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Not Learning from Grady Little-Ball

By bsd987, Section MLB
Posted on Sun Sep 18 2005 at 7:42 PM EST
More on: (all tags)

Some people know how to do their jobs.

In fact, I'll go out on a limb and say that a good majority of Americans (and Canadians) have enough knowledge to survive the average day at work without causing a Homer Simpsonesque explosion.

Today, Dontrelle Willis, the leading winsmaster in the Major League, entered the ninth inning with a very comfortable 2-0 lead. Todd Jones had not pitched in three days and had surrendered one run in his last 23 appearances. Rollins got a lead-off single.

And when the time had come for Jack McKeon, who has done an able job managing this bullpen for the last month, to call the bullpen, he stayed with his ace and regressed to his mistakes of the the first four months of the year.

Seven singles, a couple of walks, and four errors later it was 10-2 Philadelphia and the Marlins were two games out in the Wild Card race.

Thank you Grady Little. I mean Jack McKeon.

"But the Marlins bullpen is bad. You can't blame him for this."

If you thought or said this, shut up. Sure, the bullpen is bad, but it does not take a bonehead to realize that Todd Jones is one of the three best closers in baseball this year and especially these last two months. His ERA was under 2.00 and he had not blown a save since early July.

But Jack McKeon, who blew Florida's chance to beat St. Louis last month, Pittsburgh earlier this year, I can go on and on, with stupid bullpen movements, has cost the Florida Marlins another game. Antonio Alfonseca should be used when the team is down 13-2, not 4-2, or up 2-1. Actually, Alfonseca should not be used ever. Guillermo Mota should not be used for 2 innings ever.

McKeon somehow does not know how his team is capable of performing. He is lost in the dugout, searching for players to use off the bench as pinch hitters, keeping in the terrible Alex Gonzalez at SS for his sub-mediocre defensive ability (some may say satisfactory, but it is not), and bringing in the wrong pitchers at the wrong time.

And keeping in the tired ace at the wrong time.

And today's mistake is the most critical of all.

With only 13 games left in the 2005 season, the Marlins are 2 behind the Phillies and with the Astros' win 2.5 behind the Astros. And none of the teams they are chasing are left on the schedule, with the exclusion of the finale of the three game set against the Phillies.

Jack, four days ago the Marlins were up a game and rolling. Now, experts are on the verge of drawing a thick line through the team that was ranked #6 in the cbssportsline preseason power rankings and #1 in the sportscolumn.com power rankings a week into the season.

And rightfully so.

You might have had the happy-go-lucky kids playing mature baseball in 2003, but now you have a group of underachieving adults playing rookie ball.

Sure, there might not be that same team chemistry, but that does not excuse a 78-71 record with a team that could easily be right along side the Braves at 85-64.

Underachieving is a sign of poor coaching. And losing games due to having the wrong personnel in at the wrong time is a sign of poor coaching. The only thing we are missing is a vote of confidence.

So here is my vote of confidence to you Jack McKeon. I have confidence that you will find a way to keep this team out of the playoffs.

Now all we need is an axe.

So do us a favor: step aside.

Not after the season ends with the Marlins on the outside looking in for the tenth time in twelve seasons. Now.

Let someone who may know what he is doing lead this team for the next 13 games. Maybe, just maybe, the team can respond like it responded to you two magic summers ago.

This is a world of "What have you done for me lately?" And the only answer you can give me is "Screwed up."

And with millions of dollars on the line and the prestige of a world championship, second chances are hard to come by. Especially when this is your fifth.

So do the Florida Marlins and their fans a favor and step aside.

I have confidence that you'll do the right thing.

Don't be another Grady Little; be a Barry Switzer.

Vote of confidence. Check.