SAVAGE VIEWS – BUCK SHOWALTER, HALL OF FAME MANAGER?

  

SAVAGE VIEWS – BUCK SHOWALTER, HALL OF FAME MANAGER?

June 16, 2023

A number of visitors to this site think Buck Showalter is possibly the best manager ever to run the Mets.  Others think he is worthy of Hall of Fame consideration – maybe even a lock. 

While I have never been a fan of Buck, I am open to looking at his entire career and rendering a judgement. 

For the record, my main reasons for not being a supporter of Showalter is because I consider him to be very intense, uptight and rigid, too conservative to be successful.  I have long criticized his management of the pen.

Let’s take a look at his career.

This is his 22^nd year managing a MLB team and his teams have won 1684 games while losing 1614, a percentage of 51.1%.  The Mets are his fifth team.  Generally, he has worn out his welcome mat after 3-4 years although he did spend 9 years with the Orioles. What I find interesting is that every successful season was followed by a significant drop off the following year.  

For example, in ’99 the Diamondbacks won 100 and the following year 85.   In 2014 the Orioles won 96 games only to drop off to 81 wins in 2015.  This has been a pattern during his managerial career.  What’s even more revealing is his putrid post-season record of 10 wins vs 16 losses.  He has never made it into the World Series.

Many consider Buck to be a great tactician but some moves made over the past ten games have me scratching my head.  In the Toronto series the decision to not intentionally walk Guerrero has been universally criticized.  In a game against the Braves when his bullpen was short staffed, he pulled Brigham after two batters.  I thought it was a panic move and he should have allowed Brigham to remain in the game for another inning.

It was somewhat ironic that after Alonso chirped at a Braves pitcher, he was drilled on his hand and is out for three to four weeks due to injury.  There has been no attempt at retaliation. It’s been commonplace for us to lose players such as Alonso and Marte while not taking any action.

Also, against the Braves, the Mets are down by a run and Buck chooses to have Guillorme hit for Vientos. This was a situation when a power bat was called for and he decided to bat for Mark.  A similar situation arose during the Yankees series when, down by a run, he let Guillorme bat instead of sending up Vientos.

Guillorme seems to be on my mind a lot late lately. While trying to complete a DP he dropped the ball in the exchange and was charged with an error.  Buck was late to protest and as a result a bad call was not overturned.

How about when Drew Smith was ejected because of a sticky substance.  Where was the outrage from our manager?  Where is the passion?  His lack of fire seems to have infected the rest of the team.

Wonder why Vientos was called up if he is going to be riding the bench.  His development is being hampered.  With Alonso out for the next few weeks, this is a golden opportunity to allow Vientos to show his stuff.

To be honest some things are out of his control.  No one could have forecast the ineffectiveness of the starting rotation.  He can’t be blamed for the lack of talent in the pen.  Neither can he be blamed for the drop in production by the likes of Marte, Lindor, McNeil and Alonso.   It’s unclear to me whether the decisions unpopular to me are being dictated by others.

In my opinion, the only way he gets into the HOF is by purchasing a ticket.  They offer discounts to seniors.   I would love to hear your thoughts.

Ray