The fire Jimy thread

[barzilla]

I want to use this thread for everyone's rants and any news regarding Jimy. I firmly believe he will be fired within the next month.

Williams' fate rests with players
By RICHARD JUSTICE
Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle
RICHARD JUSTICE

ARLINGTON — Managers typically do not get fired because they are incompetent. If incompetence were a requirement, Joe Torre would not have been dismissed three times.

Managers aren't usually fired because they've mishandled a pitching staff or sent the wrong guy up to pinch-hit, either.

Sometimes, it's something as simple as the calendar.

Owners change managers when they've tried almost everything else, when they see a season of high expectations slipping away. They want their fans to keep coming to the ballpark, so they offer up the obvious scapegoat.

Managers also get fired when management becomes convinced a new voice is needed in the clubhouse. Maybe there's nothing wrong with the old voice, but an owner or a general manager decides players are tired of hearing the same old thing.

Sometimes, they're right.


Change can be good

The Boston Red Sox brought in an unassuming guy named Joe Morgan 85 games into the 1988 season. No one is sure what Morgan brought to the table, but the Red Sox responded to his laid-back style by winning 19 of their next 20 games and making the playoffs.

The Florida Marlins fired Jeff Torborg last season after 42 games and watched Jack McKeon lead them to a championship.

Trader Jack became the feel-good story of last season with his endless stories and easygoing style.

What some people overlook is that the Marlins did more than make a managerial change. They also won because Josh Beckett grew up, because they acquired Jeff Conine and Ugueth Urbina, and because they summoned one terrific young guy — Miguel Cabrera — from the minor leagues.

Mostly, though, managerial changes do nothing. If a team is mediocre under one guy, it's going to be mediocre under the next guy.

Astros should be patient

This is why the Astros should not fire Jimy Williams. Not yet anyway.

Maybe they'll eventually be forced to. Maybe they'll continue to lose, and maybe the fans will become bored, and maybe there will be change for the sake of change.

Williams would understand this kind of move, because he understands how things work in baseball. He wouldn't agree about the fairness of it, but he certainly would understand.

I know a lot of fans want him gone immediately. They don't like the way he handles pitchers and shuffles his lineup. They don't like his public face.

This is his own fault. He's so hostile to many reporters, so short and so sarcastic with so many of his public comments that fans see only a man who is instantly unlikable.

In most of the other ways managers are judged, Williams does a terrific job. His only real shortcoming is a quick hook with his starting pitchers. But if you're going to criticize him for that, you have to praise him for keeping a team with a terrible rotation in contention last season. The Astros could not have accomplished more under any other manager.

Now they're almost at full strength again. They're almost ready to find out if anything can be made of this disappointing season.

With Carlos Beltran in center field and Andy Pettitte back off the disabled list Tuesday, the Astros still have a chance to win.

In just three games, Beltran has reminded them why he's special. He has beaten out an infield hit, collected a double and been on base seven times in 12 plate appearances. He gave the Astros something spectacular in the first inning Sunday when he went to the wall and pulled a potential Michael Young home run back into the park. He fell against the wall, allowed the crowd to wonder what had just happened and then dramatically retrieved the ball from his glove and held it aloft.

That play saved a run in a 1-0 victory over the Texas Rangers.

In that one instant, the Astros were reminded why they wanted Beltran so badly and why he might have the same impact on them that Cabrera had on the Marlins last summer.

"That's why he's so coveted," Jeff Bagwell said of Beltran. "Those are the things he does."

In the end, it might not be enough. Even with Pettitte back, the Astros are going nowhere unless they begin to hit.

And somewhere along the way, the manager will be fired.

Williams might have been managing for his job Sunday. A third straight loss to the Rangers would have dropped the Astros eight games out of first place and might have prompted owner Drayton McLane to make a change.

Who could have argued with such a decision? Even if McLane couldn't find someone better, a change would have been justified.

Inside the organization, Williams is held in high esteem. He does a nice job preparing a team to play. His players play hard for him and respect him.

Even during a stretch when so much has gone wrong, the Astros have not embarrassed themselves.

They think talk of firing the manager is ridiculous. Now it's up to them to save his job.

"This slump is going to end," Brad Ausmus said. "We're going to hit. It's not going to happen overnight, but we're going to win a few games, lose a few and then win a few more. We're going to look up one day and have won 15 of 20 or something like that. People have a hard time believing it right now, but we're a good team. It's up to us to do it. The manager should not be an issue."

Jimy Williams might be approaching his zero hour with the Astros. But he's not there yet. richard.justice@chron.com

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In most of the other ways managers are judged, Williams does a terrific job. His only real shortcoming is a quick hook with his starting pitchers. But if you're going to criticize him for that, you have to praise him for keeping a team with a terrible rotation in contention last season. The Astros could not have accomplished more under any other manager.

That's the biggest load of equine excrement I've heard from Justice in a while! Terry Collins could've done the exact same job as Jimy overworking a bullpen.

As a fan, I don't have to like any manager's style, and I don't have to like the man himself ... But I have to at least respect them for the job they're doing, and I don't have that, never have, with Jimy ... Some of my judgment might be clouded by Williams' acerbic personality ... He might be a great "teaching coach" as I hear sometimes, and he might be the nicest guy in the world to those who really know him, his friends and family.

But the bottom line is my opinion that he's never accomplished as much with his teams as the talent would seem to dictate he should. That's why I don't think he's the best manager we could have.

[barzilla]

Pops,

I couldn't agree more. I shot an email to Mr. Justice and attached my article that I just posted. I also mentioned the fact that the Astros were MINUS SEVEN in Pythagorean record last season. Of course, Jose Jesus de Juan Dimarco Burrito Ortiz told the readers he didn't know what that was so maybe Justice is not familiar either. Then, when I was driving home I heard the 610 guys trying a half-hearted effort to defend him saying that he took Boston teams with "not a lot of talent" and was able to get to the playoffs twice. "All the Red Sox had was Nomar, Pedro, and a bunch of journeymen guys." Huh? I thought those Boston teams had quite a bit of talent (including Manny Ramirez for a little more than a year under Jimy).

Come on in Jacqui and tell us how wrong these guys are. The moment I heard it I thought to myself how pissed off all of the Boston fans would be if they heard this explanation. "Maybe Jimy is better with less talent." was the final statement. Huh? You have to be frickin kidding me? Does this drivel have to stand from Houston's sporting press? I hope I get a reply back from Justice and I hope they put Jeromie Foster and Rob Costa back in the basement after that exchange of Buffalo dung. If Sandy thinks that getting an accurate look at fielders is hard we should look at managers. Most of the establishment seems to think he will be fired and that it WILL BE "A SHAME!" There is four games difference between Dusty Baker and Jimy Williams as a manager. As we approach the half-way point it means we will have to overcome NINE games in the standing to overcome the Cubs, Jimy, and Dusty. Fire him now and you have a half-way decent shot.

[PopTop]

What's funny to me is some of the media seeming to jump to the defense of Williams right now, at least in their own "cover my butt, try to straddle the fence" way ... I really don't begrudge Jimy one bit if he "mistreats" the media and isn't their best source for a sound byte or story line.

Jimy's two playoff crews in Boston didn't have Manny on them, and the '99 team didn't really have much pitching beyond Pedro, plus both teams were hamstrung by Duh-quette's existence in the front office ... They did have a strong Mo Fat at first base in '98 and Derek Lowe came on big down the stretch as the closer in '99 once they decided Wake might not be the best everyday option for that chore ... So in some ways, I sort of agree that Jimy probably had less to work with on those Sox teams than he's had here in Houston at times.

But no way would I put him in a category with, say, Tom Kelly, Felipe Alou and maybe even Art Howe as far as "managers who work wonders with less team depth and talent."


One question begging to be asked here, with none of us seeming eager to pose it: Who do you replace Jimy with if you fire him right now? That list could change if you wait until the season's over. :notme:

[barzilla]

Good points on all fronts but let me retort:

1. Yes, Boston was not as good in the late 1990s as they are now, but look at the AL East and tell me what other team was going to finish second. The only thing he managed to do was beat up on a bad division (outside of New York) enough to be the Wild card twice.

2. Who takes over? My guess would be Gene Lamont for the interim and then you go with someone else next year (unless he pulls a McKeon). I'll take a look at Lamont's Pythagorean rating in the next day or so to see if he would be feasible. Something tells me he can't be worse than Jimy.

[PissedPrincess]

Zill, I'm afraid I agree with this guy. The 98 and 99 Sox teams had Nomah, Pedro, and pray for rain. Troy O'Leary,(who?) was our clean up guy. Wilton Veras at 3rd because Valentin was always hurt, and Kent Mercker was our #2.

Jeff Fassero was our #3 I believe.

The 2001 team he had VASTLY underachieved.

[PissedPrincess]

:laff:

I forgot the 99 team had sluggers Darren Lewis, Butch Huskey and Mike Stanley too. :laff:

[barzilla]

See, here is the question. Did they achieve their potential or overachieve? I seem to remember Mike Stanley being a pretty decent player.

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Something tells me (Gene Lamont) can't be worse than Jimy.
Not exactly a ringing endorsement :hmm: If we don't have anyone that's definitely better, then I see no reason to fire him during the season. No one currently available really grabs me, I'm still thinking about my choice for a current replacement :ticking:

[PissedPrincess]

See, here is the question. Did they achieve their potential or overachieve? I seem to remember Mike Stanley being a pretty decent player.

Stanley was decent at one time. By 99 he was past his prime. That was always our issue with Duquette, grabbing old dudes past their prime. The Bichettes, Lansings, etc...

But I'll concede, we didn't over achieve. We reached our potential.

Like Pops, I wonder who is out there right now? I'd love Dierker, but I realize that is NOT an option for you guys.

[Toy Cannon]

Like Pops, I wonder who is out there right now? I'd love Dierker, but I realize that is NOT an option for you guys.

Hell, I'll do it, but no one ever heard of me. Bring Jackie Moore up from Round Rock, fewer decisions are better than too many.

[barzilla]

Hmmmmm, let's just throw out some names that ring a few bells. I'll go with the unemployed first and then the assistants next

Unemployed (in no particular order)

Mike Hargrove- led the Indians to the World Series. Don't have any solid numbers on this guy yet but I'll look these guys up.

Davey Johnson- remember him? He seemed to lead everyone to the post-season. If Jack McKeon can come back then why not him?

Jerry Manuel- he's a name I guess

Tom Kelly- Here's another guy with rings that seemed to get the most out of teams.

Phil Garner- How about some local flavor? He might be a little intense, but this team needs a kick in the ***.

Buddy Bell- another name

Davey Lopes- I always thought he got a bad rap

Jim Fregrosi- Another blast from the past.

Current Coaches

Willie Randolph
Eddie Murray
Don Baylor

Obviously there is not a shortage of candidates. I do have to disagree with the idea that firing Jimy won't do any good. These things usually give a team a kick in the butt and if Lamont is an average manager then that is another game or two in our favor.

[barzilla]

More fun from Everyone's favorite sportswriter.

JUSTICE'S Q&A
What are the options at manager?
By RICHARD JUSTICE
Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle
Send questions to Chronicle columnist Richard Justice here

RICHARD JUSTICE

Question: If Jimy Williams is fired, who do you think Drayton McLane would replace him with? Personally, I would like to see Don Baylor as the Astros next manager, but I don't know if that is even a possibility. I haven't agreed with all of the decisions that Willialms has made, but before I would fire him, I would look at replacing the hitting coach. This hitting drought has gone on too long and it brings to mind something I recall being said about Richard Hidalgo having a flaw in his swing after he was traded. If Hidalgo had a flaw in his swing, how many other Astros have flaws that can be corrected by a better hitting coach?
Royce in Tulsa, Okla.

Answer: If Jimy Williams is fired during the season, I'm guessing one of three people -- Jim Fregosi, Gene Lamont or Phil Garner -- would finish the season. I believe Don Baylor would be the permanent replacement. He's the hitting coach of the New York Mets and not available until after the season. When things are going as badly as they are now, everyone, including the hitting and pitching coaches, should be scrutinized. New Orleans hitting coach Gary Gaetti and New Orleans pitching coach Jim Hickey are highly regarded. I'm uncomfortable talking about replacing coaches because I know that Harry Spillman and Burt Hooton are competent. There's burden of responsibility on the players, too. Sometimes, you have to bring someone new in just to find out if it was the old coach. That's not fair, but that's the way the game works.

Astros underachieving may eventually bring change
Q: Hey Richard, are you nominating yourself for the Astros team mascot? Your defense of underachieving players and managers is ... underachieving journalism. If Jeff Bagwell continues at his current pace for the remainder of the season, what would you do???? Would you suggest the Astros keep him on the payroll, have him clog the offense and weaken the defense because of his tenure? Isn't fifth place in a six team divison a good of enough reason to fire the manager ... if not when would "you" suggest it? The Astros fans are hungry, Mr Justice, we don't want an underachieving performance from a championship lineup. Do you have any fire in your belly besides the Jeff Bagwell embers? I'd pack Baggy and Jimy in an unprecedent deal and send them both to the land of underachievers ... Fenway Park. Hey, maybe the Red Sox could use an underachieving "homer" sports writer as a bonus.
David in The Woodlands

A: Jeff Bagwell's numbers are close to what they were last year at this time and he finished with 39 homers and 100 RBIs. I believe he's still a very good player even though his shoulder limits him.
I don't see him as underachieving. I believe he's gets everything out of his physical skills that's there.

Also, there's a physical component. His contract is large and teams aren't taking on much salary. He's going to finish his career as an Astro. If you'd like to swallow the remaining $46 million on his contract and release him, you could do that.

Personally, I think that would be irresponsible.

As for Jimy Williams, I think he has a lot of strengths and some significant weaknesses, too. I don't think he's the reason the Astros are seven games out of first, but I do understand that at some point, you have to make a change.

As for me moving to Boston, I prefer Texas. It's much harder to get to the Texas-OU game from New England.


Astros letting close ones get away

Q: Although I don't get to watch too many Astros games, it seems to me that the Astros are finding ways to lose games they should win. One night they lose 8-7, the next it's 2-1. They have great talent on paper, but the sum of the parts does not seem to be equaling the whole. Having said this, when do you think the Astros will fire Jimy Williams?
Jimmy in Atlanta

A: You're right. If you look at the Yankees, they win those 2-1 games and they win 8-7 games, too. Good teams do that kind of thing. The rest don't make the playoffs. I'm not sure the talent on paper is as great as we all tend to think it is.
The projection was for a very good offense and a really good starting rotation. It hasn't worked out that way. At some point, the manager usually takes the fall for seasons like this one.

Q: When do you think the time will come for the Astros to move forward and replace Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio?
Daniel in Sugar Land

A: They're both still productive players even though that production has slipped as they've gotten older. They also set a tone by playing hard and being responsible. We take them for granted in Houston, but around baseball, every other manager would love to have them.
Biggio has played so well this year that he's virtually certain of being back in 2005. The very preliminary plan is to have him open the year in center field and then gradually work Willy Taveras in if it appears he's ready.

At that point, Biggio might get his at-bats in a number of different ways.

Bagwell is signed for two more seasons, and there's a team option for 2007. As long as he's hitting 30 home runs and driving in 100 runs, I wouldn't even think of getting rid of him.

Astros and race: An issue that has to be addressed

Q: Why is it necessary to write an article about "racial" subjects when there is not a problem? Why are you shining a light on a subject that is unnecessary? If you are going by numbers maybe you should ask why are there so many blacks in football and not many whites? What difference does it make what color a person is -- as long as the best person is getting the job? You are perpetuating an issue and do not need to. You are guilty of reverse discriminating.
Curtis in Magnolia

A: I felt it was an issue that had to be addressed. The front office, including Drayton McLane and Gerry Hunsicker, is bothered by having so few African Americans in the organization. They've pushed their scouts to make sure they're not passing up opportunities to bring blacks into the organization. All of us come at this issue from different angles. It's difficult being a middle-aged white male writing about racial issues, but I was struck by the fact that the regular starting lineup is all white. I think the worse thing you can do is say you're colorblind. In truth, none of us is colorblind.
Astros aggressive in signing Venezuelans, Dominicans

Q: Why is it that the Astro's top brass gives up on the few Latino players it has had on the team? They gave up on resigning Moises Alou and Vinny Castilla, which in retrospect has come back to bite them. Both Alou and Castilla have had good games against the Astros this year. I fear that the same with be the case with Richard Hidalgo when the Mets play the Astros again. ...
Armando in San Antonio

A: Moises Alou was strictly a money issue. He was much beloved inside the clubhouse. He remains one of Jeff Bagwell's best friends. Vinny Castilla was let go because they believed they had better alternatives in the minors. As for Richard Hidalgo, it was time for a divorce. The organization didn't think he could still be productive, and Richard felt, rightfully, that the Astros no longer had faith in him. The Astros have been aggressive in their signings of Venezuelans and Dominicans. The farm system has several highly regarded prospects from there. I don't buy that it's a race or bias issue.
Hidalgo had no trade value.

Q: Sure, the jury is out on whether Richard Hidalgo will ever be anything but an inconsistent offensive player, but the Astros didn't address their lack of speed problem and their defense probably gets even worse. Why didn't they go after a speedy outfielder who could come off the bench late in games or get an occasional start?
Rod in Houston

A: You're right. Richard Hidalgo had no trade value. As I understand it, the Astros were forced to take David Weathers or the Mets wouldn't have done the deal. The Astros could not be picky about what they got in return. They wanted to trade him, and the Mets were the only team interested. It was a buyer's market in this case. There really were no negotiations.

Astros trades not so bad after all

Q: Why is it that when the Astros makes deals they always seem to be trading from a position of weakness?
They practically gave away Mike Hampton because everyone knew they had no chance of re-signing him. They waited until Daryle Ward had no value to unload him. The Billy Wagner deal has now essentially become Wagner for Taylor Buchholz straight-up, becuase the Phillies knew the Astros were in salary-dump mode. And now they're trying to pass off Richard Hidalgo while he is in an offensive free-fall. I can't believe the Mets or anyone else would give anything of worth or pay much of the salary.
Yet when the Mariners traded Randy Johnson when everyone knew Johnson wasn't going to re-sign, the Astros gave them a legit position player and a quality starter.
What gives?
Andy in The Woodlands

Answer: Actually, they made out quite well on the Hampton and Wagner deals. Hampton had told them he was not going to re-sign with them no matter what, and they got Octavio Dotel and two others for him. That's not nothing. They got three talented young pitchers for Wagner. They're frustrated about Brandon Duckworth, but are very high on Taylor Buchholz and Ezquiel Astacio.

Change of manager not the Astros' solution for now

Q: I feel that it is time for the Astros to fire Jimy Williams and bring Larry Dierker back. (Dierker) did a much better job as manager than Williams has done since he has been manager of the Astros.
Jack in Springdale, Ark.

A: A lot of people feel the way you do, and I'm a lot less solid on supporting him than I was. Jimy Williams does have his quirks--more than any manager I've ever been around. His strengths are using all his players and his preparation. His weaknesses are wearing out a bullpen and jerking the starting pitcher too soon. I thought pulling Tim Redding after 84 pitches Friday night was inexcusable. How is this guy going to get better if he's not allowed to work his way through trouble?
I don't know that there's a case to be made for firing him. The Astros have struggled because the middle relief, starting pitching and clutch hitting haven't been good. I don't think changing the manager would improve all those things.

However, if everything is broken, then changing the manager is what teams usually do. The Astros put this team together as a one-year go-for-it deal. If things don't turn around, firing Jimy becomes more and more of an option.

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I felt (race) was an issue that had to be addressed ...I was struck by the fact that the regular starting lineup is all white. I think the worse thing you can do is say you're colorblind. In truth, none of us is colorblind .......................


The Astros have been aggressive in their signings of Venezuelans and Dominicans. The farm system has several highly regarded prospects from there. I don't buy that it's a race or bias issue.



WHAT! On one hand, he was inspired to write about the Astros being all white, "an issue that had to be addressed," and on the other hand the club is doing everything it can to sign non-whites and he doesn't "buy that it's a race or bias issue" :notme: Does he ever stop to think about what he's just said or about to say???

[Sandy]

Regarding the '98 and '99 BoSox.

'98 - Boston's 4.50 runs allowed was second best in the AL, (2nd to the Yanks). And their 5.41 runs scored was 3rd behind the Yanks and Rangers. The offense was centered around Nomar and Mo Vaughn (anyone remember when Mo was actually good?). The thing that makes me blink, though is that while they had 2 'regulars' with .500+ slugging averages (Mo and No) - they had FOUR part-timers slugging .500: Reggie Jefferson (.374/.520); Mike Stanley (.388/.500); Jim Leyritz (.385/.519); Damon Buford (.349/.523). This, of course, begs the question - was this stellar production a RESULT of exceptionally astute roster tweaking - or was it criminal stupidity to not get the guys who WERE hitting into the lineup more often?

Well, since most of these guys couldn't field their way out of a paper bag, they were all mostly platooning thru the DH slot. Mostly, he was just blessed to have an incredibly deep bench - (the giant hole I've been ranting on about the Astros all season).

On the pitching side, you had Wakefields magical 17 win campaign and Sabrehagen's last hurrah. You had Flash Gordon at his peak, as well. The team DID have some talent on both sides of the ball.

In '99, the team won on pitching alone - the offense fell to 9th in the AL (5.16 per game), but the pitching was #1 in the AL (4.43 per game), outperforming the Yankees.

The offense was Nomar and nothing - though Stanley and Offerman provided great OBPs, and Trot Nixon finally started coming into his own.

But, the pitching staff (though lacking stars beyond Pedro), was the ultimate in bench performers. Saberhagen still managed a 2.95 ERA and 10-6 record in 22 starts -- but it was the middle relief that saved that team -- Garces (5-1; 1.55); Lowe (6-3; 2.63; 15-saves); Wasdin (8-3; 4.12); Cormier (2-0; 3.69).

There was a recent article (Sportsweekly, IIRC), that noted how well the teams with strong middle relief were doing compared to everyone else.

==============

*My* opinion -- Jimy has a certain style - and he sticks with that REGARDLESS of the talent he has. That style is 'little league' management at its finest - where his #1 goal is to make certain everyone plays. This means he yanks starters early, and benches stars regularly to get work for the bench guys.

In Boston, he was "blessed/cursed" with a bench that was often SUPERIOR to his regulars. So, he employed the PERFECT style of management for those teams. But the 2004 Houston Astros are a team with *ZERO* bench strength on the offensive side of things - and the strength of the club heading into the season was "supposed" to be a stellar rotation. With Pettitte out, that changed things - but overall, this is the 'anti-Jimy' team, if ever there was one.

Moreover, in the NL, Jimy doesn't have the luxury of the DH slot to rotate guys through without screwing up the defense.

The single largest condemnation of Jimy is the '89 Blue Jays, who went 12-24 under him, and THEN went on to win the division after he was fired. If they DO fire him, I could easily see history repeating itself.

[rockin500]

somehow i get the feeling that Richard Justicse is not a favorite of you guys. ;)

he sure seems to have his lips far up Jimy's ass!

[barzilla]

Fair points all Sandy except that 99 was the only season where Jimy had a positive Pythagorean record.

[PissedPrincess]

I believe in my heart of hearts, that neither the RedSox nor the Stros will win the WS this year, or anytime soon. They will both win one day, but it will be like 67, a year when neither team is expected to do much.

I predict the Sox to win when I'm 80. Really. I've had the dream. I'm a widow of 2 years, and I'm there watching them win. I live 5 more years.

[PissedPrincess]

One thing I loved about Jimy:

(BTW-people here wish he was still here :eek: )

He never let his starters kill us like Francona does. NEVER. You got in serios trouble, your ass was gone. I recall one game Jeff Fassero and 1M had a screamfest on the mound that about came to blows.

Sox were down 3-1 in the 6th. Top of 6th, Jeff gives up 2 consecutive singles. 1M yanks him. Jeff explodes. Sox win, 5-3. :smokin:

[Sandy]

Fair points all Sandy except that 99 was the only season where Jimy had a positive Pythagorean record.

That makes sense to me, in that Jimy had the 'perfect' team for him to manage fall into his lap.

A) Short on starters, deep bullpen.
B) Weak starting 9, with strong bench.

As strange as it may sound, the concept that Jimy does better with 'poorer' teams may not be far off the mark. If your bench guys are really close to your starters in ability - putting both sets into 'optimized' positions could easily lead to good results. Subbing in Butch Huskey for John Valentin or Daubach for Stanley can work on a regular basis. Sitting Berkman to get Brian Hunter playing time doesn't.

[PissedPrincess]

I dunno Sandy. I think it was a fluke that it worked. I'd agree with you if the results were similar the next year, but they weren't. In 2000, Jimy regularly sat Nomah for Ed Sprague and company with disastrous results.

On the same hand, Huskey, Stanley, et al went into oblivion in other locales the following year.

99 was lightning in a bottle. BUT, because Jimy had success in 99, he still think he can use that same thinking.

[barzilla]

Yes, both of you have fair points. If your lucky a bench player can perform well. Mike Lamb is that way. Yet, for every Mike Lamb there is a Orlando Palmeiro and Raul Chavez.

[Sandy]

I wouldn't dispute that '99 could easily be passed off as a fluke. The only thing I'm reasonably certain of is that if Jimy does NOT have a bench that is producing, he's gonna be doomed.

[rockin500]

most teams need a good bench though!

not that i am disagreeing that he will be doomed.

[PissedPrincess]

I wouldn't dispute that '99 could easily be passed off as a fluke. The only thing I'm reasonably certain of is that if Jimy does NOT have a bench that is producing, he's gonna be doomed.

Completely agree. With his penchant for "Hey gotta play em all." Style, if guys 22-25 aren't producing, his team is doomed, because he's gonna play em regardless.

Dear Lord how I would cringe at Mike freakin Lansing playing 3 times a week because "Can't let em get stale."
:(