Managing as Best We Can

Item: Dusty Baker's job is in jeopardy. There is a broad assumption that the Cubs will offer him a one year extension with the expectation that he will feel insulted and turn it down. And that will make it his decision, and not Jim Hendry's fault. The Cubs have gone straight downhill from the moment Steve Bartman did what most of the rest of us would have done if we had been in his seat. But was it Dusty's decision to continue believing in the Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny and that Prior and Wood would get healthy and stay that way? Did Dusty sign Juan Pierre to a contract that suggested someone expected him to channel the spirit of the 1980's Rickey Henderson? Did Dusty run over Derrek Lee at first base a few games into the season? The Cubs have been the Cubs the last three years. But if Dusty's head has to roll in the accounting, his should only follow Hendry's out of Wrigleyville.
Item: Joe Girardi's job is in jeopardy. Larry Beinfest allegedly wanted to hire Braves' third base coach Fredi Gonzalez last winter when Trader Jack faded into the sunset, cigar ablaze. Owner Jeffrey Loria insisted Girardi was the man. Owner, amazingly, prevailed. Now said Owner wants Girardi out. All Girardi has done is take a Marlins squad that for the most part can still dine on the children's menu at many restaurants and suffered through a miserable April (kicking a few butts along the way) only to become a full-fledged, competitive Major League team for the bulk of the season. Obviously, this year it would have been far more impressive to have accomplished this in the American League, but you can't blame Joe G for the league alignments. Although Loria may try. It seems that His Ownership spent an afternoon in July making Girardi's job harder by riding umpire Larry Vanover harder than the Lone Ranger ever treated Silver. Girardi told him to lay off. And in 2006 America, guys who can afford MLB teams just aren't accustomed to underlings making eye contact, much less speaking before spoken to. A word to Jeffrey the Genius: go ahead, fire Girardi. There are only about 20 teams that would be delighted to take him off your hands. Just pray that his next job isn't in your division.
Item: Willie Randolph couldn't get a managing job for years. Nice going, all you smart guys who found excuses to pass on one of the sharpest men in the game. Seems appropriate in a Karma kind of way that he's gotten to spend the Summer of '06 making your lives miserable. And that retribution may go on for a few more years, as Mr. R has the benefit of an Owner-GM tandem that wasn't content to just talk a good game about building a team, they have done it. And keep doing it (Shawn Green) as September looms on the horizon.
Theory: The NY teams are only good because they have more money than anybody else. Even for us Red Sox fans, this notion is idiotic. The Yankees have been consistently good for a decade because they have spent a lot of money well. Steinbrenner puts the money back into the team because he wants to win. Some want the financial rules tightened. How about this proposal: if you receive tax money for your impoverished circumstances (as with Mr. WalMart Money in Kansas City), you must demonstrate how you spent every penny of said windfall on players, or the next year you must pay back DOUBLE to the Commissar's office. Georgie puts it on the field, and, for the most part (attn, Mr. Loria) leaves it to Cashman and Torre. Yeah, he blows off a little steam now and then, but Joe Torre is managing the NYA for the 11th season. GS has either gotten tired as the years have accumulated, or smarter, or both. All of us who envy the Yankees' success should take a lesson in how it's done well.
Stunning Revelation of the Week: Albert Pujols is good. It seems that Washington U. put The Great Pujols through a battery of examinations much the same as Columbia used to evaluate The Big Bam (Leigh Montville's second great read in a row, with Ted Williams, from '05). Albert measured up to Ruth in tests that measured hand-eye coordination, bat speed, effectiveness of visual recognition, and a lot of other interesting stuff. The Man, pt. 2, has the makings of a career like none since The Splinter and The Clipper and The Man, pt. 1, got cranked up from 1936 to 1941. And on top of everything else, he's as good a guy as Stanley Frank Musial. And that's saying something. If you don't know it, look up the story of Albert meeting his wife. It is great stuff. These guys come along one or two or three per generation. Enjoy!