Sorry, I Just Can't Let Feliciano vs. Diaz Go

by James Kannengieser on May 12, 2009 2:40 AM EDT Comment 35 comments

I'd like to add some numbers to Sam's loud yet totally justified rant. The gods reached down and blessed Pedro Feliciano with the gift of turning left-handed batters' plate appearances into outs. The same cannot be said of Pedro's performance against right-handed hitters. Righties, against Feliciano:

BA	OBP	SLG
.276	.365	.423

This season and last, righties have an OPS over 1.000 against Feliciano. Right-handed hitting Matt Diaz came up to bat against him in the 7th inning of last night's game with the bases loaded. Brian Stokes, J.J. Putz, and Francisco Rodriguez, three very good right-handed relief pitchers, remained in the bullpen unused. Keep in mind Diaz is an overall average major league hitter, who performs like this against left-handed pitching:

BA	OBP	SLG
.323	.360	.497

So Feliciano isn't great vs. righties and Diaz mashes lefties. The Mets bullpen had three above average or fantastic righties available. And Jerry Manuel stuck with Feliciano. Something is wrong here.

It doesn't take a theoretical physicist to understand what a mistake this was. At this point, I'd rather have physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer serve as Mets manager, and he's been dead for forty-two years.

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Mets Front Office called

They request a puppet show demonstration since numbers are not illustrative unlike grit.

by cuseindahuse on May 12, 2009 2:50 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

I laughed way too hard at this.

by SQUAD on May 12, 2009 4:50 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree, Jerry Manuel has proven to not be effective managing this team. He needs to go before he costs us any more games.

by twon8 on May 12, 2009 3:34 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Don't know if anyone listens to Bill Simmons.

But he said something on a recent podcast with Matt Raibbi that I thought was pretty interesting. Why do sports franchises waste millions of dollars on GMs and coaches? I could see if you’re spending your money on a guy like Theo Epstein, who graduated from Yale and University of San Diego Law, but why are you spending millions on a guy like Jerry Manuel? Just because he was a crappy baseball player?

They would save themselves a ton of money (and probably get better results) if they hired an intelligent person with common sense. I know I would do it for a whole lot less than they’re paying Jerry Manuel. In fact, I’m pretty sure they could assemble a pretty freaking brilliant baseball department for less than they’re paying Omar and Jerry combined if they just hired a few people who post on this blog. (Not to sell any of you short, I am just assuming that most of you, like me, wouldn’t have to be paid millions and millions of dollars to manage a major league team. I know a lot of you whip up these fan posts on your own time for free.)

by SQUAD on May 12, 2009 4:57 AM EDT reply actions 3 recs

"Why do sports franchises waste millions of dollars on GMs and coaches? "

Why do car companies and financial institutions waste billions of dollars on CEO’s and board members who run them into the ground?

The best answer is probably the Peter Principle. Minaya was a great scout and by all accounts a fantastic assistant General Manager. He knows good baseball players when he sees them. The problem is he doesn’t know how to assemble a good baseball team.

As for managers, I assume it has something to do with the feeling that professional baseball players are going to have more respect for a guy who used to play the game. I can certainly understand that. I don’t know how seriously I’d expect David Wright to take any suggestions I might have for him about his swing or his positioning in the field, even if I am way better at filling out a lineup card or bringing in the right relievers at the right time than any former ballplayers.

by cjmulrain on May 12, 2009 5:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly!

Why the hell would I pay Jerry Manuel seven figures to fuck up this team?

"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw

by squid92 on May 12, 2009 10:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

BTB had a post about this during the off-season

I’ll see if I can dig it up later. Basically they looked at how managers affected their teams win totals, from what I can imagine only one/two managers didn’t have a negative affect, albeit they were pretty small affects,

by Gina on May 12, 2009 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Managers all basically manage the same

it’s the Feliciano/Diazes that account for the difference.

King of the bling come to lay down the evidence//Not George Bush, L-Millz be da president

by Sam Page on May 12, 2009 1:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

how can all but 2 managers have a negative effect

that doesn’t seem to make sense to me. What standard are they being compared to? I would think the best way to evaluate managers would be to figure out what a “replacement level manager is” and then figure out who’s the WARMest

by cjmulrain on May 12, 2009 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think Feliciano should face more righties in general

But not in these high leverage situations, and not against lefty-killers who can’t hit righties. And not until he returns to his career norms against right-handers.

I will not allow the denigration of the life essence

by GenJackRipper on May 12, 2009 7:05 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think you are totally correct here Ripper

by Endys Game on May 12, 2009 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Great post

by ams258 on May 12, 2009 9:52 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

what was Bobby Cox thinking?

Did he think leaving lil’ Pedro in was some kind of trap or what?

by hotspur on May 12, 2009 9:55 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Definitely some headscratchers

from Jerry this year. Kind of reminds me of some other manager’s bullpen philosophy (or lack there of)

If he grows a Dolomite porn-stache and starts referring to the players as “My guys” we’re done for.

by Pedrito on May 12, 2009 12:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That's the thing

I have a hard time imagining Willie even doing this. Its just so obviously and blatantly stupid. Bobby Cox must have been hysterical in the visitors dugout when he saw Feliciano throw a pitch to Diaz.

"All energy flows according to the whims of the great magnet

What a fool I was to defy him"

-HST

by Mark Himmelstein on May 12, 2009 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Metties lack leadership and heart

Jerry Manuel is just the tip of the iceberg. Leaving Feliciano in in that situation was Bonehead. They spent a lot of money putting together that bullpen and not to use it to get the right matchups is ridiculous. The Mets need new ownership and a revamped front office. They have no clue how to evaluate talent.

by montlebon on May 12, 2009 12:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

re: new ownership

should we start up the bake sales?

by Gina on May 12, 2009 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I should point out

that while you’re absolutely right about the Feliciano matchup, I don’t think it has anything to do with “heart”.

by JoshNY on May 12, 2009 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

"They have no clue how to evaluate talent"

See, I don’t agree with that. I think Omar is good at evaluating talent. What he’s not good at is figuring out how to properly fill out a ball club, especially in a large market. None of his major free agent signings have busted immediately (not counting Ollie), he’s made some good trades for top of the line talent (Delgado, Santana), and he’s as good as anyone at finding players off the scrap heap (Endy, Valentin, Easley, Tatis, etc). He’s built possibly the best core in baseball (I don’t know how much credit he deserves for Wright and Reyes, but technically he was assistant GM when they signed/drafted them). His problem, and it’s a major one, is that he just doesn’t seem capable of seeing the big picture and planning one step ahead. He always seems to be plugging last year’s hole without anticipating next years hole. That’s why we’re an 88-92 win team instead of a 95-100 win team.

by cjmulrain on May 12, 2009 2:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Meh I'm not so sure

he’s also traded guys like Bell/Lindstrom/Keppinger for basically nothing. I’m not sure if that’s a problem with evaluating talent or properly understanding the value of that talent. He also seems to have some sort of love with “toolsy” guys and underrates the “masher” types like Burrel/Dunn.

by Gina on May 12, 2009 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Personally

I think it’s the latter. I think he’s a great scout but a lousy GM. I would absolutely love it if we could bring in a sabermetric guy to run the team, but keep Omar around as the #2 guy. I know he wouldn’t go for it, but I think that’s the ideal scenario. Like I said yesterday, it’s the Peter Principle in effect – Omar’s a great #2, he’s just not cut out to be the #1.

And I think you’re right about the “toolsy” thing, but I think a part of that is just his background as a scout. Scouts tend to love the toolsy guys while not liking the mashers so much. It’s the only explanation for why Corey Patterson still has a job

by cjmulrain on May 12, 2009 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed, he's a solid talent evaluator

But he’s an awful problem solver. He’s found some underrated talent, and he’s acquired a very high level of talent for the most glaring needs, but he’s done little to convince me he can anticipate issues and balance a roster.

Ollie’s a great example. He was a terrific find, as a talented buy-low guy. But it seems like Omar just fell in love with him, and decided he was going to stick with him despite the increasing price tag and the fact he just wasn’t nearly the best choice for building a quality roster. Even if he went with a lesser arm like Randy Wolf or (god forbid) John Garland, at least that way you can either collect two draft picks or get Ollie at a much cheaper price tag once it became absolutely 100% crystal clear that no one else was interested.

Jose Valentin’s a great example of Omar getting lucky. Sure, he did a great job finding talent and ability other organizations just didn’t see in Valentin, but he wasn’t brought in to be a starting infielder, I bet that was the furthest thought from anyone’s mind. Valentin hadn’t even ever played second base consistently. The “plan” for second base had more to do with Kaz Matusi and Anderson Hernandez, aka Fail and Failer.

"All energy flows according to the whims of the great magnet

What a fool I was to defy him"

-HST

by Mark Himmelstein on May 12, 2009 4:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fail and Failer

That’s gold

by James Kannengieser on May 12, 2009 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yup

this is pretty much exactly how I feel.

by cjmulrain on May 12, 2009 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Grr, heart.

*stabs self in futility.

"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw

by squid92 on May 12, 2009 3:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

and you have no clue about what heart has to do with bullpen matchups

I deem this the scottyesque post of the day.

by Endys Game on May 12, 2009 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

one more thing montelbon

from hell’s heart I stab at thee!!

by Endys Game on May 12, 2009 3:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Manuel's explanation via WFAN

He thought if he brought Stokes in, they’d pinch hit someone against Stokes. SO?!?!? STOKES CAN GET OUT LEFTIES, YOU FUCKING IDIOT!

"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw

by squid92 on May 12, 2009 5:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Not to mention

the likely pinch hitter would have been Garret Anderson, who currently sucks at hitting.

by James Kannengieser on May 12, 2009 6:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Despite being a "professional."

by JohnPeterson on May 13, 2009 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Welcome to baseball Jerry Manuel.

Just because the other manager would counter your good move doesn’t make it any less of a good move.

King of the bling come to lay down the evidence//Not George Bush, L-Millz be da president

by Sam Page on May 12, 2009 6:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

...

not to mention putz and k-rod were available.

by Gina on May 12, 2009 7:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly

That’s the real shame of it. Jerry completely failed to anticipate the situation. If you’re so worried about Anderson, why even warm Stokes up? Its not like you can’t see that situation developing from the second you pulled Santana. So make the call, you can either leave Parnell in to face McCann, use Feliciano against McCann and if necessary trust Stokes against Diaz or Anderson, or you get Putz up instead of Stokes and put your best non-closer into the biggest situation in the game. The one thing you absolutely, under no circumstances should allow to happen, is to have Feliciano face off against Diaz.

"All energy flows according to the whims of the great magnet

What a fool I was to defy him"

-HST

by Mark Himmelstein on May 13, 2009 2:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

but jerry was right

I know because Bill Maddon said so on Daily News Live. and everybody else nodded. Mr. Maddon said with great authority that he would not want a Stokes/Garrett Anderson matchup. This was declared to be great wisdom by his co-hosts who nodded sagely at the words of the great master. No further reasoning or analysis was needed.

by Endys Game on May 13, 2009 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs