that deal.....

I got Bruney with superb stuff and movement and horrible control. Without control, the stuff and movement is useless. But he is 21 and may develop that control. If he does, I am happy. If he doesn't, oh well...

I suspect Herges may still have some good innings in him. But he is 34 and only time will tell. PS: I just checked out his performance with the Diamondbacks. Since the trade, he has given them 6 outs in exchange for 4 hits, 4 runs, 3 bases on balls and 1 strikeout. Well if nothing else, trading Herges to Arizona is helping the Giants in the division race.... Maybe I got the better end of this deal regardless of how Bruney performs.

Regardless, my bullpen needed to have their cages rattled a bit. And someone needed sacrificing to set an example for the others. So Hermes is gone and Gaudin is in. And Gaudin is really off to a blazing start.

megamanmatt · 06-11-2011, 04:11 AM

I have a feeling my current team will test my patience and managerial abilities. I took over a team that was rebuilding, but was hoping they had some decent talent to build off of. It's been a mixed bag. We got through april 11-9 and were leading the division for a few days so I was excited. Then May came around and we've just started dying. First through ST and April I lost my entire starting outfield. All of them for like 4-5 weeks. Then May came and we just stopped hitting and continued not pitching. We just got done with a 10 game road trip where we went 2-8 and were out scored 26 - 45. I have a feeling it's going to be a long season.

I actually wish it was my bullpen with the 5.80 ERA rather than my starters. A good bullpen is no good if they never have leads to hold.

06-08-2011, 02:04 PM	#1
Jagger Major Leagues Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 308	Could you be a baseball coach?? Could you be a baseball coach??? I could never be a baseball coach because the first time a reliever walks on and loses a 2 run lead faster than Lou Brock stealing 2nd base, I would strangle him. With my current team, I would have strangled all of my relievers but two and I haven't even completed the first month of the season. There are even a couple starters that might have to sneak out of the park quickly or suffer the consequences. An example: My 2007 Giants at 10-9 are facing the 13-5 Braves in the Giants park. Jason Schmidt is the Giants starter and puts in 7 superb innings allowing only 2 hits, 2 runs, 1 earned run, 2 bases on balls and 6 strikeouts. The score is Giants 4 and Braves 2. Excellent performance by Jason Schmidt and only two innings left before the game goes into the books. I decide to personally visit my bullpen. As I gaze into my bullpen, I see my brood of quivering relievers and all seem to be looking anywhere but at me. I cross my fingers and point to Matt Herges. Herges on the mound...double, single, flyout with score on tag up, double, single. Three quick runs and suddenly the score is Giants 4-Braves 5, one out and one frisky Atlanta runner dancing around on first. Ummmmm...So I decided Herges might have been a mistake and call up Dustin Hermanson to the rescue. Single, single, flyout, flyout... Thank goodness, out of the inning leaving the bases loaded and only trailing by one....whew.... Bottom of the eighth and my Giant batters come through with 3 hits and 2 runs!! Giants lead by 6-5 going into the top of the 9th. Three outs and chalk up another big win for the mighty Giants. Hermanson back on the mound...walk, double. Ummmm, no outs, men on second and third and only leading by one. Ok, Hermanson out, infield in and Jim Brower to save the day. First man up...strike out. One down. Second man up, Wild Pitch!!! Man on third scores....Score 6-6... Ummmmm Man on third, one out and Brower pitches a nice hanging curve over the fat part of the plate..a long shot deep and a DOUBLE!!! Argggghhhh...Score Braves 7-Giants 6. Man on second then tries to steal third and thrown out. Then a ground out..... Out of the inning only trailing by one, Braves 7-Giants 6. Bottom of the ninth...Giants batting...ground out, ground out, strikeout. Into the books as Braves win 7 to 6. Two innings....my bullpen only had to get me through two lousy innings without giving up 5 runs.... Jason Schmidt with 5 starts, 30 innings pitched, 22 strikeouts, 9 walks, 2.67 ERA and .227 OAvg still does not have a win. No I could never be a baseball coach. If I didn't strangle one, two, three relievers a game, I would have a heart attack. So do you really think you could be a baseball coach??? Last edited by Jagger; 06-08-2011 at 02:28 PM.

06-09-2011, 11:39 AM	#4
fintach Major Leagues Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 484	Oh, and I'm not guaranteeing that I could manage a team well. __________________ Currently managing: The Bridgetown Gruffs History: Portland Purple Knights of the USBL: 1x NL Champs 1970-74 Berkeley Free Radicals of the BBL: 4x Division Title, 3x LCS, 2x Left Coast Cup Champions 2011 Portland River Dragons of the SPL: 1x Division Title 2011 Las Vegas Coyotes (MLB): half season before DH bored me to death.

06-09-2011, 03:47 PM	#6
neugey All Star Reserve Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 807	No, OOTP is only a microcosm of the baseball manager job. I did not play the game long enough to gain skills necessary to survive as manager and I'd be very hit-and-miss with the inter-personal relations between coaches/players/fans/media. I could be a decent scout, perhaps. Last edited by neugey; 06-10-2011 at 10:23 AM.

06-10-2011, 10:07 AM	#12
Carlton Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 3,765	Yes I could and unlike the LaRussa method of bullpen abuse, I would have let Schmidt pitch the CG and get the win __________________ "I am at that stage of my life where I keep myself out of arguments. I am 100% self sufficient spiritually, emotionally & financially. Even if you say 1+1=5, you are ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. Enjoy!"

06-11-2011, 04:11 AM	#15
megamanmatt Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Lakeville, Minnesota Posts: 2,416	I have a feeling my current team will test my patience and managerial abilities. I took over a team that was rebuilding, but was hoping they had some decent talent to build off of. It's been a mixed bag. We got through april 11-9 and were leading the division for a few days so I was excited. Then May came around and we've just started dying. First through ST and April I lost my entire starting outfield. All of them for like 4-5 weeks. Then May came and we just stopped hitting and continued not pitching. We just got done with a 10 game road trip where we went 2-8 and were out scored 26 - 45. I have a feeling it's going to be a long season. I actually wish it was my bullpen with the 5.80 ERA rather than my starters. A good bullpen is no good if they never have leads to hold. __________________ "The Minneapolis Lakers moved to Los Angeles, where there are no lakes; The Oilers moved to Tennessee where there is no oil; the Jazz moved to Salt Lake City where they don't allow music; The Oakland Raiders moved to Los Angeles and then back to Oakland, no one in Los Angeles seemed to notice." Note to self: Princess Kenny was really off-putting.

06-09-2011, 12:00 AM	#2
Peterk Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Montreal Posts: 220	Yeah, I think so. I'm patient. Baseball is zen. Baseball is more than one game. Baseball is controlling your emotions. Just lost a game tonight 1-0 that I should've won. There's always tomorrow. I think winning series instead of just winning games. But if a reliever blows 4-5 nice leads in a row like that, he's gone!

06-09-2011, 07:24 PM	#7
Chicagofan76 Banned Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Diamond, IL Posts: 6,339 Infractions: 2/2 (3)	I've coached Little League before, but thats more about teaching the game then winning, but since I am Uber Competitive, i used the overall team speed as our best weapon. Lost the Championship Game 4-0. i like Umpiring more, I like when people hate me.

06-09-2011, 07:38 PM	#8
PW MAX Major Leagues Join Date: May 2007 Location: Mockingbird Heights Posts: 301	I might in some ways be custom-made to be a little league coach: one of my little OCD-like issues leaves me somewhat motivated to make sure all my players in OOTP have at least a little something in the way of stats, might just make that whole "every kid has to have at least 1 AB" dilemma a no-brainer for me. Beyond that, I really doubt I have the knowledge or experience to be a decent coach on any level of baseball though.

06-09-2011, 08:13 PM	#10
D-BacksJosh Banned Join Date: May 2011 Location: Arizona Posts: 875	I think I could handle my temper quite well actually if I was getting paid 2.6 million a year like Joe Girardi..