Educating Ned Yost...
by South Side Rob
I don't care whether everybody or nobody picks this article up. Everybody has the right to say what they want to say. Thanks Ned. I didn't need your permission but I thought it was necessary to print it.
The Brewer Nation (Another words, South Side Rob) once made the mistake of running with a story that was initially reported on a local sports radio station about a false trade involving Adam Dunn, Chris Capuano, and Tony Gwynn Jr. If you recall, I did apologize for that mistake and I haven't come close to becoming that careless again.
This is a opinion blog. Period. We are our own sources. We don't have sources close to the organization or in the organization. Unlike Tom Haudricount, I don't have Doug Melvin's cell phone number on speed dial. I don't care about exposure. We have our community. We don't have tons of comments but I do believe we have a group of readers. That's all Rygg or myself wanted to do from the beginning.
Okay. With that out of the way, now its time to educate Ned Yost, or, at least, remind him of things he's done in the past that he is now becoming too stubborn to do.
In 2006, Geoff Jenkins hit .133 against left-handed pitching (13 for 98). With those ugly numbers staring Yost in the face, he made a commitment in 2007 to have Jenkins only face right-handed pitching. I believe this was the correct move because he was putting Geoff in the best position for him to succeed and to contribute to the Brewers offense. It worked for most of the season, especially in the first six weeks.
Now, in 2008, Yost is faced with 3 everyday players who are hitting at or below .200. I read somewhere where these 3 unfortunate players have been dubbed, "The 200 club". With numbers that poor, you would think something has to be done to correct the problem.
Here's what I suggest.
At current, Rickie Weeks is only .189 against right-handed pitching (25 for 132). Against left-handed pitching, he's only slightly better at .206 (7 for 44).
At current, Bill Hall is only .164 against right-handed pitching (21 for 128). Against left-handed pitching, he's hitting a robust .333 (11 for 38).
At current, Mike Cameron is hitting .230 against right-handed pitching (14 for 68). Against left-handed pitching, he's got a big fat .000 (0 for 9). That sample size is a bit small for Cameron. So, I looked at last year's splits, are sure enough, against right-handed pitching, Cameron hit .222 (93 for 418). Against left-handed pitching, he hit .294 (45 for 153).
In order to get these 3 players hitting again, I suggest they sit against right-handed pitching. Not for good, just for now. You don't break out of these kinds of slumps by riding the pine so I say start them against left-handed pitchers which gives them the best opportunity to succeed and contribute to this offense. Once they seem to figure things out, you can start to give them a few starts against right-handed pitching. If they fall back into a slump, simply start the process over again.
Basically, that's called managing 101. If Ned would do some of the things I mentioned above, I believe most of the fans would cut him some slack. He refuses to acknowledge the fans. In fact, he actually thinks the beat writers are intelligent baseball people. I'm not saying their not but there is little evidence that they know more than knowledgeable baseball fans. Just because you have a journalism or broadcasting degree or background, that does not make you an expert or even knowledgeable on the subject of baseball.
Don't believe me? Read newspaper baseball columns or listen to sports radio stations. That should be enough to fully convince you of this.
I don't have an answer for the problems with the starting pitchers. If somebody does, please post it here.
One last thing. I heard on the radio that Brewer teams have a lifetime record at PNC Park of something like 20-42. Does that mean this Brewer team has no chance? How many of these 62 games was Jason Kendall or Mike Cameron been a part of? Answer, none. How about Tony Gwynn or Ryan Braun. Answer, very few. Is there a Brewer who's been a part of all of them? Nope. What about Ben Sheets? Well, he doesn't pitch everyday so that eliminates all pitchers to begin with. I'm nit-picking but don't say THE BREWERS have a lifetime record at PNC of 20-42, say Brewer teams have a lifetime record of 20-42 at PNC Park. Every season, the team is different. Yes, the Brewers are struggling this year but this team has nothing to do with the previous 62 games played at PNC Park.
I don't care whether everybody or nobody picks this article up. Everybody has the right to say what they want to say. Thanks Ned. I didn't need your permission but I thought it was necessary to print it.
The Brewer Nation (Another words, South Side Rob) once made the mistake of running with a story that was initially reported on a local sports radio station about a false trade involving Adam Dunn, Chris Capuano, and Tony Gwynn Jr. If you recall, I did apologize for that mistake and I haven't come close to becoming that careless again.
This is a opinion blog. Period. We are our own sources. We don't have sources close to the organization or in the organization. Unlike Tom Haudricount, I don't have Doug Melvin's cell phone number on speed dial. I don't care about exposure. We have our community. We don't have tons of comments but I do believe we have a group of readers. That's all Rygg or myself wanted to do from the beginning.
Okay. With that out of the way, now its time to educate Ned Yost, or, at least, remind him of things he's done in the past that he is now becoming too stubborn to do.
In 2006, Geoff Jenkins hit .133 against left-handed pitching (13 for 98). With those ugly numbers staring Yost in the face, he made a commitment in 2007 to have Jenkins only face right-handed pitching. I believe this was the correct move because he was putting Geoff in the best position for him to succeed and to contribute to the Brewers offense. It worked for most of the season, especially in the first six weeks.
Now, in 2008, Yost is faced with 3 everyday players who are hitting at or below .200. I read somewhere where these 3 unfortunate players have been dubbed, "The 200 club". With numbers that poor, you would think something has to be done to correct the problem.
Here's what I suggest.
At current, Rickie Weeks is only .189 against right-handed pitching (25 for 132). Against left-handed pitching, he's only slightly better at .206 (7 for 44).
At current, Bill Hall is only .164 against right-handed pitching (21 for 128). Against left-handed pitching, he's hitting a robust .333 (11 for 38).
At current, Mike Cameron is hitting .230 against right-handed pitching (14 for 68). Against left-handed pitching, he's got a big fat .000 (0 for 9). That sample size is a bit small for Cameron. So, I looked at last year's splits, are sure enough, against right-handed pitching, Cameron hit .222 (93 for 418). Against left-handed pitching, he hit .294 (45 for 153).
In order to get these 3 players hitting again, I suggest they sit against right-handed pitching. Not for good, just for now. You don't break out of these kinds of slumps by riding the pine so I say start them against left-handed pitchers which gives them the best opportunity to succeed and contribute to this offense. Once they seem to figure things out, you can start to give them a few starts against right-handed pitching. If they fall back into a slump, simply start the process over again.
Basically, that's called managing 101. If Ned would do some of the things I mentioned above, I believe most of the fans would cut him some slack. He refuses to acknowledge the fans. In fact, he actually thinks the beat writers are intelligent baseball people. I'm not saying their not but there is little evidence that they know more than knowledgeable baseball fans. Just because you have a journalism or broadcasting degree or background, that does not make you an expert or even knowledgeable on the subject of baseball.
Don't believe me? Read newspaper baseball columns or listen to sports radio stations. That should be enough to fully convince you of this.
I don't have an answer for the problems with the starting pitchers. If somebody does, please post it here.
One last thing. I heard on the radio that Brewer teams have a lifetime record at PNC Park of something like 20-42. Does that mean this Brewer team has no chance? How many of these 62 games was Jason Kendall or Mike Cameron been a part of? Answer, none. How about Tony Gwynn or Ryan Braun. Answer, very few. Is there a Brewer who's been a part of all of them? Nope. What about Ben Sheets? Well, he doesn't pitch everyday so that eliminates all pitchers to begin with. I'm nit-picking but don't say THE BREWERS have a lifetime record at PNC of 20-42, say Brewer teams have a lifetime record of 20-42 at PNC Park. Every season, the team is different. Yes, the Brewers are struggling this year but this team has nothing to do with the previous 62 games played at PNC Park.
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