Who will be our new manager next season?

[Schad]

So, on one hand managers are so important that they can mean the difference between being in a playoff chase and being one of the worst teams in baseball.

On the other, the only qualification necessary is "played baseball well twenty years ago"...no coaching experience, never mind management experience, necessary.

[Lateral Quicks]

Red Sox won 69 games last year I think? Now they're back in the playoffs. Everyone calm down.

The problem with the team is the supporting cast and the rotation. If we can even replace Melky, JPA and Izturis with replacement level players we'll add like 5-10 wins FFS.

Only John Farrell can make that kind of difference.

Interesting that you, a person that continually says that coaching doesn't make any appreciable difference, would make that point. The Red Sox were horrendous last year in large measure because team chemistry was horrible. The players despised the manager, and it clearly impacted performance. Farrell may be a mediocre to poor strategist, but the players like playing for him and he commands respect in the clubhouse.

I like Gibbons as a strategy guy, but I am beginning to wonder whether he commands respect from the players.

[Randle McMurphy]

Interesting that you, a person that continually says that coaching doesn't make any appreciable difference, would make that point.

Might have been just a bit facetious on that one.

I like Gibbons as a strategy guy, but I am beginning to wonder whether he commands respect from the players.

No way for us to know either way about such a thing, so it's not really worth talking about.

[akakalakin]

So, on one hand managers are so important that they can mean the difference between being in a playoff chase and being one of the worst teams in baseball.

On the other, the only qualification necessary is "played baseball well twenty years ago"...no coaching experience, never mind management experience, necessary.

they are a portion, and who said it was the only qualification?

[MikeM]

One thing we need are better hitting and pitching coaches. FFS, Bonifacio has 8 walks already for KC and had 13 all year for us. How in the world?

[dublo7]

So what you're pointing out is our players suck and we should rebuild? Oh but no, you sarcastically think this team is right where they need to be right now. What we need right now are fans to believe in the boys. Go get em, rah, rah.

No, he's poking fun at the idiotic idea that the manager has such influence that a good one who have turned this pile of suck into a competitive team. Cyborg Connie Mack could walk out of the clubhouse tomorrow and we'd still suck, because the manager doesn't pitch five times a week nor fill three or four spots in the lineup.

Cyborg Connie Mack I love it. Somebody's gotta drop that on Milner's show.

[Lateral Quicks]

Interesting that you, a person that continually says that coaching doesn't make any appreciable difference, would make that point.

Might have been just a bit facetious on that one.

I know you were trying to be facetious, but I'm saying that Farrell has in fact made a difference. I would argue the Red Sox would not be in the playoff hunt if Valentine were still in charge. Not to say Farrell is great, mind you, but Valentine was that toxic.

[Randle McMurphy]

Interesting that you, a person that continually says that coaching doesn't make any appreciable difference, would make that point.

Might have been just a bit facetious on that one.

I know you were trying to be facetious, but I'm saying that Farrell has in fact made a difference. I would argue the Red Sox would not be in the playoff hunt if Valentine were still in charge. Not to say Farrell is great, mind you, but Valentine was that toxic.

Once you get past their MLB-best offense and quality pitching staff, then sure, I guess the mystical powers of John Farrell enter the equation in Boston.

[Lateral Quicks]

Might have been just a bit facetious on that one.

I know you were trying to be facetious, but I'm saying that Farrell has in fact made a difference. I would argue the Red Sox would not be in the playoff hunt if Valentine were still in charge. Not to say Farrell is great, mind you, but Valentine was that toxic.

Once you get past their MLB-best offense and quality pitching staff, then sure, I guess the mystical powers of John Farrell enter the equation in Boston.

I suppose it's sheer coincidence then that the very same pitchers that sucked last year are pitching like dynamite this year under Farrell? Is it not possible that Farrell, who knew these guys very well from his years as pitching coach and in other roles in the organisation, was able to help them make some adjustments to get back on track?

Hell, if coaches don't make any difference, why do we have coaches at all? These guys are professionals, shouldn't they be above the need for coaching?

[dkmo]

Farrell's a better manager than Gibbons, but even if he were still managing here, I doubt we'd a playoff team.

Hey, what do you guys think about bringing back Cito?

[MikeM]

I know you were trying to be facetious, but I'm saying that Farrell has in fact made a difference. I would argue the Red Sox would not be in the playoff hunt if Valentine were still in charge. Not to say Farrell is great, mind you, but Valentine was that toxic.

Once you get past their MLB-best offense and quality pitching staff, then sure, I guess the mystical powers of John Farrell enter the equation in Boston.

I suppose it's sheer coincidence then that the very same pitchers that sucked last year are pitching like dynamite this year under Farrell? Is it not possible that Farrell, who knew these guys very well from his years as pitching coach and in other roles in the organisation, was able to help them make some adjustments to get back on track?

Hell, if coaches don't make any difference, why do we have coaches at all? These guys are professionals, shouldn't they be above the need for coaching?

If only Farrell could impart his wisdom on Ricky Romero, maybe he'd still be in the bigs! Wait, you mean we had a pitcher go from great to out of the f'n major leagues under Farrell? You don't say!

[bringbackhoffa]

HIRE CHARLIE MANUEL

[The_Hater]

Red Sox won 69 games last year I think? Now they're back in the playoffs. Everyone calm down.

Ya but that's because the Sox hired a great manager who was worth an extra 20 wins or so...