TomBarndtsTwin |
08-27-2021 08:29 AM |
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chiefspants
(Post 15802021)
Sure. I’ll own the asshole charge. But only if you do for routinely responding with LMAO to my posts, deal?
If no, we’re just not gonna agree in general, my dude.
I haven’t called for Matheny’s head all season. In fact, after last year I owned up to the fact that I was too quick to judge him based off of his willingness to try new tactics in the game. I was impressed with him last year and I don’t mind if Matheny stays in as our manager. I don’t care for Eldred and prefer we go another direction there, and Bradshaw has had mixed results (loved what he’s done for Sal, though).
But just because I don’t mind Matheny as a manager shouldn’t make him immune from criticism, and when beat writers are directly commenting with thoughts from Royals players that his bullpen management is a problem — well, it probably is, especially when so many players are now going to the DL.
Yost faced criticism for being too inflexible in his bullpen and installed an entirely new veto system for himself before the 2014 players. Managers can adapt, but that will only happen when they feel some heat (from folks like Flanny, Andy, etc).
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When the Royals last played a full season (2019) and Yost was the manager and we were heading towards 100 loss finish, a manager who was often criticized for his bullpen management (outside of HDH) didn't 'chase every win'. Why? Because it didn't matter. You don't overwork your bullpen arms when you're not realistically competing for anything. After the 2019 All-Star break, only ONE bullpen arm went on the DL. Jake Newberry on Aug. 22 for right shoulder inflammation. That was it.
Think that maybe that was just an abberation? Let's go back to 2018, another 100 loss season in the making. After the All-Star break in 2018, ONE pitcher (Danny Duffy) went on the IL. I'm not even sure whether he was starting or relieving at that time, but that was it.
Fast forward to 2021, in a non-competitive season (sensing a theme here?) that means nothing other than getting some guys some looks and development time, since Aug. 4th (roughly 3 weeks ago) we have had FOUR bullpen guys go on the IL for should fatigue/impingement (actually think Zimmer's was neck spasms) after being told by several people to 'be on the lookout' for this exact thing, including Flanny, who has also talked up Matheny and has been mostly positive towards him in his tweets, and has a history of being very cordial with the Royals.
Add to this the fact that when Matheny was in St. Louis, this SAME complaint arose with regards to his managing of the bullpen, including particular concerns about their young bullpen arms and being afraid his 'approach' was gonna fry em. And here we stand today being told by some that this is all a conspiracy, this is all made up, or some narrative from the BFIB that has simply made it's way over here, while failing to consider all of the evidence in front of their faces.
Look, if we're competing for a playoff spot down to the end, I get it. By all means, 'chase every win'. But to overwork young BP arms that we're gonna need in the next couple years when we ARE actually competing for something is just ****ing stupid. It's a terrible managerial approach. Anyone with an ounce of baseball sense knows this.
But here we have some saying 'nothing to see here' . . . . . . . . :facepalm:
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