After reading some of the responses to my “letter” over at the Post’s website and posting a response of my own, I got to thinking. I think a big thing playing out right now in redbird nation is the change (and battle in some cases) in organizational philosophy.
I am a guy who sees value in both the traditional baseball mindset (a la Tony LaRussa) and also the newer evaluations and statistical tools (Moneyball and Bill James) so I am excited by what others could see as the problems of the club.
TLR might not be back after this season, and that will be a big loss. He is a great manager and finds ways to keep his team in every game. He really is one of the best minds in the game but he also is set in his ways and those ways want “proven big name” players; a “legitimate closer” or “another Big Bat” if you will. I understand he thinks that is why he is successful, but I don’t think he gives himself enough credit.
The club is moving towards a youth movement which will be a continual pipeline to the big league team. I think that is smart and makes perfect sense. I also think we are shifting towards this model later than other teams, but at the right point in the team’s history. The guard is changing, and that is good, bad, and bittersweet all at once.
Soon TLR will be gone and will leave big shoes to fill, but his push back to the front office will also be gone so the organization can get everyone on the same page. The youth movement is 100% smart baseball and business especially in the current economy. I am excited to watch players develop and play with the club for longer stints than a typical free agent would. The downside, the youth movement could push TLR out the door faster than might be desirable. I could see him leaving after this year, but I could also see him sticking around for two more years as his final contract. I think a lot of that rides on the season, but I think the former becomes the lock if the kids falter and moves aren’t made.
In a perfect world TLR would get wise to the fact that he can make a better lasting impact on the young players. Last year at the deadline the big name didn’t come, but 2008 was still one of if not THE best TLR managed teams ever. No one else keeps the team on track with a group that saw far to many injuries and had something like ten players make their MLB debut. I remember 08 as the year we were unexpectedly in the mix until early September. I always forget that in the end we finished 4th. I never really think of 4th place teams surprising as much as last year’s Cards and TLR needs much of the credit. We have been a trade and sign free agents ballclub through the Jocketty years and now we are in the second year of Mo's player development driven one. I think the fan base has gotten so accustomed to the old model that the merits of this new one are lost or dismissed. It is a big change for all of us, the entire country is also changing in new and exciting ways, and I am glad to team is moving forward.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Stuck in the Middle
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