The Matt Williams Effect

[spidernat]

I think what Harper did was something we see from players all the time.
 

We sure looked like winners today, with our backup outfielder grounding out in Harper's spot with the tying and winning runs in scoring position.

I don't think I've ever seen Desi or Zim or Werth or LaRoche do this. I don't watch every single inning of every game, so maybe you can find an instance, but this looks lazy to me.

(Image removed from quote.)

No it doesn't look lazy. It looks out. He was freaking out there's no need to go full turbo needlessly.

[wpa2629]

Williams issue was with Harper only going 60 feet then turning into the dugout - not because he wan't running full bore

Be a professional, finsh out the play

[spidernat]

The play was already finished.

[DPMOmaha]

No it doesn't look lazy. It looks out. He was freaking out there's no need to go full turbo needlessly.

No one is saying he needs to sprint down the line.

[spidernat]

No one is saying he needs to sprint down the line.

Why not though?

[DPMOmaha]

Why not though?

It's a balance, man. Somewhere between turbo jets and half-assing it down the line.

[blue911]

Matt needs to get pissed or something

[tomterp]

This warrants a poll.

http://www.wnff.net/index.php?topic=30992.0

[ajcartwright]

know i'll get slammed but thinking MW is a no-managing buffoon
that's a clown manager bro

[skippy1999]

It's a balance, man. Somewhere between turbo jets and half-assing it down the line.

Is this in the book of unwritten rules?? So like, Brian McCann needs to let us know the right amount of effort Bryce should've been exerting?   

[varoadking]

Is this in the book of unwritten rules?? So like, Brian McCann needs to let us know the right amount of effort Bryce should've been exerting?   

Carlton Fisk...lest we forget his dust-up with Deion Sanders...



This is a great listen...

[HalfSmokes]

Apparently wins and losses only matter to players not managers

"[Harper's] spot came up with the ability to win the game," Williams said. "That's a shame for his teammates."

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/mlb/nationals-manager-matt-williams-sits-bryce-harper-for-lack-of-hustle?ymd=20140419&content_id=72664620&vkey=news_mlb

Is he a manager or a pee wee coach- he's supposed to put the team in the best position to win not teach life lessons

[varoadking]

...he's supposed to put the team in the best position to win not teach life lessons

How are they different?

[HalfSmokes]

How are they different?

How are they the same?

[varoadking]

How are they the same?

You state a postulate and want me to go on the defense?  Sorry...I can't deal with

[spidernat]

You state a postulate and want me to go on the defense? 

Like the "unwritten rule" book (see image below).

[HalfSmokes]

I guess there are some lessons that baseball teaches,  like cheaters get managerial positions

[TigerFan]

Is he a manager or a pee wee coach- he's supposed to put the team in the best position to win not teach life lessons

But there has to be a tipping point somewhere, right?  I am not saying he is right or he is wrong but just because Harper puts the team in the best position to win doesn't mean he gets a free pass to do whatever he wants.

[Mathguy]

Boswell seems to think Williams made the correct move
http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/nationals/bryce-harper-needed-a-reality-check-and-matt-williams-gave-it-to-him-with-benching/2014/04/20/4d207b18-c8ce-11e3-93eb-6c0037dde2ad_story.html

Apparently wins and losses only matter to players not managers

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/mlb/nationals-manager-matt-williams-sits-bryce-harper-for-lack-of-hustle?ymd=20140419&content_id=72664620&vkey=news_mlb

Is he a manager or a pee wee coach- he's supposed to put the team in the best position to win not teach life lessons

[comish4lif]

I guess there are some lessons that baseball teaches,  like cheaters get managerial positions

Here's the lesson I took away from the 1990s. No one cared about steroids. Not the players, not the front office, not the owners, not MLB.

I don't know why some people care so much.

[sportsfan882]

Adam Kilgore ‏@AdamKilgoreWP  35s
Span CF, Harper LF, Werth RF, LaRoche 1B, Rendon 3B, Desmond SS, Espinosa 2B, Lobaton C, Roark P

I'd bat Rendon second, Harper 4th, Desmond 5th, LaRoche 6th.

[Ray D]

I'd bat Rendon second, Harper 4th, Desmond 5th, LaRoche 6th.

Yeah I don't like having all the lefties bunched like this.  Span comes up late in the game when they need a relief pitcher, they'll bring in a lefty and you have three of four automatic outs.  Well maybe not Span but Harper and LaRoche are automatic outs.

[blue911]

Yeah I don't like having all the lefties bunched like this.  Span comes up late in the game when they need a relief pitcher, they'll bring in a lefty and you have three of four automatic outs.  Well maybe not Span but Harper and LaRoche are automatic outs.

they don't have a lefty in the bullpen

[sportsfan882]

they don't have a lefty in the bullpen

The Cardinals did

[Jordanz Meatballz]

Even if there were a lefty, Harper is hitting 0.538 against lefties and LaRoche is hitting 0.273.

Denard Span is hitting 0.222 against lefties

Maybe you mean career numbers. Span - 0.280, Harper - 0.242, LaRoche, - 0.242

None of these would I call an "automatic out". Subjective I guess.