How much credit does Dale Sveum deserve?

[logan82]

Scapegoat when things go bad. Tradition.

 

You do need a manager, but they are pretty much interchangeable and in many cases we would be better off with some guy going off a stack of spreadsheets.

[naivin]

He deserves the same amount of credit/blame that Yost received. Also, I hold him 100% responsible for sending a clearly injured Ben Sheets out there yesterday, to put the Brewers in a 4-0 hole, when Dave Bush was ready, willing, and able to pitch. Would it have turned out differently (the Brewers didn't exactly hit)? Perhaps not, and of course we'll never know, but putting Sheets and his 88 mph fastball out there was clearly a mistake.

[bjkrautk]

I think there's an attitudinal change which has to be attributed to the new manager. Going into the finale, he's managed the team to a 6-5 record....which isn't bad, but isn't anything to boast about.

 

The biggest change to the team, IMO, was to put Mike Cameron into the leadoff spot.

.180 / .268 / .220 / .488 (50 AB)

 

Small sample, but I'm sure that's not what he was looking for.

 

I've said in other places, I think he's done a good job giving Seth McClung more of an impact role, whereas he seemed lost in the mix under Yost. Given the stumblings of Parra, Suppan, and Sheets, I'd be tempted to give Seth a start in the post-season. I don't know if it's out of necessity or by design, but the pitching staff in non-C.C. games has resembled spring training games. Ideally, I'd like to see more normalcy.

 

I'd like to see Dale be a candidate for the Managerial spot next season, but I want a comprehensive search to find the best guy to lead this team.

[bubblegum tate]

My apologies if this is being discussed elsewhere, but I'm wondering, how much do you think today's events have influenced Sveum's chances for 2009? I'd say the odds of him being asked back just jumped from about 3-1 to 5-4

[Ennder]

I guess it depends on how he handles the playoffs. We have a lot of question marks and he doesn't have very many easy choices in who to play in what role like some of the other teams do.

[braunforpres]

Sveum has really grown on me in the last 12 games from "well, this is an interesting move, let's see" to, wow he is open and honest and has the trust of all his players.. he just keeps it real, hearing the post game interview on FSN was refreshing, the way he talks and interviews is so much different than ned and so much more welcome as a fan! A couple of his moves have been interesting (Hall #2, Cameron #1, etc) but I believe he's on to something with the openness he's had with his players and what he expects, also think he has handled the pitchers very well, you mess up, you are out.... you show the fire I want to see and convince me I'll give you a shot, that's how a manager should be.

[brewcrewkid14]

Instead of starting a new thread, I am going to ask in this thread...

 

Do we bring Sveum back? Whether he deserves it or not, do you think he will be brought back by the orginization?

 

It had to be asked, and I'm sure we'll be finding out in the next few days (weeks?).

[Fatter than Joey]

Do we bring Sveum back?

 

No, and Hell NO.

 

I think that MA will fire DM, or DM will resign, a new GM will come in, and regardless of their abilities, the whole coaching staff will be nuked (except for Bill Castro of course)

[Teatoe993]

Keeping Sveum & Co. is not gonna get us over the top. And I would be very discouraged if he is retained for next year. I'd like Melvin to stick around, but I must admit that the leash is starting to get a bit shorter on him.

[Ennder]

I'm indifferent towards it. They should at least interview candidates, he hasn't earned the job outright.

 

I can't imagine any manager we get being worse than Yost so whatever happens I consider it an upgrade.

[JohnBriggs12]

Judging a manager over 16 games is like judging a hitter after 40 AB's. The sample size is just too small. Removing Yost relieved some tension. It didn't matter who was brought in it should have had some positive effect. Besides we don't know if the law of averages was kicking in or the fact they faced the Pirates followed by a disinterested Cub group.

 

He made some good pitching moves but one really bad one in starting Suppan on a day he was clearly ok with using Gallardo multiple innings in relief.

 

They'd be foolish not to look at other guys. They may eventually settle on Sveum, but they shouldn't hand him the job based on 2-3 weeks.

[joepepsi]

I think you let Dale interview for the job, but ultimately hire someone with an established record of success managing in the majors. Doug Melvin will be back. It's silly to even think he won't. There is much to do to improve this team, but cleaning house isn't going to make those improvements. I don't know why you wouldn't bring Maddux back--the team was 2nd in the league in ERA. The rest of the coaching staff probably needs to go though. New manager gets to pick his lieutenants. Svuem deserves some consideration for a job in the organization. He provided a cool head in a tense situation, but I don't think he will be a very manager.

[jhart05]

I'd also like to point out...it's a lot easier to manage a pitching staff when you have 12+ guys in the bullpen to use, and they all know they are in an "all hands on deck" mentality. Those 5 to 6 extra arms you get in September, can make a huge difference in making pitching decisions. And when you're not really worried about tomorrow, that helps a little bit as well.

 

It's really not fair to judge Sveum one way or the other, since he was managing under a different set of rules than you have from April thru August.

 

 

- I would like to see them bring in someone with no ties to any former Brewer tream.

 

- I hope DM, doesn't leave or get fired. He's done a great job. Perfect? No, of course not, that's impossible, no GM is going to be.

[Greg Vaughn]

Dale Sveum showed me all I need to see, by pitching Jeff Suppan in the most important game in Brewers franchise history.

 

Enough said really.

[giffted1]

I'd imagine he'd get some consideration but hope to god he's not brought back. There's a couple of things that get to me:

 

Small Ball - When he got the job he intended on scoring runs with small ball. It didn't exactly work out and Melvin basically said enough with the small ball crap. Unfortunately Dale hasn't given up on the idea of forcing a square peg through a round hole. From the JS Blog - "Sveum said the team has to change its identity and become acquainted with small ball and stop relying on the home run to win games."

 

Suppan over Gallardo - Starting a clearly inferior pitcher over a future ace because of a handful a playoff starts a few years ago is simply insane.

 

So from Dale we've learned that: scoring fewer runs "the right way" >> scoring more runs with home runs, and a mediocre starter with a few good playoff starts who has stunk for the past month >> a stud pitcher with no playoff experience.

[bamberger]

A hearty thank you for getting us to the playoffs, a good-bye, good luck, and have a nice life.

[TuesdaysWithRillo]

We need a manager that will pinch hit his light hitting catcher late in the game.

[bklynbrewcrew]

We need a manager that isnt obsessed with small ball and "playing the right way". We also need a manager that is intelligent enough to know that Gallardo should pitch and elimination game before Suppan as well as someone that realizes the backup catcher can start more than once a month. Sveum has failed all of these tests ones that Davey Johnson and Bobby Valentine will excel at.

[TooLiveBrew]

But I do think Sveum seems to have a better sense of the pitching...

 

At the worst, what could be said about Sveum is that he prepared for outcomes, whether he hoped they happen or not. Yost always seemed to be creating a scenario in his head about what he thought was going to happen, and when events played out differently, there often was no alternate plan. Just hope that the RP you got ready can get someone out, or stick with a SP too long because you don't want to bring in Shouse to face Burrell... oh, wait. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

[TSack27]

First off - I hated the thought of Suppan starting. But any chance Dale had to deal with the thought in the back of his mind that the owner was the one that pushed for the Suppan signing, and the owner had a big hand in the change in managers, and had to consider that if the owner was (over)paying to bring in a playoff reputed pitcher that should at be given the chance to live up to that billing, rather than dealing with hindsight?

And in regards to the small ball, he came out in the past week saying he was abandoning that idea. Quick & decisive changes in direction based upon what is in front of him at the present time is something that I believe was lacking from his predecessor (and a big reason many wished the managerial change to have been made sooner)

Whether he gets a chance to manage next season will be debated for many weeks to come, but Sveum's actions have improved my impression of him from the time he was first awarded the position.

[TooLiveBrew]

And in regards to the small ball, he came out in the past week saying he was abandoning that idea.

 

I didn't see anything from Sveum on that. The only person I remember talking about that was Melvin, but I'm certainly not claiming that Sveum didn't necessarily say anything, either.

 

 

Whether he gets a chance to manage next season will be debated for many weeks to come, but Sveum's actions have improved my impression of him from the time he was first awarded the position.

 

I agree with that. It was relieving in a strange way to learn that, yes, this team can do better at manager. Though I do think Sveum managed differently given the circumstances (40-man roster, 'do or die' games, etc.). Starting Suppan over Gallardo is a blunder for the ages, though -- regardless of whose decision it was.

[yount19.u]

Starting Suppan over Gallardo is a blunder for the ages, though -- regardless of whose decision it was.

Agreed. I was one who felt starting Suppan was their only choice as I figured they did not want to risk starting Yo on short rest. Seeing him come in as a long reliever and pitch lights out was horrible given how Suppan had already lost it for us. That would be my only criticism of Sveum if he was indeed involved in the decision to start Suppan. I don't think he'll be back as manager next year as I feel the team needs to start over fresh with someone from outside the organization. He does deserve a lot of credit for getting the Brewers to play well enough in the past 12 games to make the playoffs. There was a ton of pressure to manage through, and I'm confident in saying there is no way Yost gets them there.

[sweepscc]

If you can't pitch Suppan in the playoffs than Attanasio's infatuation with Suppan was the blunder for the ages. (Jeffrey Hammonds territory) Further adds to my leeriness about Attanasio's involvement in baseball decisions.

[TSack27]

And in regards to the small ball, he came out in the past week saying he was abandoning that idea.

 

I didn't see anything from Sveum on that. The only person I remember talking about that was Melvin, but I'm certainly not claiming that Sveum didn't necessarily say anything, either.

"Notes: Sveum ends small talk" - http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=800536

[markedman5]

Or maybe Sveum doesn't end small talk.............

 

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=802842