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October 01, 2009

Mr. LaRussa, meet Mr. McGraw

Earlier today the Cards inflicted a considerable butt-whipping on the Cubs, 13-0. The big story was Chris Carpenter's 6-RBI performance. Not bad for a pitcher.

Still, it wasn't the most impressive achievement on the day. That honor went to his manager, Tony LaRussa, who filled out the lineup card for the 4,769th time, tying him with John McGraw on the all-time leaderboard. Only Connie Mack has done more.

Sure, games managed is a far from glamorous stat - but as many games managed as John McGraw?!? He (and Connie Mack) have been atop the career leaderboards for managers for so long I never imagined it was possible for anyone to catch either one.

In three more years, LaRussa should pass him up in victories, too.
Posted by: Chris Jaffe

September 30, 2009

Most recent mid-season managerial change for all 30 teams

Word is, the perpetually underachieving Indians just canned their manager, Eric Wedge.

Question: When was the most recent managerial change for all 30 teams.

Before checking the list can you guess which team has gone the longest without doing it? Longest in the other league? Well, here they are, bunched by fives for convenience sake. I look at games managed for tiebreakers when multiple teams appear in the same season:

2009 CLE
2009 HOU
2009 DCN
2009 COL
2009 ARI

2008 MIL
2008 TOR
2008 SEA
2008 NYM
2007 CIN

2007 BAL
2005 KCR
2005 PIT
2004 PHI
2003 FLA

2002 CHC
2002 DET
2001 BOX
2001 TEX
2001 TBD

1999 ANA
1998 LAD
1995 STL
1995 CWS
1992 SDP

1990 ATL
1990 NYY*
1986 MIN
1986 OAK
1985 SFG

I would've bet anything Minnesota would come out on top, but no.

I put an asterick by the Yanks because while B-ref lists it as the same guy for every season, I think Zim officially manged them for a month when Joe Torre had a health problem. It's not an official managerial change, but it was a midseason change nonetheless. (Heck, B-ref notes Pete Rose's month-long ump-bump suspension in its managerial record).





Posted by: Chris Jaffe

July 15, 2009

Warren’s Wizard

This week I received in the mail a pre-publication, uncorrected page proof version of a new book: The Wizard of Waxahachie: Paul Richards and the End of Baseball as We Knew It, by Warren Corbett.

Ordinarily, I would write a review of such a tome for THT. However, in this instance in all good conscience I can't review it, because I have no objectivity toward it. I've been closely watching and anticipating this ambitious project for several years. Warren even allowed me to edit one of the versions of his manuscript, for which he graciously credits me in his Acknowledgments.

So, take this recommendation for whatever it's subjectively worth: the book is terrific. Paul Richards is one of the most significant figures in major league baseball history, yet no serious, comprehensive Richards biography had ever been produced. Until now: Corbett presents an impeccably researched, sharply observed, fluidly written account of this brilliant, flawed, and perplexing character. This is a must-read for any serious student of baseball history.

The book's publication date is October, but you can pre-order a copy here. You will not regret it.
Posted by: Steve Treder

January 04, 2009

Rating managers by intentional walks

Here's a nice little analysis over at Fire Jim Bowden, rating managers by the situations in which they ordered intentional walks.
Posted by: Dave Studeman

October 30, 2008

Managerial Postscript

I’ll keep this one short and sweet. While I was rooting for the Rays to win game 5, and ultimately the series, I am thankful that I don’t have to watch Joe Maddon butcher the game any more than he has during this 2008 post-season.

On my blog, I predicted that Maddon would make at least blunder last night. I didn’t have to wait long, and it was a real doozy...
Click for more...

Posted by: Mitchel Lichtman


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