MANAGING FACTS WITH INTUITION ALL PART OF JOB
World Series managers understand perils of the profession, writes Rob Longley.
Both A.J. Hinch of the Houston Astros and Dave Roberts of the Los Angeles Dodgers have significantly more pressing concerns this weekend than worrying about job security.
With a three-day World Series weekend run here at Minute Maid Park, expect the opposing managers to stay stressed and busy.
It’s the time of year, after all, where every move is scrutinized and second-guessed and there can be a tendency to over-manage.
Neither manager will be going anywhere soon, but it’s not lost on the pennant-winning skippers that a successful season hardly guarantees a future in the dugout.
It’s already been a rough fall for the profession with three managers who made the playoffs — Joe Girardi of the New York Yankees, John Farrell of the Boston Red Sox and Dusty Baker of the Washington Nationals — among the five (Brad Ausmus of the Detroit Tigers and Terry Collins of the New York Mets being the others) who have been fired so far.
“I’ve watched a lot of turnover in this work and obviously there’s a lot of appreciation for having one of these jobs, for keeping one of these jobs, for all the work that goes into it,” Hinch said before Game 3 Friday. “I don’t think anybody can relate to what a manager does other than one of the other managers or if you’ve done it before. It’s a shame to see so much turnover because of the work, the blood, sweat and tears poured into these jobs.”
The position, to say the least, has become complicated.
Almost by their nature, managers tend to be old school, believing in the eye test and instincts as much as stats, fancy or otherwise. But with every front office in the major leagues having a bustling analytics department, there’s much more to digest.
The key, Roberts believes, is to be open-minded enough to listen to the facts but wise enough to believe in your vision. When that happens, trust follows, allowing analytics to mix with instincts.
“I take it all in,” Roberts said. “I have the privilege of watching these guys every single day in practice, knowing what’s going on in their lives, how they’re feeling that particular day.
“The metrics are a very good baseline and the fact is that these are facts. But me having a relationship with the players, me taking that all in, helps me make decisions.”
In some ways, Hinch is cutting edge for today’s big-league manager. Part of the attraction to his hiring by the Astros — one of the more progressive front offices in the game — was his background.
Before he was a manager he was a pro scouting director and a farm director, assignments that helped him navigate the labyrinth of a major-league operation. He has a strong working relationship with his players and is bright and articulate.
“I’ve seen a lot in the game,” Hinch said. “I’ve had a lot of jobs. Really, the goal was always to have a full understanding of how the organization operates, to have a full appreciation for the work of scouts, the work of coaches and the journey that player takes from the draft all the way to the big leagues.
“More than anything, I have an appreciation of what it takes to get here.”
Who knows the motivation of the most recent firings? Girardi was let go after a decade with the club, despite guiding a young, inexperienced lineup all the way to Game 7 of the ALCS.
Did Yankees general manager Brian Cashman not think he was the man to lead Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez, et al into the future, even though he had them just a game away from the World Series?
In the hyper-sensitive Boston market, general manager Dave Dombrowski merely said “I’m not going to share the facts,” for letting Farrell loose.
What is apparent is the manager’s role has changed. Some would say diminished. And those willing to accept those changes may have a better shot at survival.
“It’s more collaborative,” Roberts said. “I think when I came up it was more, not necessarily a dictatorship, but I think the manager had complete autonomy. I think now there’s more communication with the front office.”
For some, it could pile on added pressure, though Roberts said it’s important not to manage scared, even with the stakes as high as they are in the World Series.
“You have to be yourself,” Roberts said. “You’ve got to be authentic, to gain the trust of the players who can see through the BS, when making decisions.”
If there’s a difference between managing for today and managing for your job, Hinch doesn’t want to think too much about it.
“As more guys get opportunities to be a manager to feel this leadership position, I urge them to enjoy it,” Hinch said. “It can be short-lived for a lot of reasons.”
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