Something New, Something Old

Random thoughts while awaiting the final disposition of curses.

The Inquirer’s Jim Salisbury has a very interesting piece in today’s edition on the degree of preparation the Red Sox bring to the game of baseball. According to Salisbury the Red Sox “… bring to each game a level of behind-the-scenes, off-field preparation that is usually reserved for the NFL.”

Boston GM Theo Epstein’s commitment to sabermetrics is well known. He isn’t exactly a skinflint, either, as the Red Sox $125 million payroll will attest. But as any investor will tell you, past experience does not necessarily guarantee future results. On or off the field, you still have to execute.

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Two items of note on the otherwise quiet baseball front in Philadelphia.

The Phils re-signed all-purpose shaving cream pie thrower Tomas Perez to a two year contract. Don’t be misled by Tomas’ meager .216 batting average or antics; this is a valuable guy. He can play any infield position well and brings an intensity and spirit to an otherwise bland clubhouse. The signing of Perez no doubt spells the end of Placido Polanco’s career in Philadelphia. His likely departure has long been anticipated in this space and, frankly, represents yet another mistake by the Phillies’ management. Without him, Perez becomes the oft-injured David Bell’s lone health insurance premium, and much as I admire Tomas, he isn’t Polanco. Placido, for his part, will land on his feet; players who hit and field at his level are in short supply.

The Phillies continue the process of looking for a manager. The final round of interviews for a new skipper began Monday with Buddy Bell and were to conclude Thursday with Terry Pendleton. In today’s Inquirer there was speculation an eighth candidate would be interviewed. At this stage it is difficult to determine how the Phillies’ management are leaning. Naturally, everyone interviewed thus far has been “a great baseball man.” The guess here is that Terry Pendleton or John Russell will get the nod. They represent the only chance at a fresh start, something the Phillies desperately need.

Pendleton gets rave reviews from no less an authority than Bobby Cox and that sort of endorsement is difficult to overlook given the Braves’ record for more than a decade, especially last season when nearly everyone was predicting their relative demise following an off-season of major personnel changes. Pendleton has been the Braves’ hitting coach for the last three seasons.

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Willie Randolph, long rumored to be in line for a manager’s job, was interviewed by the New York Mets yesterday and had this to say, “"I'm a winner. I know about winning. That's what you have to rely on. It's not rocket science."

It will be interesting to see in an age that leans towards videotape, laptops and statistical analysis (see Salisbury article referenced above) whether this “old school” approach will cut it in today’s world. Interestingly, the Salisbury article quotes Boston’s Terry Francona, a convert of sorts to the new approach, as saying "I'm not saying this is the right way or the wrong way. But it works for us. I don't think the Braves even have a video guy on the road. Bobby Cox has a computer in his head. He's a genius. He doesn't need a video guy."