Is Ron Washington the Worst Game Manager in Baseball?

[Ride the Pine]

So after yet another night of misusing pitchers leading to another loss against a bottom-feeding team, I think the question has now become merited. Obviously, Washington is a great teacher and coach, and has the ability to help convert raw talent into real potential. However, he constantly seems overwhelmed by in-game situations and makes decisions that make even the most casual fan scratch their heads. So, what do you think? Answer the question on the poll, and if you believe he isn't the worst, I'd like to know who your vote goes to. Have at it.

[Taydeezy]

While I don't know enough about baseball to say who is the worst I do know Tony La Russa is up there. In the first 50 games this season he has 45 different lineups. It didn't even matter who was hot. He'd rely on the weirdest stats (and ONLY the stats) such as "Colby Rasmus is batting .312 vs left handed pitchers in night games in the first quarter of the season on Wednesdays. And Rick Ankiel is only batting .299 in the same circumstance. Hmmm...even though Ankiel has had a hit in 13 straight games and Rasmus is sucking hind-tit I'm still going to start Rasmus based on my own dumbass logic."

And having 4 closers play per game is retarded. It just is.

[Ride the Pine]

Yeah, although I guess LaRussa is kinda the guy that got the closer role really going in baseball.

[Taydeezy]

While I question Ron Washington's decisions a lot, I wouldn't even come close to say he is overwhelmed at all.

The simple fact that this team is in the thick of the Division Title and playoff race, says a lot about him.

[Ride the Pine]

Well, it's like I've said, the guy is a great coach, but as a game manager, he is lacking. I mean if the team comes out on gameday and blows the opposition away, there isn't much managing done. It's in the close games where you see the flaws, and many of his decisions are questionable as you said. I really feel that if you have a different guy managing these games, the team might have a few more wins right now.

[Dacy]

If this were last year, I would have said Willie Randolph, for sure. At least the Mets are the worst-run franchise, with Omar Minaya seemingly destroying everything that the organization deems to be good. For me, Dusty Baker always ranks pretty low. Also, in watching Cecil Cooper manage Astros games, I've never been too impressed.

[Ride the Pine]

Yeah, the Mets are a joke in baseball right now. At least this year they spared us the late season drama by tanking early on.

[steveMcqueen]

While I do have questions about Washington's game management decisions, I feel that more of his players have problems following what he wants to set in motion majority of the time. There have been countless times this year when the Rangers have needed to advance runners into scoring position with no outs, and instead of bunting a runner over, Kinsler haphazourdlously grounds into a double play or skies a pop up to the third baseman. The Rangers are like apple juice, I always want to try to give them a chance but they always leave a bad taste in my mouth. As far as bad managing tactics go I give a big hands down to Joe Girardi, for the Yankees. He never shows any enthusiasm in the dugout. Everything the Yankees have accomplished this year has to be attributed to the players. Girardi was a great player, but far from a game manager he still is.

Beat the BOSOX's

[Ride the Pine]

Yeah, it looks like hopefully Kinsler is getting back on track. The top of the lineup desperately needs to be clicking all at one time for this run to the postseason to go as they would like. If Kinsler can not hit so many popouts and start getting some of his trademark singles and doubles, they'll be tough to beat with the pitching as good as it has been this season.