There is some pretty solid statistical evidence that managers have little influence on the outcome of a game and, therefore, of a team's seasonal won-loss record. In fact, most managers, from the Valley League to the major leagues, over-manage. As Mo Weber is fond of saying, you have to let the game play itself.
Nevertheless, the psychological intangibles that a manager brings to a team cannot be underestimated and the Baltimore Orioles under Buck Showalter are a case in point. The Orioles are 17-10 under Showalter and finished the month of August 17-11 overall. That represents the Birds first winning month since June of 2008 (that's a lot of losing folks, let me assure you!) and their first winning August since 1997 when they were wire-to-wire winners.
Granted, Showalter began with the Orioles at about the same time Brian Roberts, Felix Pie, and Mike Gonzalez returned to the lineup, but is that enough talent to make the (formerly) worst team in baseball suddenly go 17-10? Again, that was Roberts, Pie, and Gonzalez, not Ryne Sandberg, Willie Mays, and Walter Johnson.
One on-field difference is that Showalter is letting his starters pitch longer in games and you don't have to be Earl Weaver to know that generally speaking, if the guy in the bullpen were as good as the guy on the mound then HE'd be starting. Second, the Orioles aren't beating themselves (for a refreshing change) and they are taking advantage of the other teams mistakes.
Granted 27 games is a small statistical sample, but there is no doubt Buck Showalter is having a profound effect upon the Orioles. If this keeps up through September when the Birds play New York, Boston, and Tampa, then hope will indeed be reborn in Baltimore.
So what you're saying is that as a Redskins fan this year I can legitimately bask in the glow of hope that the beginning of each season brings?? Hooray!---Oh, and way to go Birds!!
Posted by: Melissa Dodge | September 01, 2010 at 08:05 AM