Learning Curve

Learning Curves

Clare says she’s learned a ton about coaching this spring while a graduate assistant, the importance of forbearance probably most of all.  A coach has to go with the flow and not give in to impulses, no matter how tempting.  The law will get you in the end, if the parents don’t get to you first.

It would also be a good idea for my daughter to watch and see how Robin Ventura goes about his job as manager of the White Sox, and then do the opposite.  The full Ventura was on display this weekend in Detroit.  On Fr4iday, the Tigers led off the bottom of the ninth inning of a 1-1 game with a double to right field, only the runner may have been out at second base.  Only Ventura doesn’t rush out to challenge the call because his replay people say the runner beat the tag, then he does go out only to be told by the umpire he’s too late.  Robin, it’s the bottom of the ninth.  Were you saving your challenge for extra innings?

Then came yesterday, a 9-1 drubbing set up by the purportedly talented Jose Quintana, who needed 42 pitches to get out the first inning.  Quintana gave up a grand slam and a two-run shot to Yeonis Cespedes, who now is six for eight in his career against the lefty, with four homers.  So, Robin, what was the game plan here, exactly?  Have Quintana go 3-2 on batter after batter (three out of the first four by my count) until he got comfortable?  And where was the pitching guru, Don Cooper, in all this?  After giving up the second homer by Cespedes, Quintana whacked himself in the head with his glove.  First off, that’s the wrong body part.  Second, all hitting—or kicking—should be done by a member of the coaching staff.

Oh, did I mention that Sox leadoff hitter Adam Eaton is batting a “robust” .136 two weeks into the season?  Eaton should come around, but there’s no reason to keep him at the top of the order.  The idea is to win now while working around your guys who are slumping.  But that’s not the Ventura Way.

Pay attention, Clare.