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Baseball Primer Newsblog— The Best News Links from the Baseball Newsstand
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Some high quality sportswriting and editing going on here.
In a professional sport like baseball, where player talent and organizational characteristics are very comparable among the many teams, innovation can make the deciding difference. Tony LaRussa’s management of his bullpen, Charlie Phillips’ starting rotation decisions for Philadelphia, and Ray Washington’s lineup shifts for the Rangers demonstrate how agility can control the outcome.
Johnson’s version of this was to make savvy adjustments in the outfield and at first base, and to develop new strategies in the set-up and closer positions for the Nationals. La Russa, Washington, Leland, Phillips—they’re all accomplished leaders and managers. Yet even with his young team, Davey Johnson has earned the right to join this elite club. His players, like McGraw’s, played with the look of eagles.
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1. Walt Davis Posted: October 19, 2011 at 03:46 AM (#3967814)And I assume it's a mis-spelling of Leyland.
The eagle-looking Nats went 40-43 under Davey although they did go 17-10 in Sept, including a 4-game sweep of Philly and 2 of 3 from the Braves (sorry Braves fans).
Incidentally, it's worth pointing out that this is an op-ed, and not something written by any of the Post's regular sportswriting staff.
An All-Star second baseman and well-respected manager, Davey Johnson has done outstanding work this season to mold the Nationals into a true team, whose dramatic third-place finish bodes well for their future as a playoff competitor in the National League.
How much information can we pack into one sentence? I'm also happy to hear that Davey Johnson has finally molded the Nats into a true team. I was getting kind of tired of that fake team last year (though it certainly fits well with the artificial ballpark, as well as all those signs promising future development in the vacant lots surrounding the ballpark).
Veteran sportswriter Dave Shearon examined this phenomenon with a 1986 statistical analysis of National League teams, and found that teams with optimistic explanatory styles performed better under pressure (defined as hitting with runners in scoring position during the last three innings).
Clutch hitting = positive attitudes. We all know, of course, that McGraw was such an optimist!
Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington’s straight shooting approach to his players created unusual incentives that drove their commitment to winning baseball games.
He got the name right here -- give him credit for that.
I'm on the other side of the planet right now. Please tell me this didn't make the print edition of the Post.
It was exceptionally dramatic! We were all on pins and needles here!
And look at the Nationals' inaugural season in our Nation's Crapital with Brooks Robinson at the helm! In sole possession of first place for 63 days! A 10-game winning streak! Their only .500 finish. Now that's leadership, baby!
He remains Phillips in the last paragraph.
I know this is just a fluff opinion piece, but the Washington Post is really falling to pieces.
Is this some more of that knee-slappin' Jack Keefe comedy I've heard so much about?
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