"The manager is a joke"

[BC867]

The D'backs folly has finally reached the mainstream Press. With quotes like this from Dan Bickley of the Az Republic/azcental.com, such as. "...the wacky hiring of an unproven manager." "...whispers of how the manager is a joke...always a move behind."

Diamondbacks owner Ken Kendrick could fire Josh Byrnes, immediately calming the angry mob. Except that would be admitting the stupidity of handing a general manager an eight-year contract, thus giving Byrnes an overinflated sense of self, thus leading to the wacky hiring of an unproven manager.

Or Byrnes could fire A.J. Hinch, who has lost a good portion of the clubhouse and the organization he advocates. Walk the halls of Chase Field and you'll hear whispers of how the manager is a joke, how he's always a move behind. Even worse, there's a tinge of malice in the air.

It's a perception that most baseball fans in the Valley seem to endorse.

Here is the full article. http://www.azcentral.com/sports/dia...arizona-diamondbacks-bickley-credibility.html

 

[azsportsfan01]

To be fair Dan Bickley is a joke. That being said something needs to be done. Hopefully they give the job to Gibson like they should have last year.

 

[Lefty]

I knew this last year. Yesterday was a perfect example on why Hinch should not be coaching. Game is 0-0 and Snyder leads off the 7th with a double and Hinch does not have the hitter bunt. Of course they didn't score.

 

[devilalum]

IMO the Dbacks have a decent collection of talent (bullpen needs help) but the manager can't seem to get it all on the same page.

Maybe Hendrick needs to get some outside advice and pick a manager that doesn't have to answer to Byrnes.

 

[azmike74]

To be fair Dan Bickley is a joke. That being said something needs to be done. Hopefully they give the job to Gibson like they should have last year.

I don't want to get off topic and make this a Dan Bickley discussion but what I like about Dan is that he is not a homer. Sometimes a franchise needs to be criticized and teams don't always hear the fans.
Bickley has done well at what he does, for that reason he is not a joke.

Just a different opinion for you to think about, his columns always get people talking which is kind of his job, right?

Again, not arguing, I've just been drinking and trying to play devil's advocate.

 

[azsportsfan01]

I could care less if he is a homer or not. I tend to dislike homers to tell you the truth. I agree with you that teams need to have people in the media hold them accountable. I just can't stand Bickley's writings or the few times I heard him on the radio. Most people I know can't stand Bickley either. To each his own.

 

[green machine]

The same Dan Bickley who said it was a mistake to give a guy with no managerial or coaching experience the job later said maybe Mark Grace should be the team's next skipper.

Take anything he writes with a grain of salt.

 

[BC867]

The same Dan Bickley who said it was a mistake to give a guy with no managerial or coaching experience the job later said maybe Mark Grace should be the team's next skipper.

Take anything he writes with a grain of salt.

One thumb up. One thumb down.

Grace sounds like he could be a good tactician.

But as the leader of personnel and spokesman to the media, he'd be a flake. Do you think he'd make Daron Sutton his Bench Coach?

They can't pay attention now with the game in front of them, as well as TV monitors.

 

[Nasser22]

I knew this last year. Yesterday was a perfect example on why Hinch should not be coaching. Game is 0-0 and Snyder leads off the 7th with a double and Hinch does not have the hitter bunt. Of course they didn't score.

I disagree with a lot of his decisions...but not really this one. In this case I'd trust my line-up with three opportunities to get at least a single. There's no chance at a double play, so why give up an easy out? It may not have worked out well for the game, but I don't see that as the wrong choice. I didn't watch that game so maybe I am missing something.

 

[BC867]

I disagree with a lot of his decisions...but not really this one. In this case I'd trust my line-up with three opportunities to get at least a single. There's no chance at a double play, so why give up an easy out? It may not have worked out well for the game, but I don't see that as the wrong choice. I didn't watch that game so maybe I am missing something.

But it is indicative of Hinch's lack of experience in how to manufacture runs.

When you're being shut out, scoring that first run puts confidence in each batter that follows.

Very little bunting. No hit and runs. And, just recently, are Young and Upton looking to steal bases.

 

[devilalum]

But it is indicative of Hinch's lack of experience in how to manufacture runs.

When you're being shut out, scoring that first run puts confidence in each batter that follows.

Very little bunting. No hit and runs. And, just recently, are Young and Upton looking to steal bases.

Chicks dig the long ball.

Its not just Hinch, its an overall philosophy. Somewhere along the way the entire organization decided that the Dbacks were gonna live or die by the long ball. The whole lineup looks long ball every at bat. That's why the team has one of the lowest team batting averages and most strikeouts but one of the best team home run totals.

 

[Lefty]

Conor Jackson said after he was traded the problem with the Daimondbacks line-up is they are all too similar. He basically said the line-up is full of guys who are swinging for the fences and don't really have guys in there that can move runners over. He said you need to have a mixture and he is right. Too many players swinging for the long ball and striking out too much.

 

[AZZenny]

Hinch isn't the problem; Byrnes isn't the problem -- Kendricks is, and has long been, the problem.

I hope to see Conor regain his patience at the plate now that he won't be pressured to 'be aggressive.'

 

[Nasser22]

Kendricks is the biggest problem...

I dislike Hinch because he's just a soft manager. If the team goes in a slump, I just don't see him having the ability to do anything about it. I would disagree with bunting in the situation mentioned above, but I can agree that it maybe was needed at the time because we couldn't do anything right.

I actually spoke with a fan who prefers the AL type of offense and even he had bad things to say about Hinch. He just seems to make the wrong decisions in pretty much any situation.

 

[SunsTzu]

It's pretty comical at this point. It seems like Hinch is just trying to prove to everyone that he won't be fired no matter what he does.

 

[Tyler]

Ill take his job and probably do a little better for 100k a year, hell Ill do it for 50k and free food.

 

[Nasser22]

He's saving Haren so he's not worn out for our late-season run....lol

Stupid decisions, one after another. Can't wait for him to be gone.

 

[BC867]

AJ Hinch quoted his managerial philosophy, by explaining why he sent up a pinch hitter for Dan Haren, despite his .400+ batting average, 2-for-2 in the game and the D'backs only two RBI's of the game.

I get (Haren's) batting average and I think Danny puts up quality at-bats as they come, but ... Rusty has a chance to hit the ball out of the ballpark and tie the game.

Do you know the D'backs record when they don't hit a homerun in a game? 3-22.

That is how Hinch is "managing". Pathetic!

 

[DWKB]

AJ Hinch quoted his managerial philosophy, by explaining why he sent up a pinch hitter for Dan Haren, despite his .400+ batting average, 2-for-2 in the game and the D'backs only two RBI's of the game.

Do you know the D'backs record when they don't hit a homerun in a game? 3-22.

That is how Hinch is "managing". Pathetic!

So in the bottom of the 7th with one out and down one run how would you have managed the situation?

I'm not saying Hinch is without criticism, but this is a poor example to make IMO and doesn't reflect well on your perspective.

 

[Brian]

AJ Hinch quoted his managerial philosophy, by explaining why he sent up a pinch hitter for Dan Haren, despite his .400+ batting average, 2-for-2 in the game and the D'backs only two RBI's of the game.

Do you know the D'backs record when they don't hit a homerun in a game? 3-22.

That is how Hinch is "managing". Pathetic!

Strangely enough, this scenario played out for my team two nights ago. We won the Deer Valley tournament and are now playing in the Tournament of Champions. We beat Buckeye and advanced to play Rio Vista.

So we were down to our final at bat, down one run. The kids are amped up and I pulled them together and said "Calm down. I don't want anybody swinging for the fences. We don't need the long ball, we need baserunners."

bang bang bang, we win 2-1. On to Goodyear.

Unfortunately for the D-Backs, Conor was right. They don't have alot of high average guys. It seems like they can't play small ball very often.

I would have let Haren hit for himself and let Rusty run for him.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Strangely enough, this scenario played out for my team two nights ago. We won the Deer Valley tournament and are now playing in the Tournament of Champions. We beat Buckeye and advanced to play Rio Vista.

So we were down to our final at bat, down one run. The kids are amped up and I pulled them together and said "Calm down. I don't want anybody swinging for the fences. We don't need the long ball, we need baserunners."

bang bang bang, we win 2-1. On to Goodyear.

Unfortunately for the D-Backs, Conor was right. They don't have alot of high average guys. It seems like they can't play small ball very often.

I would have let Haren hit for himself and let Rusty run for him.

I wouldn't have even done that... Why take Haren out of the game at all?? Doesn't Hinch realize that taking him out means you are bringing in a member of the pen???
IMHO, this boils down to how would you prefer to lose - with Haren on the mound, or some slug from the pen??
I'll take my chances on Haren all day long, 7 days a week versus any of the slugs in the pen!!

 

[BC867]

So in the bottom of the 7th with one out and down one run how would you have managed the situation?

I'm not saying Hinch is without criticism, but this is a poor example to make IMO and doesn't reflect well on your perspective.

It is indicative of Hinch's lack of managerial or coaching experience.

The only strategy he's shown is to hope for the homerun.

And people wonder why the D'backs are underachieving. Especially our young players, who should be receiving well-rounded training.

With word of Josh Byrnes setting the lineup cards, maybe he's also managing in-game substitutions. Maybe his boy Hinch is following instructions and keeping his mouth shut.

Our team is not competitive and, day by day, we're finding out why.

No accountability. No improvement. And, except for Yankee fans filling the seats for a 3-game series, low revenue.

The owners are going to react. The question is when.

PS: How would I have handled it? By letting the only D'back with RBI's in the game hit for himself.

 

[DWKB]

It is indicative of Hinch's lack of managerial or coaching experience.

The only strategy he's shown is to hope for the homerun.

This very well maybe so, but you chose to highlight an example where looking for the home run was justifiable. Like I said, doesn't speak well of your knowledge IMO.

And people wonder why the D'backs are underachieving. Especially our young players, who should be receiving well-rounded training.

With word of Josh Byrnes setting the lineup cards, maybe he's also managing in-game substitutions. Maybe his boy Hinch is following instructions and keeping his mouth shut.

Our team is not competitive and, day by day, we're finding out why.

No accountability. No improvement. And, except for Yankee fans filling the seats for a 3-game series, low revenue.

The owners are going to react. The question is when.

PS: How would I have handled it? By letting the only D'back with RBI's in the game hit for himself.

The sad thing is I live in AR and still probably still know more about what's going on in the DBacks FO than you do. The assumptions and statements you make are rather laughable.

 

[DWKB]

I wouldn't have even done that... Why take Haren out of the game at all?? Doesn't Hinch realize that taking him out means you are bringing in a member of the pen???
IMHO, this boils down to how would you prefer to lose - with Haren on the mound, or some slug from the pen??
I'll take my chances on Haren all day long, 7 days a week versus any of the slugs in the pen!!

This could be a reasonable strategy, but then you're making a call with no personal info regarding Haren at the time. I'd hope as manager you'd have a longer POV regarding this team, this season, and seasons in the future while making decisions for a single game.

If the bullpen continues to suck like it has, leaving in Haren for 9 IP every 5 days isn't going to add much to your record and it's going to seriously risk injury to a valuable member of your team.

To add:

Haren entered Tuesday with 1,654 pitches thrown this season, the most in the majors. He was averaging 110.27 pitches per start, third most in the majors.

"It's a little dangerous going out there with 110 pitches and going after the top of their lineup," Haren said after the game. "I maybe could have gone out there, but our starting pitching has been pushed quite a bit and I don't think going out there would have been smart."

As Haren noted, he isn't the only Diamondbacks starter who has been used heavily, a product of Hinch having so few reliable options in the bullpen. Fellow starters Ian Kennedy (fourth), Edwin Jackson (ninth) and Rodrigo Lopez (20th) also rank among the top 20 in the NL in pitches thrown

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/sports/dia...dbacks-hinch-haren-dilemma.html#ixzz0rk04QHRe

 

[az240zz]

I don't know, bottom of the ninth, bases loaded,Rivera pitching and your best bunter is at bat. Wouldn't you think out of the box and try a squeeze play. NO we're going for the long ball and wind up with 0 runs and lose the game.

This manager just doesn't have the thinking to try something different. Do you think he even knows what the squeeze play is??