Jim Leyland of the Pittsburgh Pirates had arrived at Wrigley Field and drawn the usual admiring crowd of journalists, many of whom insist he is the best manager in the major leagues. And, as always, Leyland mentioned two of of his managerial buddies: Tony La Russa of the Oakland A’s and Gene Lamont of the White Sox.
“He’s doing pretty good, isn’t he?” Leyland said, speaking of Lamont, who has the White Sox in first place in the American League West. Leyland is understandably proud of Lamont. Before his White Sox connection, Lamont was among Leyland’s coaches.
“I told you guys he would be outstanding,” Leyland said.
For Leyland, it was a rare boast. I never before heard him offer an “I told you so.”
La Russa was next. His A’s, division champions four times in the last five years, no longer are dominant and have fallen into the AL West cellar.
“It’s tough to stay on top,” Leyland observed.
Like any good baseball man, Leyland knows the territory. It’s difficult to win. But there is an even greater degree of difficulty: to maintain the pace.
Leyland’s Pirates have won the last three titles in the National League East. With the loss of outfielder Barry Bonds and pitcher Doug Drabek, this is supposed to be the year Leyland and his Pirates take the fall. Still, with three, and sometimes four, rookies in the starting lineup, they are hanging in around .500.
Which prompted the question: How important is a manager? How many games does he win?
Including nine years in the minor leagues, this is Leyland’s 19th season at the helm. Leyland, who has heard this question before, insists the role of the manager often is misunderstood.
“When you start managing, you say, `Boy, I’m going to make a move here that’s going to win a game,’ ” Leyland explained. “But you soon realize how much the game belongs to the players. You’re either the victim or beneficiary of their performance. When you win, the manager gets too much of the credit. And when you lose, the manager gets too much of the blame.”
Leyland recalled his first year at Pittsurgh.
“We lost 98 games, and everyone said I was a minor-league manager who couldn’t handle it up here. All of a sudden we got some outstanding players: Andy Van Slyke, Barry Bonds, Drabek, Bobby Bonilla, Jose Lind, and people began saying, `Hey, this guy’s a pretty good manager.’ “
Leyland is correct, of course. There have been a few dugout geniuses, but the wizardry seldom embraces more than one season. Examples: George Stallings of Boston’s 1914 “miracle” Braves and Gil Hodges of the 1969 New York Mets. In last place at the All-Star break, Stallings booted the Braves to the pennant. Hodges, with inferior personnel, drove the Mets to a flag.
Where the Pirates will finish this time around nobody knows. But with a little luck, they could be a genuine contender, not so much because of Leyland’s acumen but because of parity. Now that the Pirates have been weakened, there is no longer a dominant team in the NL East.
The Philadelphia Phillies, losers of 92 games last year, have been setting the early pace. Through Friday’s action, the Phillies were 24-9. Nonetheless, a runaway doesn’t seem likely. Chances are no more than 10 games will separate the first five or six teams, the Pirates included.
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During the last three championship seasons, Leyland, because he didn’t have a consistently effective closer, managed his bullpen by committee. Stan Belinda since has emerged as a solid late man, but there has been a change of a different sort: Now the Pirates’ offense is by committee.
Rookie outfielder Al Martin and first baseman Kevin Young have been in and out of the lineup. It isn’t that Leyland has been using them in a platoon arrangement. He also has sat them down when they have been struggling. The Pirates’ third rookie position player, second baseman Carlos Garcia, also has been in and out of the lineup.
“It’s tough to integrate one rookie, but he has three, and they’re not always out there naked,” said broadcaster Steve Blass, the former Pittsburgh pitcher.
Going into the sixth week, this is an appropriate time to review the other clubs in the NL East:
Philadelphia: The Phillies have been impressive and have solid, established hitters in Darren Daulton, John Kruk and Lenny Dykstra. Third baseman Dave Hollins, a comparative newcomer, has been outstanding in the field and at the plate. The team is below average defensively in the outfield and at shortstop. A rejuvenated Danny Jackson, the former Cub, could be the key; if he can win 15, the Phillies, like the Atlanta Braves before them, could go from last to first.
Montreal: The Expos have the best all-around outfield in the league-from left to right, Moises Alou, Marquis Grissom and Larry Walker. They also have strengthened their middle relief and have a solid closer in John Wetteland, who had 37 saves last season.
Cubs: The hitting of Sammy Sosa, Dwight Smith and Jose Vizcaino, who has been sensational, has more than balanced the disappointment of Candy Maldonado. But to win, another established starting pitcher is needed. Reliever Randy Myers easily has been the best acquisition. If not for Myers, another fourth-place finish, if that, could be expected.
St. Louis: The Cardinals lack consistent power, but have superior team speed and an outstanding rookie in Rene Arocha, a right-handed pitcher just back from the 15-day disabled list. Arocha, who had a finger injury, won his first three starts and has a 1.52 earned-run average for 24 innings. Like his teammate, Bob Tewksbury, Arocha has superior control; he has given up only one walk. Lee Smith is as good as ever out of the bullpen, which means the Cardinals once again will be in the hunt.
New York: Not all the king’s horses or all the king’s men can put the Mets together again. They have a porous defense, lack speed and are competitive only when Doc Gooden and Bret Saberhagen are on the mound; together, they won seven of the club’s first 12 victories, and half the time, they need a shutout to win.
Florida: Not much of an attack, but have had decent starting pitching and an absolutely wonderful closer in Bryan Harvey.