Razor Shines Doesn't Care How Good Your Throwing Arm Is

by James Kannengieser on Jul 24, 2009 11:04 PM EDT

I just watched Jeff Francoeur get thrown out at the plate by Hunter Pence in the 7th inning after being waved home by Razor Shines. Francoeur was out by, conservatively, 10 feet. This proves that Razor does no preparation before games in order to learn about the opposing team's outfielders. If he did, he may have found out the following about Pence:

John Walsh at The Hardball Times determined that Pence had the best outfield throwing arm of any right fielder in baseball in 2008.
UZR agreed, putting his arm at +8.6 runs, again the best in baseball. For overkill, +/- said +12 for his arm. In 2009, he is having another great year according to the defense metrics.
Don't like stats? In the few Astros games I've seen over the last few years, I have witnessed the Pence cannon in action multiple times. Dozens of "anonymous scouts" would probably agree.

In this specific case, Pence was quite shallow in right field when he fielded Daniel Murphy's single. If there is one right fielder in the National League with an arm that should not be tested it is Pence. Razor Shines doesn't care. Razor Shines is intense, vocal, and a big proponent of the 80-pitch drill. Razor Shines has no use for statistics or, apparently, scouting reports. Razor Shines is just here to bring the ruckus and be aggressive for the sake of being aggressive.

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I just don't see Manuel surviving the season here

It’s gotten to a point where I think fans want blood. I feel the same way about Minaya (Doesn’t look good when the catcher you just let go is the battery mate for a perfect game) and I have begun to reconsider whether a lot of this mess is really entirely his fault (Bernarzard looks to be the one responsible for the shoddy state of our system) but shouldn’t really get a pass for sitting on his hands when this team went down.

Wilpon I think is big on PR more than anything else. If it makes him start to look bad then that’s when he seems to act. Well, this is starting to shine on Wilpon. He’s like the emperror who wears no clothes.

Maybe he could start by cleaning this mess out and hiring people who act like they really care about being here. Maybe he should start with Gary Carter.

by Chickendirt on Jul 24, 2009 11:15 PM EDT reply actions

No thank you on Carter

Jerry Part 2

by James Kannengieser on Jul 24, 2009 11:17 PM EDT up reply actions

There are a lot of managers in the game that are like that

I recall reading something about Davey Johnson (I think it was him) about how there were certain stats that he looked at and many that he ignored. A lot of his decisions were based on his gut.

I recall reading Tom Seavers book and he wasn’t a big stat guy either. He didn’t look so much at a guys average and a little more what his tendencies were. What he really seemed to focus on, and this is really weird, is how long certain guys went WITHOUT a hit.

He had a weird way of adjusting how we would pitch based on certain things.

As fans I think we get caught up in stats TOOOOOO much. As a manager there has to be a balance between knowing where you players perform well and also getting guys to perform well in situations they normally wouldn’t.

by Chickendirt on Jul 24, 2009 11:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Davey Johnson was well ahead of his time in that regard.

Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but Jerry abuses the privilege.

by AnthonyR on Jul 24, 2009 11:31 PM EDT up reply actions

I think Seaver's book was called "The Perfect Game"

Or something like that.

I read it over ten years ago. The funny thing about that book, is if Seaver ever relayed his thought processes on the mound to the press, I think a lot of folks would label him an idiot.

by Chickendirt on Jul 24, 2009 11:46 PM EDT up reply actions

I could not disagree with you more

First, saying that Seaver looked at tendencies and not stats is completely missing what “stats” are. Stats can be numerical proof of tendencies such as what percentage a batter swings and misses a change up on a 3-2 count. Seaver basically did the latter through use of his memory and probably scouting reports. If Seaver could look this up in his day, I’m 100% positive he would. Also, I don’t think anyone would label him an idiot when reading about his thought processes.

You decide days before you pitch who you’re not going to let beat you and you plan. Before you figure out how to win, you better eliminate the way you can lose. I did that when I won my 300th (at Yankee Stadium, August 4, 1985). I identified (Don) Mattingly and (Dave) Winfield as the guys who could beat me. Winfield gets up in the eighth. I’ve got a 4-1 lead, but he’s got two on and two out. I didn’t start planning then. I had done my planning days earlier. I’d get him to 3-2 and throw him a changeup.

He was an aggressive hitter. I thought I knew what he wanted to do in that instance. I thought the plan had merit. Now I’m ready with my plan and Carlton Fisk calls for a curve, arguably my worst pitch. As I’m starting my delivery, I’m saying, “What a perfect pitch to call. Genius.” I get a strike. So I’m halfway on one side of what I want—3-2. I pounded him inside over and over, and I got to 3-2. If he swings at the inside stuff I’m giving him, it’s going foul. If he doesn’t, I’m getting to 3-2. I’m there. And there are 55,000 people in the seats wondering. There’s another 30 in each dugout wondering. And the announcers and everyone are curious. Changeup. Swing and a miss. Plan works. Be prepared.

Link to a pretty good interview by one Marty Noble.

by Sokojoe on Jul 25, 2009 2:50 AM EDT up reply actions

I wish I could have seen him pitch live.

"We must win and we must know how to win rather than win because we have statistical people."

by Evan_S on Jul 25, 2009 3:53 AM EDT up reply actions

There are more nerve endings in your gut than in your brain

"We must win and we must know how to win rather than win because we have statistical people."

by Evan_S on Jul 24, 2009 11:40 PM EDT up reply actions

can't argue with that

by HotChipWillBreakYourLegs on Jul 24, 2009 11:51 PM EDT up reply actions

at least he mentioned K/BB ratio

I’m pretty sure Jerry doesn’t know what that is.

"Put it in the books. The Mets are the 2006 National League Eastern Divison champions"--Howie Rose

by firejerrynow on Jul 25, 2009 7:48 AM EDT up reply actions

People I would like to see manage the Mets

1.) Bobby Valentine
2.) Manny Acta
3.) Mike Scioscia (never happening)
4.) Tony Bernazard (just for the remainder of the season for comedic value)

1042.) Jerry Manuel
1043.) Willie Randolph
1044.) Dusty Baker

9012.) Gary Carter

Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but Jerry abuses the privilege.

by AnthonyR on Jul 24, 2009 11:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Scoscia

Isn’t he similar to Jerry and Willie with regards to style?

by JoshNY on Jul 25, 2009 9:10 AM EDT up reply actions

He's one of Jerry's guys from his white sox days, so long as Jerry's here so is Razor

maybe he could switch to 1B as he would hurt us as much there.

by twon8 on Jul 24, 2009 11:34 PM EDT reply actions

If I were weaving a quilt to symbolize this season

It’d show a shirtless Bernazard being waved home by Razor Shines.

by All Shook Down on Jul 24, 2009 11:40 PM EDT reply actions 6 recs

Nothing would symbolize it better!

"We must win and we must know how to win rather than win because we have statistical people."

by Evan_S on Jul 24, 2009 11:42 PM EDT up reply actions

I would purchase that quilt

by KeithsMoustache on Jul 25, 2009 12:09 AM EDT up reply actions

haha +1

by cuseindahuse on Jul 25, 2009 1:32 AM EDT up reply actions

+1

but how do you weave a quilt?

by anonymous on Jul 25, 2009 2:33 AM EDT up reply actions

and reyes would be

collapsed on the dirt right before third injured

by DoctorK16 on Jul 25, 2009 8:07 AM EDT up reply actions

when I want to run my team out of a game

there is no one, and I mean no one I’d rather call upon then Anthony Razor Shines.
Statistics that, nerds.

I.M. Forme
"When you get yourself into trouble is when you feel you have to do something, and then you get yourself in trouble." --Omar Minaya

by itsmetsforme on Jul 25, 2009 1:19 AM EDT reply actions

Bravo

Expressed my rage succinctly. Shines is a complete and utter disgrace of a base coach.

by cuseindahuse on Jul 25, 2009 1:31 AM EDT reply actions

But he has an awesome name

"We must win and we must know how to win rather than win because we have statistical people."

by Evan_S on Jul 25, 2009 2:07 AM EDT up reply actions

Hmm

I think that it comes down to two numbers:

1. The odds that Pence nails Frenchy at the plate.
2. The odds that Santos gets a hit.

With two outs and a weak bottom of the lineup coming up, I think you you should be more aggressive on the basepaths. If Frenchy stops at third and Santos pops out, then you have accomplished very little, other than to move slightly closer to the top of the order. A successful plate appearance for Santos would consist of getting on base (because the bases were loaded), and PECOTA, going forward for the rest of the year, has him at a .280 OBP. This meshes well with what we have seen of him.

So, here’s the question, in my mind: do we think that Pence had a 72%+ chance of making that throw? I don’t know the answer to that question.

I don’t necessarily think that Shines thought this way, but I would be shocked if he didn’t at least consider the fact that the Mets don’t have any good hitters at the bottom of the order.

by sjohnson125 on Jul 25, 2009 10:20 AM EDT reply actions

The Tanking of '09 began with Razor in spring training

I was worried early in Spring Training when that Knucklehead who “writes” Metsblog started gushing about Razor Shines and all the dopey nonsense he was yelling at the players during batting practice.

You know you’re in trouble when your third base coach sounds like he just came over from a T ball league.

by coyote522000 on Jul 25, 2009 11:24 AM EDT reply actions