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The Zulewski report
By Tom Zulewski July 13, 2009 |
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Manny Acta was the scapegoat in the latest firing of the Washington Nationals manager. Right now the Nats are 26-61. It requires a little bit of research because the Nats are treading especially bad territory. The all time record for loses in a full season is the fabulously famous New York Mets of 1962 with Casey Stengel at the helm at 120 loses and of course the 2003 Detroit Tigers who should have broke the record but didn't at 119. As of this moment and of this day through 87 games the Nats are exactly two games ahead of the New York Mets 1962 pace and they are only four games ahead of the Tigers pace of 2003. Jim Riggleman coming to Washington is truly 1000% a band aid. Riggleman managed last in Seattle and is a retread. Why not bring Frank Robinson back? He might be getting up there in years a bit and managing and Robby being in the dugout brings out the best in some people. Bob Geren is going nowhere and maybe his team too: A's manager Bob Geren is going nowhere and he should stay and what can you do with the moves that are being made and aren't exactly panning out. Matt Holliday is producing in the outfield with the glove for them.The pitching rotation hasn't changed just a corp of new young kids but same results and the A's had that same reliever from two seasons ago whose now gone. It's been three seasons ago when they got to the ALCS Huston Street and is gone now and is doing fabulous work in Colorado. Now you just don't know you just don't have a clue and you have a club that's not making it and it's not Geren's fault. But that's what the case is and somebody has to take the fall and Geren might take the fall sooner than later and may go and no one wants to see that. The situation is shakey none the less and the A's going into the second half of the season are not in a very good spot where they have one of the worst records in the game but of course they could be like your Washington Nats. MLB All-Stars: Tim Lincecum will be the N.L.starting pitcher but the talk has been about the Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval who did not get selected for the All-Star game and keep in mind there was an alliance that was formed between the Phils Shane Victorino and the Tigers Brandon Inge which was affectionately called BranTorino. As funny as that was they're alliance apparently paid off to a very close vote and they are both the 33rd and final players for this years All-Star roster selection and their both good selections. Inge is building up his resume and has plenty of home runs with 21 at the All-Star break that's a good choice. Victorino is a more established name in baseball than Sandoval is and Sandoval is the dreaded rookie. I can remember last year asking how Armando Gallaragga of the Tigers was putting up some decent numbers and he was playing rival to and was asked if he deserved to be at the All-Star game and said, "I just take one game at time".As a pitcher you appreciate that and Sandoval who plays third is fitting that exact same role right now at third base. Final bonus question NASCAR: Late in the race in Chicago there were 15 laps to go Jimmie Johnson tried to muscle his way to the front 48 cars and Kurt Busch he tried to stay higher mark of the track most of the way but Jimmie got lose and ended up bumping Kurt and knocking one of his tires out of commission. Busch potentially had a good finish he ended up 17th and he wasn't happy when he said something to the effect of Jimmie is not behaving like a three time champion on the track. There was a history of it though whereas three weeks ago in Sanoma the pair got together a second time in that race because Jimmie had hit one of the rumble strips on the track at turn seven somewhere in that neighborhood. Jimmie ended up wheel hopping and by the time he got the car stable Busch was riding his door and Busch ended up getting turned around. Busch did rally back and ended up finishing 15th that day and there was enough race left to do something about. Busch was able to get the tire fixed and get back out and salvage something at least. He was angry he had every right to be and Jimmie was kind of surprised at the line of questioning. But he's developing history now with accidents twice in three races. It's no coincidence. Tom Zulewski does the Zulewski report each week for Sportstalk |
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