In this recent ESPN article by Dave Schoenfield and Christina Kahrl, the duo ranks all 30 managers in Major League Baseball. As you can expect, Cubs’ manager Joe Maddon is near the top as he sits at number two. I’m not going to reveal the entire list, so go and click the link for more information. If you don’t have ESPN Insider then you should buy it.
Anyway, back to what pertains to Chicago baseball organizations. For the Northsiders, Maddon is known to not mess around when it comes to his starting pitchers. The article notes that the former Rays skipper is first in quick hooks, in turn limiting the amount of times the opposing batting order sees his hurler. Maddon also trails Bruce Bochy in total innings in which multiple relievers were used.
What Cubs fans have come to know and love about Maddon is the undeniable effect he has had in the clubhouse. Overall, Maddon has a -2 wins in the Pythagorean record, which has to be considered respectable considering the Rays’ teams he managed. He’s well respected around the game by almost everyone. There’s a reason for it.
As Maddon comes in at number two from the top, White Sox manager Robin Ventura ranks at 29 overall…or number two from the bottom. Number 29 puts you under the category titled “Question marks.” Boy, is that right.
Despite a plus-7 wins in the Pythagorean record, Ventura is 59 games below .500 during his tenure with the White Sox. He entered 2016 with two of the top pitchers in the American League, along with what appeared to be a solid back-end of the bullpen. A lineup with Adam Eaton, Todd Frazier, Jose Abreu, and a re-surging Melky Cabrera should make the team compete. And they did, for a month.
Now they’re one of the most inconsistent teams in the majors. David Robertson has imploded, most likely as a result of Ventura’s mismanagement of the bullpen. Zach Duke, one of the strongest lefty relievers in 2016, was traded to St. Louis. The team didn’t buy at the deadline, which means they still have Chris Sale and Jose Quintana.
A staggering number is the White Sox have a winning percentage of .439 in games Sale DOESN’T start. Since being a regular in the starting rotation, Quintana has made at least 32 starts in 2013. He’s on pace to make 32 again, and post career-bests in ERA, WHIP, and K:9.
Like I said, go get ESPN Insider and check out the entire piece. Or if you have it, why are you still reading this?
*Featured image is courtesy of TBO.com*
