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Big league managers have a hard enough time contending with things they can control, let alone things they can’t. A 162-game season is never a cakewalk, but when there are distractions and concerns early in the season, it doesn’t portend for smooth sailing for any skipper.
Some skippers are already contending with some unpleasant variables just two weeks into the season. Some came into spring training shouldering issues, while others might have made them with certain personnel decisions. But the kicker to it all is managers don’t play the game, so they’re somewhat at the mercy of player performance, which means they’re really not in control of as much as they think.
Below are five managers and what is distracting each of them. Are they panicking? Perhaps not yet, but they certainly should be feeling the heat.
Dusty Baker
Baker is in the last year of his contract, and despite winning the division in 2010, his contract hasn’t been extended yet, though the club has signed general manager Walt Jocketty, first baseman Joey Votto and second baseman Brandon Phillips to long-term deals. So Baker remains somewhat of a lame duck manager. With the shadows of both Terry Francona and Tony La Russa looming, as well as Hall of Famer Barry Larkin, there is a growing sense that Baker must win to keep his job, or else one of those three will replace him. It is not a healthy position for Baker, and he will manage with more immediacy rather than over the long haul of 162 games.
One can assume Baker’s reliance on veterans such as Ryan Ludwick and Ryan Hanigan instead of Chris Heisey and Devin Mesoraco in left field and catcher, respectively, are two instances of Baker’s pressured decision-making. Further, using Aroldis Chapman in a set-up role rather than a starter shows Baker might not be willing to risk losses just to shepherd the young left-hander. Conversely, in Texas, the Rangers are doing exactly that with Neftali Feliz. Baker does not have that luxury.
Davey Johnson
Johnson is not in as precarious a situation as Baker, but he has had to contend with the supposed pitch and innings limit imposed on right-hander Stephen Strasburg. Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo has hinted that Strasburg's limit in 2012 will be somewhere between 160 and 180 innings, and the Nationals won’t skip Strasburg’s starts or cut down on his innings or pitches per game in order to keep his arm on the same amount of rest until he’s shut down.
This poses a problem for a Nationals team that is off to a great start and has a good chance of competing in the NL East. If Strasburg reaches his limit, regardless if it’s mid-August or early September, or if they’re one game ahead or one game out, Strasburg will be shut down.
This almost certainly excludes Strasburg from the postseason, should Washington make it. Imagine the Phillies shutting down Roy Halladay. Imagine the reaction from teammates like Ryan Zimmerman and Jayson Werth, the fans and media. And Johnson will have to manage this huge headache even if he’s in first place.
Bobby Valentine
The Red Sox had personnel issues going into spring training. The lack of pitching depth that plagued them at the end of 2011 has carried over to 2012. Injuries would certainly exacerbate the problem. So consider what Valentine has had to contend with so far: Carl Crawford is recovering from two injuries; closer Andrew Bailey is out until July; set-up man Mark Melancon has been sent down to Triple-A; Jacoby Ellsbury is out for 4-8 weeks and Kevin Youkilis looks like he’s aged overnight.
The end result? Journeyman Cody Ross is batting cleanup.
And some of Valentine’s distractions are self-inflicted, from his comments about Youkilis and Dustin Pedroia’s subsequent public admonishment. Further, Valentine and GM Ben Cherington couldn’t have more diametrically opposing personalities, which certainly can’t help communication lines. However, some solid roster moves, minimizing public relations gaffes and winning games can turn things around for Valentine.
Bruce Bochy
The afterglow of winning the World Series in 2010 has faded, and three of the primary faces from that team -- Tim Lincecum, Freddy Sanchez and Brian Wilson -- are hurt or have struggled. Because of that, Bochy has had more to deal with early in this season than one would think from a veteran team.
Lincecum has been ineffective in his first three starts. If this continues, it will loom large for the team’s hopes for contending this season. In addition, Wilson is out for the year and will undergo Tommy John surgery. Sanchez suffered a setback with a shoulder injury and continues to sit on the DL. Further, the young players the Giants do have -- Brandon Belt and Brandon Crawford -- have struggled offensively.
With the Arizona Diamondbacks looking strong and the Los Angeles Dodgers rejuvenated by a new owner with deep pockets, Bochy is holding the ship together with just staples and thread.
Ozzie Guillen
Opening Day in Miami showcased a glittering new ballpark complete with a fish tank behind the plate, new uniforms and a nearly all-new team with a new manager.
But it was the same old story: empty seats.
Guillen has a talented team boasting a collection of personalities as colorful as him and their uniforms, but personality doesn’t go as far when the team isn’t winning and when players aren’t performing. There are injury concerns for Josh Johnson, Giancarlo Stanton, Heath Bell and Logan Morrison.
And what of Guillen himself? He certainly feels comfortable in Miami; it is where he makes his offseason home. Perhaps too comfortable? His irresponsibly glib comments about Fidel Castro infuriated the Cuban community in Miami and across the United States. Like Valentine, Guillen has never been afraid of being honest and forthright, but perhaps hubris pinched Guillen hard enough this time so that he'll avoid the same mistake again. He's on a zero-tolerance plan now, both for his mouth and perhaps his work in the dugout, too.
Some skippers are already contending with some unpleasant variables just two weeks into the season. Some came into spring training shouldering issues, while others might have made them with certain personnel decisions. But the kicker to it all is managers don’t play the game, so they’re somewhat at the mercy of player performance, which means they’re really not in control of as much as they think.
Below are five managers and what is distracting each of them. Are they panicking? Perhaps not yet, but they certainly should be feeling the heat.
Dusty Baker
Baker is in the last year of his contract, and despite winning the division in 2010, his contract hasn’t been extended yet, though the club has signed general manager Walt Jocketty, first baseman Joey Votto and second baseman Brandon Phillips to long-term deals. So Baker remains somewhat of a lame duck manager. With the shadows of both Terry Francona and Tony La Russa looming, as well as Hall of Famer Barry Larkin, there is a growing sense that Baker must win to keep his job, or else one of those three will replace him. It is not a healthy position for Baker, and he will manage with more immediacy rather than over the long haul of 162 games.
One can assume Baker’s reliance on veterans such as Ryan Ludwick and Ryan Hanigan instead of Chris Heisey and Devin Mesoraco in left field and catcher, respectively, are two instances of Baker’s pressured decision-making. Further, using Aroldis Chapman in a set-up role rather than a starter shows Baker might not be willing to risk losses just to shepherd the young left-hander. Conversely, in Texas, the Rangers are doing exactly that with Neftali Feliz. Baker does not have that luxury.
Davey Johnson
Johnson is not in as precarious a situation as Baker, but he has had to contend with the supposed pitch and innings limit imposed on right-hander Stephen Strasburg. Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo has hinted that Strasburg's limit in 2012 will be somewhere between 160 and 180 innings, and the Nationals won’t skip Strasburg’s starts or cut down on his innings or pitches per game in order to keep his arm on the same amount of rest until he’s shut down.
This poses a problem for a Nationals team that is off to a great start and has a good chance of competing in the NL East. If Strasburg reaches his limit, regardless if it’s mid-August or early September, or if they’re one game ahead or one game out, Strasburg will be shut down.
This almost certainly excludes Strasburg from the postseason, should Washington make it. Imagine the Phillies shutting down Roy Halladay. Imagine the reaction from teammates like Ryan Zimmerman and Jayson Werth, the fans and media. And Johnson will have to manage this huge headache even if he’s in first place.
Bobby Valentine
The Red Sox had personnel issues going into spring training. The lack of pitching depth that plagued them at the end of 2011 has carried over to 2012. Injuries would certainly exacerbate the problem. So consider what Valentine has had to contend with so far: Carl Crawford is recovering from two injuries; closer Andrew Bailey is out until July; set-up man Mark Melancon has been sent down to Triple-A; Jacoby Ellsbury is out for 4-8 weeks and Kevin Youkilis looks like he’s aged overnight.
The end result? Journeyman Cody Ross is batting cleanup.
And some of Valentine’s distractions are self-inflicted, from his comments about Youkilis and Dustin Pedroia’s subsequent public admonishment. Further, Valentine and GM Ben Cherington couldn’t have more diametrically opposing personalities, which certainly can’t help communication lines. However, some solid roster moves, minimizing public relations gaffes and winning games can turn things around for Valentine.
Bruce Bochy
The afterglow of winning the World Series in 2010 has faded, and three of the primary faces from that team -- Tim Lincecum, Freddy Sanchez and Brian Wilson -- are hurt or have struggled. Because of that, Bochy has had more to deal with early in this season than one would think from a veteran team.
Lincecum has been ineffective in his first three starts. If this continues, it will loom large for the team’s hopes for contending this season. In addition, Wilson is out for the year and will undergo Tommy John surgery. Sanchez suffered a setback with a shoulder injury and continues to sit on the DL. Further, the young players the Giants do have -- Brandon Belt and Brandon Crawford -- have struggled offensively.
With the Arizona Diamondbacks looking strong and the Los Angeles Dodgers rejuvenated by a new owner with deep pockets, Bochy is holding the ship together with just staples and thread.
Ozzie Guillen
Opening Day in Miami showcased a glittering new ballpark complete with a fish tank behind the plate, new uniforms and a nearly all-new team with a new manager.
But it was the same old story: empty seats.
Guillen has a talented team boasting a collection of personalities as colorful as him and their uniforms, but personality doesn’t go as far when the team isn’t winning and when players aren’t performing. There are injury concerns for Josh Johnson, Giancarlo Stanton, Heath Bell and Logan Morrison.
And what of Guillen himself? He certainly feels comfortable in Miami; it is where he makes his offseason home. Perhaps too comfortable? His irresponsibly glib comments about Fidel Castro infuriated the Cuban community in Miami and across the United States. Like Valentine, Guillen has never been afraid of being honest and forthright, but perhaps hubris pinched Guillen hard enough this time so that he'll avoid the same mistake again. He's on a zero-tolerance plan now, both for his mouth and perhaps his work in the dugout, too.
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