Quote Originally Posted by shoeless joe View Post
If you play a guy that's struggling and he never figures it out then you stuck with him to long...if you stick with a guy that's struggling and he finally comes around then you're being patient.

I have defended fredi at times over the last couple years and I've thought, at times, a change wouldn't be a bad thing. However, there's no doubt that he deserves a ton of credit for this year and for 2013 and 2012. He also bares responsibility for last year and the 2011 collapse.

As far as comparing him to cox I think there are several things to look at. In a lot of ways fredi is a lot like bobby with his patient approach and his "by the book" approach to pitching moves, especially in playoff situations. But bobby showed more fire in my opinion. I also think the players had a greater level of respect for bobby, not surprising since he's a HOF manager. I am always a little more lenient in my thoughts on baseball coaches getting the boot, simply because the game is so fickle, and the only thing that makes a move the rite one is if it works..."right" moves that don't work have cost many a coaching job. But there is definitely something missing from Fredi's managerial style...I can't quite put my finger on what I think it is but it's definitely something.
there's two entirely different aspects of being a MLB manager. the first is roughly being a babysitter. day to day activities, etc. getting everyone on the bench enough playing time to stay sharp. playing thru slumps. professionalism. putting your PLAYERS in position to succeed. Bobby and Fredi excel at that aspect. the other is in utilizing matchups to put your TEAM in the best position to succeed. Bobby and Fredi are horrible at that aspect, especially the bullpen. i'll point out again: in Bobby's next to last game (and the one that sealed the Braves playoff fate that year), he pulled a young fireballer rookier RP that had given up a seeing-eye single, for a generic nothing-special LH RP to pitch against a LH batter.....who hits LHPs better than RHPs. That fireballer was Craig Kimbrel. he pulled Craig Kimbrel for a LHP, and for no damn good reason. they lost the game and the series on that at-bat. and i don't think Kimbrel ever got another appearance of significance in the playoffs, as he was always held in reserve when the game was on the line. can't use your closer with the bases loaded in the 8th!