A failed approach
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A failed approach
Matt Gelb
Juan Pierre wore a T-shirt and shorts after the Phillies' latest loss, and his voice was all that could be heard in a silent clubhouse.
He was attempting to find some silver lining to another series loss, clinched by a 7-4 defeat to New York.
"Better than before when we weren't scoring any runs at all," Pierre said. "Pick your poison. Once you score, you want to keep scoring. But we're starting to move the ball better. A couple days got out of hand late and we couldn't bounce back. We're starting to move the ball throughout the lineup. That's a good sign."
True, but the Phillies once again scored early only to fold later. And there are concerning trends to an offense Charlie Manuel believes is pressing.
"I think we're tight," Manuel said. "I think we try too hard. That's why we chase bad balls out of the strike zone when we're ahead in the count. I think that's why we swing at first-pitch bad balls and so on. I think when we have to do something, that's how they feel - we have to do something, and we have to do it right now."
The numbers support that statement.
When ahead in the count, Phillies hitters have an .845 OPS. That is the worst in baseball; the league average is .960. Incredibly, in the 395 plate appearances in which a Phillies batter is ahead in the count, he has drawn a walk only 69 times. Those 395 plate appearances are more than 11 other teams. But their 69 walks are the second-fewest in baseball. Only the Pirates (66) have fewer.
With a three-ball count, the Phillies have an OPS of .780. That is the worst in baseball; the league average is .975.
With a full count, the Phillies have an OPS of .552. That is the worst in baseball; the league average is .815.
What we're talking about is a systematic failure to succeed even when the situation favors the hitter. The Phillies actually rank 18th in the majors with a .476 OPS when the pitcher is ahead in the count.
When last winter began, the Phillies talked about their hitters adopting a smarter approach at the plate: Play situational baseball; see more pitches; lay off the breaking balls when the count is in your favor.
To even tread water, they must improve their offensive thinking.
Have a question? Send it to Matt Gelb's Mailbag.
Comments (66)
Charlie is a good person but he is not a manager. A MANAGER is one who can adapt players to best use their skills either position players or pitchers. This year we can not pick a lineup two days in a row and Dubee can stick his pitch count.— tulsaphil- I hate to blow this team up with all the good memories they've provided over the last 5 years, but I would build a new team around Hamels, Worley, Rollins, Galvis, Howard, Paplebon, and possibly Victorino. Get what you can for Doc, Lee, Pence, & Chooch. You lower payroll and could get some decent younger players who have better OBS. Now's the time to do this to free up payroll for Cole. The longer you wait the less you get for the experienced talent...— netpharm
- No relief. Now if I could just get myself to tune them out until game 100, when this team might finally be playing worth a damn. And then see if they can catch up in the final 60 games. I think the plan is to go into the postseason hot, but you got to make the postseason.— JRum
- Bull pen blew last few games, and Cholly can't hit for these guys. I think the team expected too much from Stutes and Bastardo this year, and because they have not met expectations the Bull pen is left very thin. They have been hitting balls harder, so they may be coming around, but they need to stop pressing as Cholly said.— Phillycb21
- Here is the problem. Ruben stated that he is happy where this team is at. Nothing else needs to be said. Stop filling the seats until he changes his mind.— PhilsPhann
- when you have holes through out your line up and you plug them with minor league players you get minor results. This team was not built it is patched up at best and it won't get any better in the future. Since we traded away the farm for Lee, Halladay & Pence the cupboard id empty......this IS the beginning of the end of a GREAT run. Time to reload there should be no untouchables on this team.— stuckinkc
- These are supposed to be professionals. They get paid an insane amount of money. They all should understand the fundamentals of the game. They don't or refuse to play then game the right way. Falls on the manager. He needs to be held accountable. Looks like he lost this team.— Ssteve115
- I posted this a few hours ago, but it disappeared. Rather than blame the individual components, I blame the GM. The organization has to have a sound hitting philosophy that's integrated throughout all levels and decisions. It should be taught to guys in rookie ball all the way through. The major league hitting coach and manager have to be from that school, set expectations and hold players accountable. The team should acquire players- through the draft, free agency, and trades- that match the philosophy. Amaro has no coherent strategy and the best you can say about him is that he scrambles around at the deadline overpaying in a sellers' market every year. It's not surprising that his manager and players also lack coherent strategies.— jtj06
- Time to cut/send back to the minors the most obvious poor hitters - Galvis, Schneider, Thome, Mayberry - bring up some fresh blood. Also does anyone really think Schwimmer can pitch?— Foundry Guy
- This isn't a question of pressing. This is a question of relying on guys like Mayberry, Rollins, Polanco, Galvis, Pierre, Orr, Wigginton, and Nix for a good chunk of your offense. They simply are either no longer up to the task or never were or aren't yet.
When is Manuel going to realize that this isn't a question of turning around a poor performance but this is what the Phils are now. Maybe when Howard and/or Utley return things will get better. But even with both of them in the lineup and healthy, the Phils are at best an average offensive team now.— Bretzky - The main issue is the bullpen. They now have the worst bullpen in all of baseball. How the Phillies brain-trust managed this I don't know. With even a middle-of-the-pack bullpen, they would be above .500. They better figure it out and quickly or the season will be over before Utley and Howard return.— Dragon13
- Charlie's the manager, can't he do more about this then complain like the rest of us? We all understand what's wrong, so fix it Charlie!— burholme
- Manuel has got to go. He is a player's friend not a manager responsible to lead. Leading means many things but Charlie does not seem to have the instincts to know when to lean on them and when to use sugar to motivate. Not new, he never did, but team had enough talent to overcome with VERY average managing skills.— Ed Cornpropst
- They suck....that's the problem.— meisure
- @Phillip I'm hoping that was meant tongue-in-cheek? That washed up has-been happens to own a World Series ring as well as the highest batting average on the team
- Anyone think Howard is going to help these numbers??? 200K's a year and power numbers decline each year. Cholly has to go, his personal decisions in every aspect of the game is horible. If this team is more than 10 games out by the ASB its time to move Halladay and Lee while still at top value. Sign Hamels and somebody please drag RAJ out in the street and shoot him for siging J-Hole. That POS is going to be hitting .220 and having the worst OBP at leadoff for ever. Why didn't RAJ pull the trigger on Michael Young and move Polly to 2nd last year???????????? IDIOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!— JuanSamuel4prez
- The last thing professional veterans want to hear is some washed up has been who has never really won anything running his mouth. He should not be on the team. I know Pierre means well but it just contributes to the negativity that has engulfed this team due to Manuel's weak leadership. Anyone who has played on a high level knows exactly what I am talking about.— Phillip Phan
- Pierre is hitting .337 and is the 24th all time base stealer in the bigs. He doesn't lead off or even play every game. Rollins is hitting .223 and leading off because he is the self-proclaimed team leader, and Manuel and the Phillie broadcasters have bought into that concept. Mayberry has the most upside potential on the team but is being used only when Manuel thinks the pitching is too tough for Wigginton. Nix can only hit right-handed pitching. Thome is a legend who can no longer play like one. Galvis is quite possibly the best defensive infielder in baseball, but he no longer starts because Manuel gets hunches every now and then and Galvis hasn't been one of his hunches. Let's start calling this thing what it is already. The Phils have enough talent to be winning more games than they have but they aren't winning because the wrong guys are playing and the right guys are batting in the wrong spots in the order. Set the correct lineup and batting order and give it some time to gel already. Here it is: Pierre, Polanco, Pence, Ruiz, Victorino, Mayberry, Rollins, Galvis and Pitcher.— onthebucks
- Pierre is hitting .337 and is the 24th all time base stealer in the bigs. He doen's lead off or even play every game. Rollins is hitting .223 and leading off because he is the team leader. Mayberry has the most upside potential on the team but is being used only when Manuel thinks the pitching is too tough for Wigginton. Nix can only hit right-handed pitching. Thome is a legend who can no longer play like one. Galvis is quite possibly the best defensive infielder in baseball, but he no longer starts because Manuel gets hunches every now and then and Galvis hasn't been one of his hunches. Let's start calling this thing what it is already. The Phils have enough talent to be winning more games than they have but they aren't winning because the wrong guys are playing and the right guys are batting in the wrong spots in the order. Set the correct lineup and batting order and give it some time to gel already. Here it is: Pierre, Polanco, Pence, Ruiz, Victorino, Mayberry, Rollins, Galvis and Pitcher.— onthebucks
- The window has closed!— Anthony1957
- This problem has two major issues - They get a lead early, and then let up, relying on starting pitching to bail them out. The other is the horrible bullpen. Rube needs to make a trade sooner than later. WE need quality arms or we're gonna be 15 games out of 1st palce by All Star break.— Bruno Sammartino
- Ruben will give Charley the rest of the reason and if they don't make the playoffs, he's gone. Debatable whether the Rollins signing was worth it - decent field, no hit shortstop for this plus two more years. LIke 37 years straight loser Ed Snider, the Phils can get sentimental. Thome only cost $1m but even at that price is a waste of a roster spot and should be cut immediately. Bringing back Polanco was a mistake. They should have put up the cash for Cudeyer.
Hand over the cash to Hamels and start preparing for post-Doc/Chase/Jimmy era. Decent core with Howard, if he comes back, Pence, Shane (if they re-sign) and Ruiz - any other position player is as good as done.— boomartin - This is all BS semantics. When it works, it's known as "bearing down". When it fails, it's known as "pressing". The only difference is obviously the failure.— Rudykizuty
- These numbers should surprise absolutely no one. Say I was playing pickup basketball with my buddies, I could talk all I want about dunking the ball when I'm under the hoop. Unfortunately, I'm a 5'8" white guy, that's just who I am, so all that talk means about as much as Kim Kardashian saying I Do. When RAJ made that ridiculous speech about the whole team magically changing their approach at the plate, and then neglected to bring in hitters that actually fit that mold, he took the whole fan base for idiots. 6 weeks into the season all we have to show for is a last-place team with a bunch of 5'8" white guys who can't dunk. It's a pretty expensive way to learn what you should already know: that you can't teach an old dog new tricks. He might as well have sat up there at that press conference and said "We need to hit more 3-run homers" or "We should try and pitch shutouts every game."
- Good, but disturbing stats. I think Charlie is overmanaging with his line-up. There is little variation in talent and skill between the players he has available (until Utley and Howard return). He should stick with his best 9 for most nights and ride it out. Can the left/right match-ups and let players get comfortable in the batting order seeing pitches from both sides of the mound. They may become more patient and team-oriented by coming to the park knowing they are going to play with the same guys.— kmillerwdc
- Amaro put all his eggs in a few baskets: Howard, Halladay, Lee, Papelbon, Rollins, and Polanco --how'd that all work out? among the minimal job qualifications for being g.m. of a baseball teaam is to be able to evaluate talent in both majors and minors and to be able to put together a 25-man roster (not a 5-man roster) and be able to build a farm system (not dismantle it)....the rube is so clearly unqualified and overmatched for the job that it's a joke that some writers are still confused long after his ponzi scheme to try to cover his incometence is bared for all to see— warbiscuit
- One more comment.........the failure from Amaro in addition to the wasteful spending was his (and those above him) failure to turn the team over when anyone w/baseball IQ above 90 could see what was coming. Utley should be moved to the AL - where he still may have some appeal as a DH. Rollins was a complete waste of resources- Galvis is every bit his equal at the plate and in the field + 11 years younger!! I'm not going to lament Howard as his extension came at a time when he was still explosive. This team should have been turned over. They misread the fans- Rollins and Utley being moved along was a must - neither are in Carlton's class and he left. They are more Bowa like and Larry was moved too. They are a far cry from Micheal Jack - the greatest 3B in the game's history- whether it was Montgomery or Middleton or Amaro on his own - there was a massive failure to be bold and decisive.— Northcountry
- the real "failed approach" is the "clueless rube method" of spending all your money on some big names to make yourself look good, losing all your prospects and not acquiring anyone under age 35, and then filling your roster with bargain basement garbage - compare how much money Mets spent this past off-season and how much Phils spent and compare their bullpens, bench, offense, etc...notice their g.m. filled needs intelligently and how much superior their bullpen, bench and offense is at a fraction of the cost (not even counting Amaro's wasted contracts prior to this past off-season) ... indeed one can compare money spent by any and all of the other 29 baseball teams and can readily see that Amaro does less with more than anyone in baseball, if not baseball history.. in other businesses that generally gets the incompetent executives throwing money away fired (unless they're President or running the Phillies, in which case it just get a lot of journalists making absurd excuses --see Smallwood's "gee, Amaro had to spend the over $300 million he gave in contracts these past 3 1/2 years exactly as they occurred")...
— warbiscuit - LF Pierre and 1B Mayberry combination accounted for 4 hits and two runs, Joe looked good through six. Relief pitching just not up to last year's performance and hurting this team bad. Bring up the kids.
— escapedcamden4monterey - Yes Northcountry. This started to show it's ugly side in the WS vs the Yankees. Then continued through the 2010 and 11 playoff series. The hitting just got worse and worse and was never addressed by Amaro. And I can't take Manuel anymore.— RobertB
- Anyone who bought into that "batters will change their approach" bull should keep their money in their mattress and never answer the phone or open junk mail because they'll believe anything. Give the Tonner a break.— hunglikeaton
- This has been coming for sometime. The mistakes he made in the '09 series to start. Out managed in consecutive playoff series by Bouchy & LaRussa.......winning when it counts - not the regular season when talent rules- he has been an abject failure the last 3 playoff series. Now that the talent this year is back to average - he is incapable - as many of us have thought for some time...........— Northcountry
Comment removed.- is anybody really surprised by these stats?!? i'm not... i am however constantly amazed at the pitches which are swung-at, and the counts in which it happens. as a collective bunch they are clueless...
no more calling charlie the "manager" of the team...from this day forward he is to be called "the guy who fills in the lineup and sits in the dugout". THAT is a more appropriate title, because that is the extent of his managing...— nyphilliephan - This is a last place team who will struggle to play 500 ball.— farley
- what about the terrible pen on this team. they suck as bad as the hitting.— foment3
- Hitting coaches have nothing to do in the majors. Players make it to the majors on their talents. The already know how to hit or they wouldn't be in the majors. The lone exception, Galvis who needed more time in the minors to learn to be a better hitter but was rushed by necessity. Hitting coaches aren't going to chnage anything at the major league level. Players trying to change from what got them to the majors only makes for more trouble. (as I said all winter, leopards don't/can't/won't change their spots).....so Amaro needed to go out and get more of the types of players that he needed to play this different type of baseball. The only player of this tyrpe he brought in was Pierre and he's worked out great. Everybody else is the same old, same old they've always been, or worse. You can't put a quarterhorse in the Kentucky Derby and expect him to go the distance and win. He ain't that kind of horse. This is as painful as having watched Andy Ried try to fit a square McNabb peg in his round hole of a WCO for 9 years and wondering why he never won a championship. You gotta have the right parts in place for the right style of play or you get this dysfunctional type of team. No one can argue that the Eagles haven't been dysfunctional for many years and now the Phils are too....— Mark1npt
- Exactly. Hitting "coaches", bench "coaches", etc. are only really there for one reason. To huddle with the skipper as advisers and buddies. They are there to give Charlie someone to talk to and reflect with, but don't do any real instruction to the established players other than to offer a suggestion here and there of what they're "seeing." The guy who gives massages is probably more useful. So, if GG is sacrificed it will be to appease the masses but is unlikely to make one iota difference in the product you see on the field. Sometimes there are no answers other than to say this team isn't very good and/or lucky at seizing opportunities at the moment. They just aren't playing winning baseball because of concentration lapses and an overall unmotivated style of play. Sometimes things run their course and it's just time for a change (ask Larry Brown, 76ers, circa. 2003)
— Sam Crow 
Get back to me in July.— verve- So much for "small ball." The other night with two on, nobody out, Mayberry hitting (he never actually hits), he doesn't bunt. He's NEVER put down a sac bunt. The Phillies did not score that inning.— 4thand10
I am a Charlie Manuel fan and feel indebted to him for the World Championship he captained. If any Phils fan can be honest about this, the team Manuel took over from Bowa was an up and coming young team with major league talent. The ownership felt the team was turning off Bowa so CM was brought in. Fast forward 5 NL East Division titles, a World Series Championship and we are now at the cross roads of an aging nucleus, hurt and/or under achieving. Serious questions must be answered if this team does not respond soon. That team that would run through a wall for Charlie IS NOT the team that takes the field today. Nothing should be owed for this current team as was owed the 2008 World Champs........From the 2011 4 Aces and 102 wins to this is just unacceptable......- Can't the manager change all this by just putting on the "take" sign until he wants the hitter to swing? It's painfully obvious that he can't trust the players to make a right decision. Who runs this team anyway?— Mark1npt
- The Phillies are almost all the way back to their dysfunctional management days when Bill Giles and Ed Wade were running the team. Why even bother fielding half a team? Sure the starting pitching is great but that little consolation when the rest of the team is in disarray. Thank goodness they had a few good years thanks to Pat Gillick. The things he did for this organization can never be overestimated.— AvoidSundanceVacations
- Trot, Greg Gross was an excellent hitter off the bench. But he's not getting the job done as a coach, and since Charlie's probably not going anywhere just yet, it will be GG to be the first to go. Then maybe the players will get the message. It's not like we can sit any of them and let someone else get a chance. At least Pierre is getting on base and Mayberry seems to be finding his swing.— The K Man
- The self-proclaimed "hitting guru" has been found out to be a fake, phoney, fraud. Some of us knew this 5 years ago.— Wilhelm Von Humboldt
- The whole thing has grown stale. Charlie's isn't the problem, but he's most certainly not the solution. That said, it's time to put him out to pasture and bring in Sandberg.— beegal99
- The more analyses you look at, the more the obvious conclusion screams out - the Phils just don't have many good hitters on the roster. And as guys with big names approach their thirtysomething years, decline is inevitable. It has very little to do with "approach", but that makes the problem sound more solvable.— Bobby G
- Bobby G, 100% correct! This is a team of third-rate players on offense. Pence is not a savior. He did better when he had Howard batting next to him. Rollins is played out as is his one-pitch at bats. The bench is awful. Who is their leading hitter? Ruiz? The focus on pitching has left this team with a bunch of .220 hitters who strike out in clutch situations. — carnivor52
- Whoever "coaches" hitting in Philsville is obviously not getting the job done. It's time for BOTH Manuel and Gross to move on. Promote Sandberg and find a hitting coach who knows BOTH hitting AND coaching. It may be Sandberg in both cases. To paraphrase JF Dulles, "The test of leadership is not whether you have problems, it whether you have the same problems you had last year." That said, methinks Amaro may have to go too.— Xyzzyx
- Also I think it should be pointed out that the patient hitters from the past (werth, Ibanez etc.) are gone, replaced by swing hard and strike out hitters. Only Pierre has the plate discipline we are looking for.— Trot
- Ryan Sandberg has his bag packed and ready to go. Not Cholly's fault about the injuries or bad signings. He does the best he can with what he has.— drhoffman
- As a player, RS couldn't lay off a slider in the dirt from a RHP, so hopefully he can teach that better than he can execute it. There is a nice program they can get on their laptops that can teach applicable pitch recognition (http://www.sloansportsconference.com/?p=5486). I know they don't go for all that modern hoo-hah and prefer to steal signs, but I think it would be effective in helping them figure out how to hit. — jtj06
- Last night was pathetic....Orr will be on the bench for a week at least. A good throw and that runner is out at third. But the bullpen blew it anyway. Not fun to watch— phillyceltic
- Greg Gross could not hit as a Phillie, how is he supposed to teach. the plate discipline is the worst i have seen in many years. Charlie seems to have lost the attention of this bunch, and instead of blasting these guys and getting them off their rears he says I need to talk to them but he doesn't know what to say. Over my time that is a strong example of a skipper losing control. Fundamentals are what win ballgames and if your watching the same games as me you see the Phils are lost on the basepaths and at the plate. Amaro....DO SOMETHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!— Trot
- Are you tired of the phillies swinging at the first pitch when they have players in scoring position. The rest of the league has the book on them now. They will stay in last place until major player changes are made and they bring in players who know the art of hitting, not the free swingers that they are.— joeynick
- That hitting approach ultimatum from Amaro to Charlie and his coaches was his excuse to fire him in my opinion. No way the time was going to change the hitting style all of a sudden. It didn't happen when they signed Polly and it won't happen now. That's Charlie style of baseball. Swing for the fences.— EL Zorro
- CM IS A JOKE--HE TALKS TOO MUCH--HE HAS TO GRAB HIS PLAYERS ESP JAY ROLL AORUND THE NECK AND MAKE THEM CHANGE THIER APPROACH- NO EXCUSES-THEY TALKED ABOUT IT LAST YEAR AND GUESS WHAT NOTHING HAS CHANGED--CM IS A WALKING TALKING FRAUD---YOUR THE BOSS CM TOO BAD IF THE PLAYERS DO NOT LIKE YOU CM--YOUR JOB IS TO CHANGE THIER APPROACH ... YOUR JOB--NOT THE HITTING COACH---WORST IN THE LEAGUE--MEANS CM NEEDS TO GO AND NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!— carmen2
- Wow. How many excuses can Manuel and Co. come up with? Too tight? Trying too hard? C'mon, that is hogwash. Does Jimmy Rollins look tight to you? Hardly. Rather he looks like he believes he is the coolest thing in MLB. No, I really do not believe the team's collective offensive failures are the result of "trying too hard." I think the failures come from lack of ability, advanced age, and injury. Also, expecting certain players to magically become decent hitters is ludicrous, but that has been Amaro's plan for a few seasons now. For example, did anyone really expect Rollins to suddenly put up numbers from 3-4 years ago? Well, aside from Manuel and Amaro? Now he is stuck with this aging, under-performing player for three seasons. Very few Phillies are even close to performing to expectations.
This lineup is just bad and there does not appear to be any way to fix it now. Honestly, who among us did not see these offensive struggles coming? The season is pretty much playing out the way most of us thought. The Nationals lost some significant offensive pieces as well, but yet they are in 1st place. What's the Phillies' excuse again? The Phillies have flailed at bad pitches for as long as I can remember. Nothing new there. I do not see the numbers, but they have to lead the league in weakly-hit balls as well. Poor planning by Amaro is totally at fault here. He could see the diminishing abilities of key players, he knew injury concerns, and he did not have to spend lavishly on a closer. But he decided to put all the pressure on a few pitchers. Smart.
And yes, I agree that Gross should definitely go. He should already be gone, going by the Milt Thompson logic.— MrPhillie - right on McPhillie! As I have railed like an old, scratchy vinyl record, until Cholly, Ruben and the entire coaching staff are fired, Giles and Montgomery are running an counter intuitive game here and it perfectly fits the strategy of corrupt owners who want to sink a team into the realm of Pinhead! If they keep management as it is....then I rest my case. — daystrum
- The inability to work counts keeps the Phillies from getting into the soft underbelly of other teams' middle relievers, as their opponents are doing to them.
This, of course, should surprise exactly no one. Looking at pitches per plate appearance (2011 numbers except for Galvis):
RF: Werth (4.37, #1 in NL) to Pence (3.86)
1B: Howard (4.14) to Wigginton (3.66)/Nix (3.43)
2B: Utley (3.89) to Galvis (3.53)
LF: Ibanez (3.70) to Pierre (3.45)
Amaro talked about having to "have a different approach" at the plate. Well, here it is. More aggressive, trying to stay out of two-strike counts, emphasizing "situational hitting." Swing early, swing often. Amaro has gone out and acquired guys who fit that mold (Pierre, Pence, Nix, Wigginton). They're putting a lineup of hackers on the field. Nobody should be surprised when they hack.— ColonelTom - Wow, those numbers are staggering! Everyone knows the offense is struggling, but when you break it down that way it really shines a light on the problem. There aren't many options at this point other than to hope and pray that Utley and Howard come back soon and that they are at least somewhat like their old selves.— Penfold18
- This is exactly what most fans feared. All talk and no action. Opposing pitcher walks a batter, next guy swings at the first pitch. Swinging at bad pitches is the norm with this team. And there is no help coming from the minors. Case in point: monday night phillies call up strikes out, mets call up hits 3 run homer. But the absolute worst is the impatience at the plate. One of the first things you're told in Little League: A WALK IS AS GOOD AS A HIT! Not for the phailin' phils.— dfc5632
- Who's responsible for that horrenous OPS? Here's a novel idea: last year the Phils fired the hitting coach Milt Thompson because he "wasn't doing his job". OK, then following that logic, obviously Greg Gross has failed in his job. Let's fire him for starters.— 1republican
- Gross? He's inconsequential, its Cholly who has rode his resume the way to becoming the Indiands and now Phillies skipper on being a "Sage" of hitting instruction. So, where is his legendary influence? Where is the aura of his over hyped hitting instructional skills? This is on Cholly, he is accountable, he is the ONE who is paid to manage, motivate and conduct field tactics which he has consistently proven, he's incapable of doing. If Giles and Montgomery want to prove they are not in collusion to destroy the team, then FIRE Manuel, his coaching staff and then give Amaro his pink slip. He would be better off managing a Casino:-) — daystrum
- Can't blame the hitting guru just yet. He's still thinking about what's he's going to say. You know, because he admitted he hasn't said anything yet and doesn't know what to say. So, we need to be patient until his lightbulb goes off he thinks of something to say to get this thing turned around and get these guys coached up. It's not easy being a sage. Takes time and meditation and those words are gonna come if we keep pestering him about it. Light an incense stick because that will probably be as much help as anything at this point. — Sam Crow
- The "s" is OPS is slugging... all (two) of our sluggers, outside of Pence, are on the DL (Rollins and Victorino may hit a 2B here and there). We have a weak hitting 3B in a power position, and no power hitters in LF. Our 3 hole hitter would be batting #1 or #2 on any other team in the league. Is that the hitting coach's fault, or the architect of this team? — dankil13
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