Offseason baseball Thread

In his chat the other day, Keith Law mentioned that first-time MLB managers are worse on average than guys who at least managed a minor league squad. It's Law, so I'm assuming there is some sort of study that makes him say that, but it's Saturday and I'm too lazy to Google. I thought Girardi was a decent tactician, and he did have some managing experience - although I don't think he did when he took the Marlins job - so maybe they are just pivoting to what he wasn't.

 

Considering the pivotal role judge and hicks will be playing, he was the best available Aaron.

 

Decision expected in 2-3 days.

Meanwhile, Ohtani making his list and checking it twice. Yankees, A's among those on the naughty list.

 

Sox out of both Ohtani and Stanton chases. Full speed ahead on Abreu, I guess.

 

Supposedly, the asking price is ridiculously high on Abreu.

 

Yes, it is. But they have to find a slugger somewhere.

 

Cashman said before the search began that he wanted a manager who had little to no experience. I think he basically wants a manager he can mold to fit in with what the Yankees want to do, rather than someone set in their ways.

I think Boone is a good choice. He would have been my second behind Beltran, but a solid guy nonetheless. I've said before I thought his analysis in the ESPN booth was pretty strong. He knows the game well, he's had a chance to pick the brains of players, managers and GMs across the league for the past eight years and I think he'll connect with the players well. That was something Girardi was never able to really do, and it sounds like it was a priority for Cashman.

The Yankees are hoping they hired Joe Torre with a better grasp of advanced metrics.

The biggest challenge for Boone is that the Yankees are expected to contend for a World Series title next season. Anything less than an ALCS appearance will be blamed largely on him. That's a lot of pressure for a rookie manager.

 

You could look at it two ways: A lot of pressure on a rookie manager, or a lot of talent to help carry a rookie manager to relatively easy success.

 

Dee Gordon traded to... the Mariners. With Cano on second, Seattle is apparently planning on putting Gordon in center field.

Mariners Acquire Dee Gordon

 

Looks like the only time Gordon played CF professionally was a few games in the Dominican winter league.

 

Twitter scuttle has Ohtani going to the Angels. That's massive.