I still have a lot of catching up remaining after having been on the road for the last two weeks, but I wanted to make a short post with an important reminder.
After managing in the majors for 33 years, St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa has probably said it all at one time or another. One of his seemingly time-worn lines is that players are “men, not machines.”
La Russa cites this to remind probing media members that there is more behind the results on the field than what we see on the television screen or in the box scores. The manager sometimes talks about the importance of and challenge in trying to understand what is going on in a young man’s “coconut.”
I received another good reminder of this during my trip as I learned that an organizational player with a young child is in the midst of a painful divorce. Of course, he still has a job to do. It is easy to say this should not be affecting his play, but how could it not?
His name will not be disclosed as I imagine the last thing he would want is his personal privacy to be violated nor the appearance for excuses to be made for his performance on the field.
Besides, it could be anyone. Other players may have a sick parent or money issues or family problems far away in another country or who knows what else weighing on them?
It is expected of fans to be critical of poor play and mistakes made, yet those who understand baseball players are truly not machines will always stop short of criticizing them as men.
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In other things keeping me busy:
Over at FOXSportsMidwest.com, I discuss the impact of injuries to Oscar Taveras and Matt Adams on their teams’ first half as well as recapping some recent signings as well as one defection.
On the main site, I have a bunch of new subscriber content up, including the weekly Memphis report and news on a bunch of players plus a free article summarizing today’s roster moves.
I don’t understand what Riggleman was hoping to accomplish by quitting so abruptly. If he wanted his option picked up so that he could stay there and enjoy another year, why was quitting immediately even considered? He can’t have any other opportunities lined up mid-season.
I predict that over time, this will end up being another cutting off one’s nose to spite his face.
I think Washington would be able to prevent him from taking a job with another club this year.
Doubt they would.
I would think so only if they are obligated to pay him. Since he walked off, I imagine that invalidated his contract. I guess it would depend on the wording. Where is crdswmn when we need her?
I’ve been out but I am here now.
It would depend on the wording of the contract. When a contract is breached, the injured party can do one of two things through legal methods (1) seek money damages or (2) seek specific performance of the contract (legally force the breaching party to carry out his/her terms of the contract). Of course, the injured party can also do nothing. Generally if the injured party does nothing, then neither side is bound by the contract. Therefore if there was a non-compete type clause, the injured party can only enforce it through legal methods. So, if the Nats do nothing, then they cannot prevent Riggleman from being employed elsewhere. Practically speaking, Riggleman’s action will probably scare off many potential employers.
On the last point, I recall when Jim Leyland walked away from Colorado but it was after the first season of a multi-year deal, not in the middle of the year. His stated issue was burnout. He stayed out of managing (working for the Cardinals) for seven years.
It depends on how well his agent negotiated the contract. Like my boss says, “possession of a laywer is 9/10ths of the law”
Good thing Holliday came all the way to straightaway CF to back up, picking it up on the track. Would have been tied if he’d adopted the Rasmus attitude and just stood there and watched the other guy try to make the play.
Did you not read the article BB?
Didn’t say anything about boys.
Matt’s looking like a ballplayer again tonight.
And they are bringing the hits!
Base hit to right should have advanced the man from 1st to 3rd.
Lrun support. ove the hits we’re gettting, but don’t want oswalt (or any player injured). Glad to see carp getting
Mashed my sentence. Love the hits. Glad to see run support.
Crdswmn, did you send Waino a tweet question?
No I didn’t.
Good to hear he is doing well and will be throwing a ball Monday
Question. Are pitching signals pretty standardized across teams? There are only so many combinations with one hand and corners to point to.
I’m guessing its all pretty much the same except for when there’s a runner on second.
I saw a vid last year where Mauer was reported to be stealing signals from 2nd and tipping off the batter
A time honored tradition.
Some teams have signal sequences. Generally I have seen that 1 finger is fastball, 2 fingers is curveball, 3 fingers is slider/cutter and 4 fingers is changeup.
Then does the location on the thigh indicated location over the plate?
I know that inside or outside fastball is indicated by which thigh the finger is pointing toward. For other pitches, I don’t know.
Carp needs to keep having efficient innings to keep his pitch count down. If he doesn’t go at least 8 we’re doomed.
Well, he’ll be close to 100 after 6 most likely. Things will get interesting pretty soon.
The young guys are doing OK. I’m surprised Westy isn’t pushing his theory.
Think we will see Valdes tonight?
If the Phillies mount a rally.
Wouldn’t be surprised to see Lynn.
Two heart stopping moments
Okay so the theory of WC says that TLR put Tallet out there so he would fail, forcing Mo to make a move with Tallet.
Well, since WC left somebody has to take up the slack.
You’re getting scary, crd.
You have to admit, that was interesting. What would a pen inning be without a couple errors and a HBP. Not to mention a 7-5 fly into a force out. How do you score that?
Official scoring is fielders choice. Eyes would tell you it was an error.
He chose to drop it and get the lead runner?
Maybe they need an outfield fly rule.
Now it will be interesting to see who gets mopup duty, We’ve got several worthies for the job.
A bunch of little girls can win 10-2. 12-1 is a manly drubbing.
How many HRs given up by the pen? I actually don’t want to know.
22 coming into the evening. 5th most in NL.
I was listening to the exciting, dramatic end of the Nats game on XM radio yesterday afternoon, and the post-game show when they broke away to go to Mike Rizzo announcing that Jim Riggleman had resigned, etc. I was shocked…probably more so because I was hearing it live, first-hand…but it was definitely “impactful.” Listening to all the experts and talking heads, it seems most have very strong opinions one way or the other…either “pro-what-Riggleman-did” versus “anti-Riggleman.” Obviously, there is much we are not privy to, but I’m going on record as being in the PRO-Riggleman camp. He felt (obviously, imo, rightly so) that he had earned at least the right to discuss his future with the organization. Rizzo et al obviously felt he had NOT earned that right at this point. The classic “Take This Job And Shove It! I Ain’t Workin’ Here No More!” smack-down. “Good on ‘im!” I say!!
It’ll be interesting, over the next few days, to see how the players and the team perform. I’d bet their winning streak ends…quickly.
Perhaps at age 58, he is comfortable if he never gets another chance to manage in the majors. In the eyes of some number of potential employers, walking out on a binding contract in the middle of the season makes him a much less desirable hire.
He can certainly get another job in baseball, but there are only 30 MLB managerial jobs. Instead of playing out the season, he clearly hurt his chances of getting another shot by his actions.
What you say here Brian, seems to be the consensus among many baseball people “in the know.” All I know is that were I the owner of a team, I’d want a MAN like this managing my youngsters…and I’d want him feeling good about his job. I don’t think Riggleman ever got those vibes from the Nats’ FO.
However, I will concede that, were I said owner, I’d instruct my GM to construct a “multi-year” contract with severe penalties which would be automatically assessed were the manager to cut & run prior to the contract’s terminus. That’s only fair.
I understand JR was only making $600K per year (I say “ONLY” with a smirk!), but relative to the MLB pay scale, his was not likely viewed as a “plum” job.
It reminds me of a CLASSIC quote that a real, live pimp said on one of those HBO documentaries a few years back. With a straight face, this dude (sitting in his pink Cadillac) said “It’s not about the money; it’s about the respect!” I still laugh out loud every time I recollect that quote!
As far as anything I ever read about Riggleman, he has a reputation as a good soldier. I would think he gave quite a bit of thought before deciding to risk it all on the little leverage he had. I hope he lands on his feet, definitely took a lot of guts to do what he did.
Agreed!!
1. Ryan Theriot (R) SS
2. Jon Jay (L) RF
3. Matt Holliday (R) LF
4. Lance Berkman (S) 1B
5. Colby Rasmus (L) CF
6. Skip Schumaker (L) 2B
7. Yadier Molina (R) C
8. Jake Westbrook (R) P
9. Daniel Descalso (L) 3B
Haven’t seen Yadi’s brother in a while.
I am hoping for a good series this weekend. I will be at the game tomorrow night (and on the field for BP thanks to RC). I am looking forward to seeing Garcia pitch.
Good luck crdswmn. Say hi to RC and I’m looking forward to his posts about Casey.
Looks like we’ll see Lynn out of the pen. Hope he keeps it close. Smart of Tony to break him in starting an inning.
Bring us some luck Crdswmn!
Lynn is pitching himself into a job. Can he hit?
He looked pretty good at the plate.
He was pitching lights out.
Sorry
The only way Lynn could look any more relaxed is if he were reclining in a hammock. Good to see, He is the opposite of Mott.
I bet he gets along with Colby. Similar laid back demeanor.
BB, Holiday must keep the stirrups, no? Hit another homer tonight thus far
Maybe he’s seen the light.
So that’s 23 for Bautista and 23 for the cardinal ‘pen this year
Salas has been very unreliable lately. But Tony has no alternative.
Pen is 15 and 14 now. Salas has around 5.5 ERA since May 27. According to Hrabosky
Pen is 15 and 14 now. Salas has around 5.5 ERA since May 27. According to Hrabosky .
1. Ryan Theriot (R) SS
2. Jon Jay (L) RF
3. Matt Holliday (R) LF
4. Lance Berkman (S) 1B
5. Colby Rasmus (L) CF
6. Yadier Molina (R) C
7. Daniel Descalso (L) 3B
8. Jaime Garcia (L) P
9. Skip Schumaker (L) 2B
We’ll have 6 guys swinging from the left.