Carlos Called Out
Posted on | March 17, 2009 | 3 Comments | by Chris
While it is true enough that Brewers relief pitcher Carlos Villanueva has not had a banner first three weeks of Spring Training, I found it kind of odd that Manager Ken Macha would call him out after the righthander got undressed by the Giants on Tuesday. After all, the games don’t count and often players are working to find their groove. It is not uncommon for veteran players to post mediocre (or even poor) numbers in the Catcus League but show up strong once the pretend games are over
By the same token, it is also Spring Training for the manager–I don’t think what he says now, three weeks before the real games start, means much. All the way around, for everyone involved, it’s just Spring Training. Just as I can’t get too bent out of shape about Carlos getting lit up in Arizona, I can’t see reading too much into Macha’s behavior in March as being some sort of warning sign that he is going to lose the clubhouse as the real season wears on.
I think that the bottom line for Macha will be the same as it was for Ned Yost: Regardless of what he says to the media or what expression he has on his face in the dugout or whether or not he chooses to bunt in the fifth inning, none of that really matters if they win games. It could be “25 guys, 25 cabs”, but if they play .600 ball, it will all be good. The other stuff only matters when the team loses; then everything goes under the microscope for the molecular scientists who frequent the call-in shows and discussion forums to dissect.
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3 Responses to “Carlos Called Out”
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March 18th, 2009 @ 2:48 am
Unfortunately for Macha and Brewers fans, I’m afraid ‘the other stuff’ is going to matter this season. Maybe he’s already figured out what kind of team they’re going to be and he’s preparing himself for the future.
March 18th, 2009 @ 9:21 am
While I agree, not too much should be read into this about losing the clubhouse and yada yada. Macha does have a responsibility to get this team prepared for the season, and maybe Carlos needed a little fire under his ass to pick it up, lets hope it works. This is a manager who isn’t afraid to comment about players lack of performance and that’s refreshing, He isn’t going to be buddy buddy with everyone like Yost.
March 18th, 2009 @ 9:58 am
I have always thought that conducting business via the media is a bad idea. While talking tough to the mics and pens is likely very satisfying to fans because it expresses our frustration at underperformance, it strikes me as the tactic of a guy whose balls are three sizes too small.
I hope Macha is not that way, but if it results in more wins than losses, all will be well. The point is, I never worry too much about what transpires in Spring Training, and that goes for players and managers both.