Category Archives: Jim Tracy

Dodgers of the Decade: Manager

Posted on by 9 Replies

After over 500 votes, I’m finally putting down the General Manager competition, but I don’t even feel like I can call anyone a winner… because Dan Evans finished with 35% (176 votes), just barely beating out Ned Colletti at 34% (174 votes). Paul DePodesta wasn’t far off, at 28%.

I have to say that I’m a little surprised, because Dan Evans wasn’t a big name and didn’t have any playoff success, while Colletti’s teams have made it in three of the last four years. Not that I disagree; I’d have voted for Evans too. With the voting that close, I’m going to have to include both of them on our team:

Dodgers of the Decade team:
C: Russell Martin (68%)
1B: James Loney (62%)
2B: Jeff Kent (88%)
3B: Adrian Beltre (80%)
SS: Rafael Furcal (87%)
LF: Gary Sheffield (62%)
CF: Matt Kemp (94%)
RF: Shawn Green (79%)
LH starter: Clayton Kershaw (56%)
RH starter: Kevin Brown (42%)
LH reliever: Hong-Chih Kuo (57%)
RH reliever: Paul Quantrill (33%)
Closer: Eric Gagne (71%)
General Manager: Dan Evans (35%)/Ned Colletti (34%)

We are, mercifully, nearly to the end of our team, and I thank everyone who put in a vote. There’s just one more position to fill. Now that we have a full team and a GM, who’s going to run this mess on the field?

I was going to do a list of good things and bad things like for GMs, but I really don’t remember much about Davey Johnson’s one season at the helm… and there’s only so much room to list bad things about Jim Tracy and Grady Little. I expect that Joe Torre will roll here, but don’t forget that he did bat Matt Kemp 8th for much of last year while consistently hitting Juan Pierre leadoff when Furcal was hurt and helping to run Russell Martin into the ground with his “days off at third base” idea.

Manager

Davey Johnson (2000)
Record: 86-76 (.531)
Playoffs: none

Jim Tracy (2001-05)
Record: 427-383 (.527)
Playoffs: 2004 NLDS

Grady Little (2006-07)
Record: 170-154 (.525)
Playoffs: 2006 NLDS

Joe Torre (2008-09)
Record: 179-145 (.552)
Playoffs: 2008 NLCS, 2009 NLCS

Who do you want filling out the lineup card?

[polldaddy poll=2478681]

Anyone Miss Jim Tracy?

Posted on by 6 Replies

I know what “the book” says.

“The book” says that you don’t put the go-ahead run on when first base is open. I get that.

But I’m guessing “the book” doesn’t specifically make reference to Manny “Even though I’ve been in a horrible slump, I’m still MANNY RAMIREZ!” Ramirez and James “I have about three hits this month and I’m on my way to an 0-5 today” Loney.

If you didn’t see the situation, the Dodgers were down by 1 with 2 outs and Rafael Furcal on third base and old friend Joe Beimel on the mound, with Manny walking to the plate. Yes, walking Manny intentionally puts the go-ahead run on first base. But come on, what really scares you more: Manny with one man on, or Loney with two men on?

So instead of allowing Beimel to walk Manny to face Loney – who, let’s face it, is probably this team’s worst hitter right now – Tracy brings in 27-year-old rookie Matt Daley, who’d pitched 1.2 innings last night, to face Manny. Yes, Manny’s in a slump, but he’s still approximately 2000 times more dangerous than James Loney.

Of course, Manny singles in Furcal and we’re currently tied in the bottom of the 9th.

Say what you will about Joe Torre (and I have), and appreciate the run the Rockies have been on, but I do not miss Jim Tracy.