MLB Master Thread

[Yonah]

How many managers have won the WS in their first year?

https://www.mlb.com/news/rookie-managers-who-won-the-world-series-c299658998

[CountValentine]

https://www.mlb.com/news/rookie-managers-who-won-the-world-series-c299658998

So in 20-30 years we might see another one? 

[Yonah]

It's a relatively new phenomenon for good teams to fire managers so I'm guessing there's not a great sample size to work with. Most teams don't go from terrible (and firing a manager) to great in 1 season.

I want to research this one - but the reason why good teams a firing managers is because they're not living up to expectations. i.e. a Team that is good on paper, but not motivated and misses the playoffs can get a manager fired and if his replacement connects with the players he can win a championship.

Also - just realized that we're talking about 1st-year managers, and not 1st-year with current team

[Yonah]

So in 20-30 years we might see another one? 

Part of me wants to think we're going to see more - only because we're in the era of the "disposable manager". Notice how a lot of the names being bandied about for some of the openings are primarily recently retired players (i.e. David Ross, Carlos Beltran, Mike Piazza, just to name a couple). I think as GMs and Front offices try to exercise more control over the team, and strip some of the responsibility from the manager, the manager seems to be more replaceable, and they'll likely go with someone less experienced and more impressionable.

[CountValentine]

I want to research this one - but the reason why good teams a firing managers is because they're not living up to expectations. i.e. a Team that is good on paper, but not motivated and misses the playoffs can get a manager fired and if his replacement connects with the players he can win a championship.

Lets look at Maddon. Did the Cubs not live up to their paper record or was their paper record wrong. I see no change in the way Maddon did things so what did change?

[CountValentine]

Part of me wants to think we're going to see more - only because we're in the era of the "disposable manager". Notice how a lot of the names being bandied about for some of the openings are primarily recently retired players (i.e. David Ross, Carlos Beltran, Mike Piazza, just to name a couple). I think as GMs and Front offices try to exercise more control over the team, and strip some of the responsibility from the manager, the manager seems to be more replaceable, and they'll likely go with someone less experienced and more impressionable.

It will be to bad for baseball if this does happen/continues.

[shaulyaakov]

Lets look at Maddon. Did the Cubs not live up to their paper record or was their paper record wrong. I see no change in the way Maddon did things so what did change?

A little of both. They had an absurd home/road split. A lot of that comes down to game prep and culture.

51-30 at home (102 win pace), vs. 33-48 on the road (98 loss pace).

[CountValentine]

A little of both. They had an absurd home/road split. A lot of that comes down to game prep and culture.

51-30 at home (102 win pace), vs. 33-48 on the road (98 loss pace).

The Cubs were better on paper. We all know the game is not played there.

[mercaz1]

front offices want more control in the analytical world we live in so they want less established managers who will not try to manage their own way and butt heads with the front office

[CountValentine]

front offices want more control in the analytical world we live in so they want less established managers who will not try to manage their own way and butt heads with the front office

Just have a computer manage the team. Lets see how that works out.

[mercaz1]

Just have a computer manage the team. Lets see how that works out.

give it a few years

the other job of the managers is to be able to speak to the media and relay information to the players

[Dan]

The computers will also replace umpires.

[CountValentine]

The computers will also replace umpires.

...and players. Then the game can be played on paper for the analytical geeks. Who let them out of their Moms basement anyway?

[Yonah]

front offices want more control in the analytical world we live in so they want less established managers who will not try to manage their own way and butt heads with the front office

Just have a computer manage the team. Lets see how that works out.

Someone tried this, and it didn't quite work as expected: https://www.amazon.com/Only-Rule-Has-Work-Experiment/dp/1250130905

[mercaz1]

The computers will also replace umpires.

I would be in favor of computers calling balls and strikes-less room for error

[12HRS]

best of 3 now

[miles lover]

I would be in favor of computers calling balls and strikes-less room for error

Would take away framing which is a huge part of the catchers position. Wouldn’t be fair. Maybe they should let 1 challenge per game on the balls and strikes.
  On a side note I feel like the umpires should be able to say I’m not sure and they’ll check video for it. Their human and they can not be sure. Maybe it will slow the game down too much.

[Der Deutsche Jude]

Would take away framing which is a huge part of the catchers position. Wouldn’t be fair.

You can’t be serious

[shaulyaakov]

You can’t be serious

Framing is a bug, not a feature.

[Dan]

Terrible strike 3 call!
Bring on the robo umps!