This week we’re going to endeavor to answer some reader mail. I’ve edited most questions for length and I’ve corrected your spelling in some cases. Sheesh, there’s a skill that’s gone south …
I wish Manny Acta would show some emotion. It looks like he doesn’t care whether his team wins or loses. He’s too accepting of mistakes.
I spoke with Manny about this a couple of weeks ago, and he feels — and I agree with him — that the current generation of players aren’t motivated by theatrics.
“I used to scream and yell at players in the minor leagues, throw tantrums on the field,” he said. “It didn’t work then, and it doesn’t work here. It doesn’t help you win. Look at the guys managing today. Even Lou [Piniella] doesn’t do that stuff anymore. Players don’t respond to it.”
He’s got a point. Even when Earl Weaver came back to manage the Orioles a second time, his tirades had no effect on his ball club. He didn’t have the players to win, and neither does Manny at the moment. If you really like that type of behavior on the field, might I suggest the WWE?
Why haven’t the Nationals promoted Tyler Clippard? He’s got great numbers at Syracuse (1.32 ERA as of Friday, 31 K’s in 27.1 innings of work, all in relief) and wasn’t terrible in his two starts last year.
One Nats official told me they’re pleased with Clippard’s work in AAA, and simply want to see a bigger sample of it. He’s not pitched out of the bullpen prior to this season, and 15 appearances isn’t enough of an apprenticeship. Given his high strikeout totals, and low walk (11) and home run (2) numbers, you have to wonder if maybe they’d consider him in a closer’s role eventually.
I think I would.
Can we expect to see Stephen Strasburg in the rotation by September? He’s the only thing I think I’d come and buy a ticket to see.
It seems a virtual certainty that Strasburg will be drafted with the first overall pick by the Nationals. As for his big league debut, his college coach, Padres Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn, suggests that Stephen shut it down until the Arizona Fall League, and then see what happens next spring. Who am I to argue with Tony Gwynn?
I also can’t help but think about another first overall pick, LSU’s Ben McDonald. The Orioles took Ben with the first pick in the 1989 draft and he was in the big leagues that September. He went 78-70 — with a few trips to the DL — over not quite 200 starts, and was done by age 29. By then everyone — including Ben — agreed that expectations were so high.
Phil Wood is a contributor to Nats Xtra on MASN. Contact him at [email protected].
