Friday Baseball Post

1.  I hate the Dodgers.  Just saying.

2.  I fully agree with Scott Lemieux about managers.  Once upon a time, long long ago, I wrote what I thought was a terrific post to r.s.bb listing what I figured were the main things that managers did that mattered, with all of them more important, I thought, than lineup order or in-game tactics.  Alas, it's gone now, but I listed things such as keeping pitchers healthy, playing the right guys, things like that.  for example, there have been over time plenty of managers who would have been pretty reluctant to "risk" playing Buster Posey when proven major league catcher Bengie Molina was available; if Posey stays at Fresno, of course, the Giants would not have contended this year.  Of course, we don't always know whether it's the manager or the GM making these decisions, but we do know that it Bochy was quick to work Sandoval, Posey, Lincecum, and Bumgarner (among others) into the starting lineup.  And, of course, that the previous two Giants managers were a lot more hesitant.  Anyway, I think the evidence is pretty strong that management matters, including things that it seems pretty likely the manager decides.

3.  Can't quit before mentioning: I really hate the Dodgers.