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Friday, July 27, 2012
Monday, July 23, 2012
Job Security: 5 MLB Managers in Danger of Unemployment
This is a guest post submitted by Chris Ludwig. Chris played a wide variety of sports growing up and now passionately follows everything sports, especially Detroit sports. He works with Phoenix Bats, a company that creates world-class wood bats for amateur and professional ball players around the world. Chris enjoys writing on different sports topics and is very grateful to be able to contribute here.
The average life span of an MLB player’s career is somewhere between five and six years. For an MLB manager, it’s not quite as robust.
Managers are generally the one left holding the bag and the first ones out the door when a team fails to achieve its goals. Since 25 players can’t be fired, it’s the manager who feels the pain.
As the 2012 MLB season rolls along, who are the managers most likely to find pine on a park bench?
Let’s take a look.
1. Ned Yost: Kansas City Royals
Ned Yost is in his third season as skipper of the Kansas City Royals, having taken over from the fired Trey Hillman just 25 games into the 2010 season.
Yost has been charged with developing a bevy of youngsters on the Royals’ roster. However, with a
record of 39-53 and fighting for last place in the AL Central with the Minnesota Twins as of July 20, Yost may end up with a similar fate as his predecessor.
2. Eric Wedge: Seattle Mariners
Eric Wedge is in his second season with the Seattle Mariners, and has been saddled with a team that
continues to struggle scoring runs.
The Mariners were dead last in the American League in plating runs in 2011 and find themselves in
second-to-last in that department this year as well.
Has it been Wedge’s fault? Absolutely not, but he’ll end up taking the fall anyway.
3. Ozzie Guillen: Miami Marlins
The Miami Marlins went to great lengths to get the man they wanted to skipper their team last season,
hiring away manager Ozzie Guillen from the Chicago White Sox and giving up players in return.
Guillen didn’t start out in very smooth fashion, getting in trouble with the Cuban-American community in South Florida with comments that praised Cuban dictator Fidel Castro.
In addition, Guillen has largely failed to motivate his charges, with the Marlins five games under .500 as of July 20.
It could be a short stay in South Florida for Guillen.
4. Brad Mills: Houston Astros
When the Houston Astros changed ownership early in the 2012, new owner Jim Crane and general
manager Jeff Luhnow stuck by current manager Brad Mills, giving him an opportunity to show them
what he could do with a young core group of players in Houston.
Has Mills done enough to keep his job? The Astros sit in last place in the NL Central Division with a 34-59 record as of July 20. With a pending move to the AL West Division next season, Astros’ management may decide to go in a new direction.
5. Jim Tracy: Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies general manager Dan O’Dowd gave manager Jim Tracy an “indefinite” contract
extension prior to the 2012 season. Considering how the season has gone thus far, O’Dowd may put a
definite end to that deal.
The Rockies are 35-56 as of July 20, the second-worst record in all of baseball. Much more was expected of this team after a disappointing 73-89 finish last year.
This is a guest post submitted by Chris Ludwig. Chris played a wide variety of sports growing up and now passionately follows everything sports, especially Detroit sports. He works with Phoenix Bats, a company that creates world-class wood bats for amateur and professional ball players around the world. Chris enjoys writing on different sports topics and is very grateful to be able to contribute here.
The average life span of an MLB player’s career is somewhere between five and six years. For an MLB manager, it’s not quite as robust.
Managers are generally the one left holding the bag and the first ones out the door when a team fails to achieve its goals. Since 25 players can’t be fired, it’s the manager who feels the pain.
As the 2012 MLB season rolls along, who are the managers most likely to find pine on a park bench?
Let’s take a look.
1. Ned Yost: Kansas City Royals
Ned Yost is in his third season as skipper of the Kansas City Royals, having taken over from the fired Trey Hillman just 25 games into the 2010 season.
Yost has been charged with developing a bevy of youngsters on the Royals’ roster. However, with a
record of 39-53 and fighting for last place in the AL Central with the Minnesota Twins as of July 20, Yost may end up with a similar fate as his predecessor.
2. Eric Wedge: Seattle Mariners
Eric Wedge is in his second season with the Seattle Mariners, and has been saddled with a team that
continues to struggle scoring runs.
The Mariners were dead last in the American League in plating runs in 2011 and find themselves in
second-to-last in that department this year as well.
Has it been Wedge’s fault? Absolutely not, but he’ll end up taking the fall anyway.
3. Ozzie Guillen: Miami Marlins
The Miami Marlins went to great lengths to get the man they wanted to skipper their team last season,
hiring away manager Ozzie Guillen from the Chicago White Sox and giving up players in return.
Guillen didn’t start out in very smooth fashion, getting in trouble with the Cuban-American community in South Florida with comments that praised Cuban dictator Fidel Castro.
In addition, Guillen has largely failed to motivate his charges, with the Marlins five games under .500 as of July 20.
It could be a short stay in South Florida for Guillen.
4. Brad Mills: Houston Astros
When the Houston Astros changed ownership early in the 2012, new owner Jim Crane and general
manager Jeff Luhnow stuck by current manager Brad Mills, giving him an opportunity to show them
what he could do with a young core group of players in Houston.
Has Mills done enough to keep his job? The Astros sit in last place in the NL Central Division with a 34-59 record as of July 20. With a pending move to the AL West Division next season, Astros’ management may decide to go in a new direction.
5. Jim Tracy: Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies general manager Dan O’Dowd gave manager Jim Tracy an “indefinite” contract
extension prior to the 2012 season. Considering how the season has gone thus far, O’Dowd may put a
definite end to that deal.
The Rockies are 35-56 as of July 20, the second-worst record in all of baseball. Much more was expected of this team after a disappointing 73-89 finish last year.
Posted on Monday, July 23, 2012 by Unknown
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Linsanity is officially over. Wait, wasn't it over when Jeremy Lin tore his meniscus in March and never suited up again? Even at "85 percent"? Oh yeah.
As Knicks fans, we don't quite know if we're happy with the loss of Lin. While we're Raymond Felton advocates at JZSports, it would have been nice to have both of them and stick the drunken Jason Kidd at shooting guard. After all, Lin gave us the best month of basketball Knicks fans have had since the 1999 playoffs.
There is the luxury tax to consider, which would have brought Lin's total cost to $57 million. That translates into higher ticket prices. We get all of that. The only problem? Jim Dolan has never cared about overspending for players. Why the financial prudence now, when Mikhail Prokorov is trying to buy New York City?
We just wish Dolan's decision to not match the Rockets' offer actually had a logical reason. Of course, there is no reason to expect logic from Dolan, the guy who took advice from Isiah Thomas on the Carmelo Anthony trade.
So Jeremy, we thank you for Linsanity. Seven games of awesomeness, 18 games of wow he's pretty good, and a month of "damnit he's made of tissue paper". We hope the Rockets treat you better than Dolan.
Posted on Thursday, July 19, 2012 by Jake Silver
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
If you think you've been having a rough go at work recently, stop and consider the plight of the German Giant, Dirk Nowitzki. Just a year removed from hoisting the Larry O'Brien Trophy as the NBA champion, Dirk finds himself standing alone on top of a skeletal roster where the most recognizable name after his is Shawn Marion. Forgive the Western Conference for not shaking in their sneakers.
Mark Cuban shot his team right in the collective foot in his mad bid to nab the Deron Williams/Dwight Howard combo. Kind of a questionable strategy considering the 2010/2011 Mavs won with a balanced, one-superstar roster. Their reeking desperation was rewarded with a Big Apple-loving D-Will snub, and an utter lack of assets to trade for the Dwightmare.
Well, take a look at the image below. Even Jason Kidd deserted his buddy Nowitzki. So did Steve Nash. Now the Mavs are left chasing Ramon Sessions....everyone loves a cast off right? Cuban has effectively wasted one of the final years of Dirk's prime.
Somebody owes a 7-foot German a major apology.
Posted on Wednesday, July 11, 2012 by Jake Silver
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
We don't know where this came from, but it's brilliant. This is a fairly accurate metaphor for the job of an NBA General Manager.
Judging by the moves made recently by the Brooklyn Nets (recently being all year), we're going to have to go with Nets GM Billy King for "Most Likely to Have this in His Office"
Seriously, what drunken intern did he allow to make the Joe Johnson trade? Can you say "bye Dwight"?
Judging by the moves made recently by the Brooklyn Nets (recently being all year), we're going to have to go with Nets GM Billy King for "Most Likely to Have this in His Office"
Seriously, what drunken intern did he allow to make the Joe Johnson trade? Can you say "bye Dwight"?
Posted on Tuesday, July 03, 2012 by Jake Silver
Hakeem Nicks made us all proud during the Giants' 2012 playoff run. His catch and run against the Falcons, his hail mary grab against the Packers, and just about everything else he did to help New York get the Lombardi Trophy back where it belongs deserves recognition.
After steadily improving through each of his three seasons, Nicks looks poised to have the best year of his career. Want to see how that's even possible? Read on right here:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1245345-ny-giants-2012-what-to-expect-from-hakeem-nicks-this-season
And just because he's awesome, here's a look back at our favorite Hakeem Nicks catch from the 2011 regular season. Enjoy!
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1245345-ny-giants-2012-what-to-expect-from-hakeem-nicks-this-season
And just because he's awesome, here's a look back at our favorite Hakeem Nicks catch from the 2011 regular season. Enjoy!
Posted on Tuesday, July 03, 2012 by Jake Silver
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