Response to Thiel column
Art Thiel's column in the Seattle-PI is interesting for M's fans, especially those who are smart enough to use a computer- link
"Melvin's biggest public shortcoming is the 30-second audio and video bites after games in which he comes off as passive and uninspired. How a laconic public demeanor failed to prevent Walter Alston and Tom Kelly from winning championships has never been explained, but a whole lot of Mariners fans equipped with an Internet service provider seem to think it's the be-all and end-all of managing."
Alright, so he takes a cheap shot at those who have documented dozens of reasons why they have an issue with Melvin's managerial skills. Perhaps he should acquire an ISP for himself so he can actually find out what was said. I don't know, maybe he doesn't know how to operate a computer...
Of course the bigger issue here is that no one has any idea how successful this team would have been with any manager. We simply have no way of knowing if the M's would have made the playoffs last year with an experienced manager, or if someone like Lou would have prevented Guillen from being traded. Or made the case for keeping Cameron. Or...
In this article, whereby Thiel seems to be a card-carrying member of the BoMel fan club, he is trying to document all the things that have gone wrong this season. For example, he mentions Garcia, Olerud, Spiezio etc...
Sure, these aren't things you automatically blame on the manager. However, it is amazing all the things Thiel didn't say, while indirectly coming out in support for Melvin:
- Melvin endorsed the Guillen trade
- Melvin took no chances last year as the M's faded during the playoff stretch
- Melvin can't manage a bullpen
- Melvin makes idiotic statements about using young players in September
- Melvin wastes out during a game
- Melvin recommends bringing in players and then never uses them
- and so on...
Melvin was hired to be a company yes-man, where he has excelled. If Bavasi asked Melvin to start Willie in RF for the rest of the year, he'd do it. By the Mariner's FO standards, Melvin has been an unqualified success.
The problem for Howard Lincoln and Bill Bavasi is simple. The team is not winning, and they aren't about to fire themselves. Therefore, Melvin is fired as a scapegoat.
If the M's FO had real guts, and really believed in themselves, they'd re-sign Melvin to a 5-year contract. He has done everything they have asked him to do, and that of course is the real problem.
Everyone capable of reading this understands that unless our ownership group makes a fundamental change in running this club, it doesn't matter who is the manager.
Finally, if Thiel really wants to mention Melvin's post-game interviews, how can he not mention the embarrassing use of nicknames for every player? OMG, don't even get me started on that!!.... (grin)
Art Thiel's column in the Seattle-PI is interesting for M's fans, especially those who are smart enough to use a computer- link
"Melvin's biggest public shortcoming is the 30-second audio and video bites after games in which he comes off as passive and uninspired. How a laconic public demeanor failed to prevent Walter Alston and Tom Kelly from winning championships has never been explained, but a whole lot of Mariners fans equipped with an Internet service provider seem to think it's the be-all and end-all of managing."
Alright, so he takes a cheap shot at those who have documented dozens of reasons why they have an issue with Melvin's managerial skills. Perhaps he should acquire an ISP for himself so he can actually find out what was said. I don't know, maybe he doesn't know how to operate a computer...
Of course the bigger issue here is that no one has any idea how successful this team would have been with any manager. We simply have no way of knowing if the M's would have made the playoffs last year with an experienced manager, or if someone like Lou would have prevented Guillen from being traded. Or made the case for keeping Cameron. Or...
In this article, whereby Thiel seems to be a card-carrying member of the BoMel fan club, he is trying to document all the things that have gone wrong this season. For example, he mentions Garcia, Olerud, Spiezio etc...
Sure, these aren't things you automatically blame on the manager. However, it is amazing all the things Thiel didn't say, while indirectly coming out in support for Melvin:
- Melvin endorsed the Guillen trade
- Melvin took no chances last year as the M's faded during the playoff stretch
- Melvin can't manage a bullpen
- Melvin makes idiotic statements about using young players in September
- Melvin wastes out during a game
- Melvin recommends bringing in players and then never uses them
- and so on...
Melvin was hired to be a company yes-man, where he has excelled. If Bavasi asked Melvin to start Willie in RF for the rest of the year, he'd do it. By the Mariner's FO standards, Melvin has been an unqualified success.
The problem for Howard Lincoln and Bill Bavasi is simple. The team is not winning, and they aren't about to fire themselves. Therefore, Melvin is fired as a scapegoat.
If the M's FO had real guts, and really believed in themselves, they'd re-sign Melvin to a 5-year contract. He has done everything they have asked him to do, and that of course is the real problem.
Everyone capable of reading this understands that unless our ownership group makes a fundamental change in running this club, it doesn't matter who is the manager.
Finally, if Thiel really wants to mention Melvin's post-game interviews, how can he not mention the embarrassing use of nicknames for every player? OMG, don't even get me started on that!!.... (grin)
posted by Tom at
1:36 PM
