The Old Milwaukees

Ned Yost is totally owned by the players

April 14, 2008

I was wrong again.

Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun asked Yost if they could switch spots in the order, and he did it.

Proud of you, Ned. Though I notice you changed your tone a little. What you called a rash decision a few days ago is now …

“It’s not a major deal in the context of what we’re trying to do,” he said. “Failed experiment? I don’t buy it. It’s just a switch. They’re staying in the two premier hitting spots in the lineup.

Anyway, I’m sure it had a big effect. I’m sure those two started hitting immediately and didn’t go a combined 1-for-9 or anything.

Thus, Yost is No. 3

April 1, 2008

The Wall Street Journal invented and published a ranking system for MLB managers. Three stats, then averaged, and Ned Yost was third overall. Ron Gardenhire and Bruce Bochy ranked above him.

Whatever. This matters not at all. I’m not going to dispute the metrics too much, because I generally don’t believe managers affect anything. Someone is the best, someone is the worst, and swapping them would accomplish very little.

But I do love the confidence of the author. Explaining the methodology:

For the close-games category, we subtracted each manager’s overall winning percentage from his winning percentage in games tied after the sixth inning, thus determining whether he performs better or worse in close games.

Thus.

Thus determining.

Yes, with one-third of the game remaining and no way to evaluate any moves a manager may or may not have made in those remaining innings, whether the team wins or loses determines whether a manager performs better. OK, man.

A tale of two tales

March 10, 2008

One tale, really, but with two different endings, appearing in the Journal Sentinel on back-to-back days.

The first version showed up as a blog post on Sunday from Anthony Witrado. To paraphrase: The Ned Yost we know and the Ned Yost who is his son look sort of alike. Eric Gagne only knew about one of them and mistook the other for his manager. The next day, the elder Ned tried to goof on it.

“What are you doing?” Yost asked Gagne the next day. “I got a report that you were yelling and screaming at some kid. You pulled down the window and (said), “Where’s this (darn) golf course?”

Gagne didn’t much fall for the joke, but did say the father and son don’t look too much alike.

The joke didn’t work, and the blog post didn’t offer up comparative pictures of the Yosts in question, so thanks for this.

On Monday, the print version of the nugget was prepared a little differently. Same story, juicier ending.

To play a prank on Gagne, the manager approached him the next day and said, “What are you doing? I got a report that you were yelling and screaming at some kid. You pulled down the window and (said), ‘Where’s this (darn) golf course?’ ”

A stunned Gagne was trying to explain himself when Yost laughed and broke the news that the other driver was his son.

Ha ha ha ha ha ha, Christ. Come on, editors. You know both versions are still available, right? You know that we don’t have to go to the public library and roll through miles of microfiche anymore to call you on this.

Here are the look-alikes. Might as well be brothers, am I right?

One likes NASCAR; one likes contemporary art. What a crazy pair!

March 10, 2008

In Tom Haudricourt’s love letter to Ted Simmons today, the new bench coach comes off as quite the genius.

I admit, he sounds intriguing and quite the opposite of Ned Yost, but there’s little included about game management or actual baseball strategy. From what I can glean, he’s wise because he has experienced non-baseball culture. He’s not all tobacco and adultery and According To Jim reruns, so he’s like some sort of sage when he reenters the sport.

Then there’s this bit:

Ready to become more involved in the game by 1999, he accepted a job as San Diego’s vice president of baseball operations before eventually settling into a scouting role with the Padres.

And after accepting that scouting role, he settled into a job mopping tunnels at Qualcomm. Is this a successful career path? Sounds like a demotion unexplained.

Still, despite what all parties may be saying, this is a threat to Yost. Seems like the organization feels it has a capable backup for whenever they need it.

Ned Yost: Everything with my Milwaukee Brewers is progressing as perfectly as it possibly could right now

March 9, 2008

Hey, guys. I expect you have some questions today about my on-field management style, or maybe you’re seeking clarification about some strategic decisions I have to make. … Oh. … No, none of that? You just want me to let me evaluate team decisions? But I’m the manager.  Why would you ask my opinion of my team? I work for the team. Of course I’m going to say …. Why wouldn’t you ask a … you know, an independent observer? Someone who will give you an objective … no? You still want me? OK, beat writers, gather round.

You, there. You want to know what I think of Ryan Braun’s transition to the outfield. He’s been much, much better than I thought he’d be at this point. … Holy shit, you’re writing that down. You’re actually going to print it. Um … wait. I can do better. He’s got an opportunity one day to win a Gold Glove in left field. He certainly does.

Next? You’re interested in Bill Hall’s move to third? Good follow-up. What did Dale say? No, let me guess. Ah, he probably told you, ah … “I think he’s probably doing better than he expected. His feet are getting better. That was the biggest concern, how his feet would react to a new position.” Probably something like that, right? And you’re going to run it as-is, not even question the “new position” part? God you guys are awesome.

Yes, a question about Prince. I knew that was coming. You want to know if I think short-changing him in his contract renewal pissed him off, and if I think the move was a short-sighted chance to save a couple hundred thousand dollars that will cost us tens of millions later? Well yeah, but … no. I mean to say, I know it’s not an issue when he walks through the clubhouse door. Believe me, he knows in the back of his mind, “It’s OK.” No seriously: what could go wrong?

OK, last question. … Hm, tough one. Steroids. Do I think it sets a bad precedent that so many of our off-season acquisitions have drug problems? Naw, you kiddin’ me? Gagne: he said he’s sorry. Mota: whatever, he’s not even going to make the team. Mike Cameron? What to say about Mike. How about this: You push each other to work hard. That’s what he always does. Not too bland a quote for your editors? Because that’s what he does — works hard. That’s why his body rocks, not because he got caught twice (twice!) in one season for banned stimulants.

Thanks for coming, everyone. Please surround those quotes with your own statements that support mine. Again, thank you.

Kendall hitting ninth just got dumber

March 9, 2008

This catcher-batting-ninth business is getting closer to reality. In fact, Ned Yost has told a few news outlets that the upside of Jason Kendall hitting after the pitcher has been “thoroughly researched.”

“You’ve got to have a special player in order to do it,” said Yost. “You’ve got to have a high on-base percentage guy …

Let me stop you right there. Last season, Kendall’s on-base percentage was a high .301 — worse than every other non-pitcher the Brewers will start on opening day. Back to that quote.

“You’ve got to have a high on-base percentage guy that …

Hold up, sorry. Let me stop you again. You want to say “a high on-base percentage guy who,” not “a high on-base percentage guy that.” I don’t blame Ned here. It’s a direct quote, but as a journalist, Tom Haudricourt has the right to not embarrass his speaker. He chose to let it go, and now Ned looks like some uneducated southerner.

“You’ve got to have a high on-base percentage guy that puts the ball in play, takes a lot of pitches. The advantage of it, for us, is you’ve got a dual leadoff guy, so to speak, in the No. 9 and 1 spot.

“Two, Jason Kendall is the only player on the team that is an extreme groundball hitter. All of our other hitters are fly-ball hitters. Jason, being a high-contact, high-groundball hitter, puts the ball in play every time, and you get a lot of double plays.

This used to be true. Kendall even led the AL in GIDP in 2005. (Let’s capitalize on this?) But last season, for the first time in his career, Kendall made more flyball outs than groundouts. Not sure it matters.

I was hearing them out at first. The original point of all this was to move Fielder and Braun up one spot each in the order — to 2 and 3, respectively. Over the course of the season, that means more at-bats. I’m for that. But you want guys on base when your meat comes up, so you increase your chances of that (a bit) with Kendall ninth instead of a pitcher.

So now Ned’s going to leave Fielder and Braun at 3 and 4, but he’s still doing the Kendall ninth thing, too.

The first time Braun leads off an inning with a hit, then Nos. 5 and 6 make outs and they walk No. 7 to get to the pitcher, I think it’ll get mentioned here. And also here.

And let us not forget: Sometimes Jason Kendall is so good at getting on base that he breaks his leg.