Pinella voted least desired manager to play for in SI players poll

by RightFieldSucks on Jul 1, 2009 10:00 PM CDT Comment 24 comments

In the latest SI players poll, players were asked "Which manager do you least want to play for?" Pinella was first (worst?) with 26%. Ozzie Guillen was second with 21%, then La Russa, Torre, and Wedge.

Thoughts on this? Anything to do with Pinella ripping on MB last week? I know Pinella's managed a lot of teams, maybe more current major leaguers have played under him than other managers, and familiarity breeds contempt.

How do you think he's perceived by players?

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

0 recs | Comment 24 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

As usual, players could not vote for their own coach

------ TheRiot Squad ------

by RightFieldSucks on Jul 1, 2009 10:01 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

FanShot a few days ago.

Found here about a day and a half ago.

"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." --Ernie Banks

by dtpollitt on Jul 1, 2009 10:21 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Right.

If the author wanted to make a fanpost out of this, he needed to find a way to tie it into DeRosa. For example – do we think DeRosa voted for Lou? Or maybe for LaRussa? Wouldn’t that be ironic!

Either way, I blame Jim Hendry for duplicate posts.

Randy Wells - You continue to astound me.

by DGU on Jul 1, 2009 10:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Peavy!

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on Jul 2, 2009 8:32 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Roberts?

I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Jul 2, 2009 9:13 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wait...

Did the Cubs make a move for Roberts and Peavy? Wow that would be nice. Have not heard anything about it.

"I love this world. I hope hell is as much fun!"

by HIGGY on Jul 2, 2009 10:34 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Baker!

I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.

by dat cubfan daver on Jul 2, 2009 11:31 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bell!!!

"Check the magic of a winning season and there are always reasons beyond the talent." Ned Colleti

by wrigleyrocker12 on Jul 2, 2009 10:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

ok, sorry. I looked in fanposts and didnt see it but forgot to put in fanshots

------ TheRiot Squad ------

by RightFieldSucks on Jul 2, 2009 12:07 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'll just say this...

…you’ve got some pretty successful managers on that list, and polling players on who they want to play for does not equal who are the best managers.

Some of the best professional managers/coaches have a history of their players not being in love with them during their playing days. When they look back on their experience later on, they usually always say that manager/coach made them a better player because they challenged them to be their best.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Jul 1, 2009 10:41 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

It's the same with teachers.

The ones that I hated the most for making me work my tail off are the ones that I now look back on and thank.

by katie casey on Jul 2, 2009 9:52 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly right...

…if you allowed players to choose their manager/coach, you would have the tail wagging the dog a little too often.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Jul 2, 2009 11:28 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm going to suggest that Piniella being on a list with

Torre and LaRussa is a GOOD thing.

I'm a Cubs FANATIC. They are my team, through thick and thin. When they play over their heads, and when they play under the gutter. When they win the division, and then get swept in the division series. When they get no-hitters and when they blow no-hitters. And some day, when they go all the way and get those rings. This is the kind of fan I am.

by drewishdrewid on Jul 1, 2009 10:56 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

People who probably voted for him

I bet you Scott Eyre and Bob Howry voted for Piniella. Eyre for him not even knowing his name at first and Howry blasted him on a video on the Giants website a few months ago.

I also bet that our HR slugging short stop, Ryan Theriot voted on Dusty Baker. I remember he went on some rant that the only time Dusty ever used him in his first call up was to get plunked by Roger Clemens and that he felt betrayed by Dusty when he pushed to get Freddy Bynum to play.

by ak123 on Jul 2, 2009 8:23 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Howry blasted him?

News to me.

Hell, he kept letting Howry pitch when Howry sucked!

I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Jul 2, 2009 9:14 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

In an interview

Howry claimed that Lou purposely had him throw balls to guys he knew he could strike out or get grounds out. He said that messed up his form. I say that’s BS because his walk total was actually down last year. But regardless, that’s what he said in the interview.

by ak123 on Jul 2, 2009 10:53 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Who cares about this crap? The sports talk shows have been wringing their collective

hands about this article for days now like it really matters. This kind of stuff comes out just to sell magazines, it means absolutely nothing.

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on Jul 2, 2009 8:41 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

When I was swimming in college...

I didn’t like my coach. Quite frankly, she was kind of a b*tch. The type who calls your phone at 5:30am wondering why you’re not on deck yet. At the same time, though, if she hadn’t been that way, if she’d been a pushover, I wouldn’t have gone to practice. I’m not sure that it’s possible to have a warm and fuzzy relationship with a coach and still have them be very successful.

by hmlee on Jul 2, 2009 10:40 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't think it has to be warm and fuzzy, but you don't have to be an asshole to be a successful coach. Scores

of people have done it without coming off as a dyfuctional human being, so it can be done.

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on Jul 2, 2009 10:44 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would agree...

…but there is a fine line between being a bit of an asshole and a complete asshole.

Complete assholes may have short term success, but they tend to loss their team after a period of time. Being an a-hole part of the time is very acceptable, because that is precisely what some players need to reach their potential. You have to know when to push and when to ease back and I think all good coaches have that ability.

The other important thing is respect. Players need to feel like their manager/coach understands the game and does things for a reason (even if they don’t understand it at the time). Scotty Bowman is arguably in the top 2 or 3 coaches of all time for any sport. Bowman was a master at keeping his players on edge, because he felt it kept them mentally engaged. He would constantly switch up his lines (even when players were doing well) to keep them sharp, and to also keep the other coach off guard. After a string of losses, he was known for having easy practices where he was joking around and then he would have hard practices were he would challenge his team when they were winning.

Lot’s of different approaches can work, but the good ones all have the same basic ingrediants.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Jul 2, 2009 11:48 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I tend to agree to a point. Just like any walk in life, there are many different paths to

success. Coaches are people too, so you are going to have many different personality types involved. The point where I differ with some is the idea that you have to be an asshole to be a successful coach. There have been plenty of gentlemen like Tony Dungy who have been successful but have never exhibited the asshole trait. There are many different ways to motivate people and the successful leader knows that you cannot go to same well time after time. Eventually your charges will tune you out and you will become ineffective.

Most human being will respect a person that shows them respect. A good leader knows when to give in and when to hold your ground. The most important quality is consistency. If players know where they stand and where the boudaries are, they will respect them. Anyone who cannot operate under those circumstances must be shown the door. Catering to individuals who cannot respect that the whole is more important that a single part will cause division and will undermine any manager’s best efforts.

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on Jul 2, 2009 2:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm with ya...

…and I’m not saying someone has to be an a-hole, but they do have to understand what each player needs to reach their potential.

Professional athletes all have physical gifts that have been the main reason they have reached the level they have. Some have relied purely on their physical gifts more than others, but they all have a unique mental makeup. In my experience, treating an athlete in a way that most would define as “respectful”, may not be what is required to get that player to play to his potential. Some athletes need their full potential to be pulled out of them, and others need it to be coaxed.

IMO, the coaches/managers that are truely the great ones, have the ability to recognize which guys need to be coaxed and which ones need to be pushed.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Jul 2, 2009 3:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think that your last sentnce speaks volumes for what it takes to be a

successful coach/manager. The important fact is that nothing in that sentence made any reference to being an asshole.

I do disagree about your statement about treating someone respectfully. Knowing what buttons to push to motivate someone has absolutely nothing to do with repect. Human being should always be treated with respect. Just because a person has physical gifts and may not have been exposed to the type of discipline that a person should receive does not warrant disrespect. An individual can be motivated without being broken down. Too many times coaches feel that they have to treat athlete’s as less than human beings to instill fear in them. That is a short-sided solution. Respect must be a two-way street. Individuals that are treated as less than human will never exhibit the self-discipline and self-control needed to be a contributing member of society. They may perform in the short term, but eventually they will revert back to learned behavior and ultimately disappoint.

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on Jul 2, 2009 5:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

lou

lou is a hardass when you dont produce. players who do their jobs probably have less of a problem with him. i dont think anyone complains when he gets them to the postseason though. only playing for ozzy would be worse in my opinion.

by NOMAR on Jul 4, 2009 9:35 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs