I don't have the article in front of me, but as a long time reader of Bill James material, I recall a rather scathing piece he wrote about Chuck Tanner at the end of his tenure with the Pirates.  James' challenged Tanners ability to effectively manage a ML club, as he only saw one area where Tanner was an asset - he was a positive thinker and said if everyone just had a good year, we'll win.  In every other areas, he wrote that Tanner was a failure - in game strategy, roster congifuration, recognizing and playing ML ready rookies, etc.

I bring this matter to everyone's attention because I am beginning to see the same pattern with Dusty - a positive thinker who, by his actions, has shown no other discerable strength as a manager.  Tanner did win, but that was when the roster was littered with good players and there were no "attitude" players or performane issues on his team.

In effect, he won becasue his (Tanner) job was made easier because it played to his one strength.  He didn't have to find solutions as there were no glaring issues that needed to be addressed.

I think we may be facing the same limitation with Dusty.  He needs a team that is ready made to compete.  When it breaks down, he cannot be counted on to find a workable solution. He flounders, he makes idiotic playing time decisions and he is consistently out managed during critical moments of a game.

Coupled with Mr Hendry's own shortcomings as a GM, I think we need to be as lucky as we are good to reach the promised land.