Management Changes in 2012

[SoxFanForsyth]

I've seen so many anticipated changes for this team for 2012, mainly in the front office/team management.

 

So here's a thread to discuss all things non-players. We already have the 2011-2012 Offseason Thread.

 

Who is going to be gone, and who is their replacement?

[SoxFanForsyth]

Francona should be out after this season. Given, the team has been playing terribly, and that's on the players, but if it's not the managers fault when the team plays bad, and it's not the managers fault when the team plays good, why the hell do we have a manager? I'm pretty sure Varitek, the team captain, could put together a lineup card every night, and Papelbon, the vet in the bullpen, could handle the bullpen.

 

So, this is on Francona, not only for not turning this thing around this month, but also for not getting this team ready in Spring Training. They just cruised in ST, and thought they could throw their gloves on the field and win games.

 

The replacement? Dennis Eckersley. Would there be a better manager than Eck?? I don't think so. When they're facing a s***** pitcher, he's going to be in the dugout telling all of his hitters this guy is throwing straight cheese. That he's got a wet noodle and we're going to crush him. When you've got your pitcher out there blowing up, he's going to tell you. He's the white Ozzie Guillen.

 

Dennis Eck for Manager, 2012.

[La Munson]

Francona should be out after this season. Given, the team has been playing terribly, and that's on the players, but if it's not the managers fault when the team plays bad, and it's not the managers fault when the team plays good, why the hell do we have a manager? I'm pretty sure Varitek, the team captain, could put together a lineup card every night, and Papelbon, the vet in the bullpen, could handle the bullpen.

 

So, this is on Francona, not only for not turning this thing around this month, but also for not getting this team ready in Spring Training. They just cruised in ST, and thought they could throw their gloves on the field and win games.

 

The replacement? Dennis Eckersley. Would there be a better manager than Eck?? I don't think so. When they're facing a s***** pitcher, he's going to be in the dugout telling all of his hitters this guy is throwing straight cheese. That he's got a wet noodle and we're going to crush him. When you've got your pitcher out there blowing up, he's going to tell you. He's the white Ozzie Guillen.

 

Dennis Eck for Manager, 2012.

 

As awesome as that sounds, it's too bad great players don't usually translate to great managers, just look at Frank Robinson.

 

Maybe we should try Varitek as a player-manager, he is the captain, who would be better than him at handling the team? The way the Sox have played recently doesn't have anything to do with Francona's managing style, right now it's all about the pitching, and as we all know Tek is great at handling them.

 

Just imagine the Sox minus all the stupid decisions (bring Ace out in a game that we have basically no chance in and not starting him), and taking a pitcher out when he's doing reasonably well.

[SoxFanForsyth]

As awesome as that sounds, it's too bad great players don't usually translate to great managers, just look at Frank Robinson.

 

Maybe we should try Varitek as a player-manager, he is the captain, who would be better than him at handling the team? The way the Sox have played recently doesn't have anything to do with Francona's managing style, right now it's all about the pitching, and as we all know Tek is great at handling them.

 

Just imagine the Sox minus all the stupid decisions (bring Ace out in a game that we have basically no chance in and not starting him), and taking a pitcher out when he's doing reasonably well.

 

The stupidest decision of the entire season was to give the combination of Lackey/Wakefield/Weiland/Miller 14 starts in September, and not giving Aceves a single start.

 

Lackey/Wakefield/Weiland/Miller have combined to throw 65.2 IP over 14 starts (4.2 IP per start) to an ERA of 8.36.

 

But Aceves is too valuable in the bullpen because he's so good at mop up duty after any one of those 4 starters go.

 

f***ing ridiculous.

[Boggs Chicken Dinner]

Whoever is involved in the conditioning of this team, especially but not limited to the pitchers, should be let go. This is a team who obviously is out of shape and cannot play a 162 game season.

 

I think players should come into spring training in shape and ready to play once the season begins (avoiding 2 - 10 starts), and I think out pitchers need to go 200 innings and pitch deeper into ball games, not blowing up in September.

 

These needs should be addressed. and the owners should know who's responsible and do something about it.

 

PS: Francona may or may not be fired, but I gotta say, the idea of Eck as manager brought a smile to my face.

[TedWilliams101]

1. Get rid of all 'problem' players and unproductive players, no matter how much money they are still owed.

2. Clean house with the coaching staff. It's their job to get the players in condition, teach fundamentals, put them in the best position to succeed, and field the best possible team each night out. As Belichick would say, there's really only two choices: 1. The coaching staff didn't do their job. or 2. The player didn't put in the work or the FO just plain screwed up with talent evaluation. Either way, it comes down the the coaches/Front office.

 

Keep the 'good' core of this team and rebuild the rest. We need winners, team-players, and smart/successful coaches. Oh, and if Youk doesn't get his ass in shape, I'd show him the door.

[BigPapiEnFuego]

Francona should be out after this season. Given' date=' the team has been playing terribly, and that's on the players, but if it's not the managers fault when the team plays bad, and it's not the managers fault when the team plays good, why the hell do we have a manager? I'm pretty sure Varitek, the team captain, could put together a lineup card every night, [b']and Papelbon, the vet in the bullpen, could handle the bullpen.[/b]

 

So, this is on Francona, not only for not turning this thing around this month, but also for not getting this team ready in Spring Training. They just cruised in ST, and thought they could throw their gloves on the field and win games.

 

The replacement? Dennis Eckersley. Would there be a better manager than Eck?? I don't think so. When they're facing a s***** pitcher, he's going to be in the dugout telling all of his hitters this guy is throwing straight cheese. That he's got a wet noodle and we're going to crush him. When you've got your pitcher out there blowing up, he's going to tell you. He's the white Ozzie Guillen.

 

Dennis Eck for Manager, 2012.

 

Sorry, but I wouldn't even trust Papelbon to watch after my pet rock if I go on vacation, let alone handle a bullpen.

 

 

But I agree changes have to be made. A new manager is necessary. There has to be someone out there that can do a better job. I'd trust Varitek as a player-manager. Maybe Eckersley. A new training staff is needed too.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Sorry, but I wouldn't even trust Papelbon to watch after my pet rock if I go on vacation, let alone handle a bullpen.

 

But I agree changes have to be made. A new manager is necessary. There has to be someone out there that can do a better job. I'd trust Varitek as a player-manager. Maybe Eckersley. A new training staff is needed too.

 

Haha. Hey now. Is Francona really that much more dependable than Papelbon in bullpen decisions??

[BigPapiEnFuego]

Francona actually has brain cells. However minimal they are, they're actually there, unlike Papelbon. I hear Varitek has to help him put his uniform on everyday.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Francona's brain cells are exhausted after having to figure out how to unwrap 47 pieces of gum before the game even starts.

[Boggs Chicken Dinner]

The bullpen would be fine in Papelbon's hand as he long as he keeps his dog away from them.

[La Munson]

I don't want to keep going on and on about this Aceves thing, but this team's 3-7 in games he has pitched in this month. I don't care if he hasn't done too great this year starting, we haven't even attempted to try him yet lately, we're putting f***ing 45 year Wakefield out there in important games at Yankee Stadium.

 

The 29 other managers of MLB teams would of known what to do by now, the fans know it, Papi knows it, and I bet Epstein knows it, but it's probably too late.

[yeszir]

Francona's brain cells are exhausted after having to figure out how to unwrap 47 pieces of gum before the game even starts.

 

We need a "creatively insult players and coaches" thread

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

No one has mentioned it so I will.

'

I'm sick and tired of Bogar being a dumbass giving up free runs and having players like Ortiz and A-God getting thrown out by miles. Get rid of him

 

Not really sure about the pitching coach Young. It's kind of hard to work with what we have. He's on the lookout.

 

 

But seriously I want Bogar gone this offseason. It better happen

[SoxSport]

I'm suspicious about Demarlo Hale, the guy that replaced Mills as the bench coach two years ago.

 

I understand Mills was much more regimented than Tito in spring training. The bench coach does

a lot more than fans realize.

[SoxSport]

The 29 other managers of MLB teams would of known what to do by now, the fans know it, Papi knows it, and I bet Epstein knows it, but it's probably too late.

 

All those brainy ivy leaguers in the FO can see all the mistakes on the field. But they like Tito because he's good with the players and the media.

 

But they will probably draw the line with collapses of this proportion. There isn't a lot of leadership in the dugout.

[a700hitter]

All those brainy ivy leaguers in the FO can see all the mistakes on the field. But they like Tito because he's good with the players and the media.

 

But they will probably draw the line with collapses of this proportion. There isn't a lot of leadership in the dugout.

Theo the Ivy Leaguer with his prestigious degree in American Studies for Yale. There are few more useless degrees.

[SoxSport]

As awesome as that sounds, it's too bad great players don't usually translate to great managers, just look at Frank Robinson.

 

 

I don't think that's written in stone. Ted Williams was a very good manager. At least in the beginning. He was MOY in Washington. He later had some problems in Texas, but that may have been due to disagreements with the FO.

 

The vast majority of managers were ex-ballplayers--some good, some bad.

Even Billy Beane was a major league player.

 

Some of the best managers have been ex-major league catchers. Also shortstops.

Fisk comes to mind (but he doesn't want to manage). Varitek. Shortstops: Bowa and Guillen. The Sox need a little more hot sauce in their managing, but Bowa and Guillen may be a little too hot for Boston.

[TheMeanWalrus]

Theo the Ivy Leaguer with his prestigious degree in American Studies for Yale. There are few more useless degrees.

 

a history degree from Yale and you can be President

[Spitball]

I think Curt Young has to go. He had success in Oakland, but that was developing young pitchers in a big ballpark. Maybe he has trouble with established pitchers in small ballparks.

 

On offense the Sox are first in runs, on base percentage, and slugging. Tampa Bay is 15th, 14th, and 14th. With pitching, the Sox are 14th in whip, 9th in batting average against, and an unbelievable 29th in quality starts. Tampa Bay is 2nd, 2nd, and 3rd in the same catagories. The problem is pretty clear to me.

[SoxSport]

Theo the Ivy Leaguer with his prestigious degree in American Studies for Yale. There are few more useless degrees.

 

Well, I think he did play baseball at Yale.

 

His main experience before the Red Sox was as Lucchino's PR guy with the Padres.

Public relations.

 

He had no real experience with the technical side of baseball. But that's true of a lot of GMs--some of them work their way up as apprentices in the organization, delivering mail, for example. It has happened.

[jacksonianmarch]

I'm suspicious about Demarlo Hale, the guy that replaced Mills as the bench coach two years ago.

 

I understand Mills was much more regimented than Tito in spring training. The bench coach does

a lot more than fans realize.

 

Bench coaches typically run practice. And the sox are dying in their fundamentals, which goes back to practice. The owness for this year falls on Theo, although I think he is a great GM. I wouldnt fire anyone aside from maybe Hale

[iortiz]

Should we clean the house from the basement to the roof? Or just the kitchen?

 

IMO, Tito is just a bathroom. If you want a real change we should go beyond and take out all the rats and bugs, from every part of the house (FO, coaches, players)

 

As I said, if the collapse is confirmed this Wensday, a complete restructure should be executed, and you know what I mean.

[mvp 78]

Bench coaches typically run practice. And the sox are dying in their fundamentals' date=' which goes back to practice. The owness for this year falls on Theo, although I think he is a great GM. I wouldnt fire anyone aside from maybe Hale[/quote']

 

This is reasonable. Can't blame Tito as he was served the s*** sandwich by Theo. I'd give Tito one more year. Theo should go tinker with the Cubs.

[Ravenous916]

Whoever is involved in the conditioning of this team, especially but not limited to the pitchers, should be let go. This is a team who obviously is out of shape and cannot play a 162 game season.

 

I think players should come into spring training in shape and ready to play once the season begins (avoiding 2 - 10 starts), and I think out pitchers need to go 200 innings and pitch deeper into ball games, not blowing up in September.

 

These needs should be addressed. and the owners should know who's responsible and do something about it.

 

PS: Francona may or may not be fired, but I gotta say, the idea of Eck as manager brought a smile to my face.

 

YES! said that last year too. i mean, what the hell?

[a700hitter]

a history degree from Yale and you can be President

...and how well have they run things?

[Palodios]

...and how well have they run things?

 

You don't hire an Ivy League degree, you hire an Ivy League brain. George Bush clearly only had one of those two things.

[La Munson]

I don't think that's written in stone. Ted Williams was a very good manager. At least in the beginning. He was MOY in Washington. He later had some problems in Texas, but that may have been due to disagreements with the FO.

 

The vast majority of managers were ex-ballplayers--some good, some bad.

Even Billy Beane was a major league player.

 

Some of the best managers have been ex-major league catchers. Also shortstops.

Fisk comes to mind (but he doesn't want to manage). Varitek. Shortstops: Bowa and Guillen. The Sox need a little more hot sauce in their managing, but Bowa and Guillen may be a little too hot for Boston.

 

I've noticed superstar players never have tended to be very good managers, if you notice, it's usually lesser known ones that didn't play every day, Francona, Ron Washington, Bobby Cox, Tony La Russa etc.

 

I don't think Fisk works for any MLB teams, It'd be pretty risky to have someone who hasn't been in the MLB since the early 90s attempt to have such a big job. I still say Varitek should get the job, we should start some sort of campaign for it.

[DwightFright]

Bench coaches typically run practice. And the sox are dying in their fundamentals' date=' which goes back to practice. The [b']owness [/b]for this year falls on Theo, although I think he is a great GM. I wouldnt fire anyone aside from maybe Hale

 

I think you mean onus, though it sometimes seems Theo throws money around on questionable FA like it was his Monopoly money.

[SoxSport]

I think you mean onus' date=' though it sometimes seems Theo throws money around on questionable FA like it was his Monopoly money.[/quote']

 

OWNESS was a Freudian slip.

 

The real fault is with Henry, who would be broke if he ran his hedge funds the way he runs the Red Sox.