Joe Maddon says he's not "overly concerned" with Percival's performance after Wednesday's game against the Orioles....

by TheUltimateBucFan on May 15, 2009 8:58 AM EDT Comment 9 comments

In other news, Maddon was caught in the Tropicana Field parking lot huffing paint. When team security approached him and asked what that silver stuff on his face and fingertips was he responded with, "It's nothin guys, just another day at the office." (Ya know I'm kidding Joe, but your killing me here)

Here's the source from today's St. Pete Times regarding Percy:

NO WORRIES: Maddon said he's not "overly concerned" about closer Troy Percival, who entered with the Rays up 8-2 in the ninth inning Wednesday and gave up two homers (and four runs). Maddon pointed to how Percival is healthy and he hit 93 mph, "which might be the high point for him in a while." He just didn't have the location.

The only location Percival needs to be at is California, the place he calls home. Our bullpen for the most part has failed us this year. I have lost almost as much hair as Wheels has on his head watching him pitch and Balfour is making me want to call him Ball Four, same with Nelson. Not all of our bullpen has tanked this year with Cormier, Shouse, and Howell having pitched well.

It's early and I know this, but for me Memorial Day in baseball is the first real point in the season that a team should re-evaluate their roster and make changes if changes are needed. If Maddon continues to stand pat and hope for the best then in my opinion we should prepare for the worst.

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Until Friedman decides to make a decision, I'm sure Maddon's going to avoid throwing Percy under the bus.

by Suttree on May 15, 2009 9:00 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

+1

No doubt, but how much pain must we endure?

by TheUltimateBucFan on May 15, 2009 9:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

True

but shouldn’t the manager be objective enough to provide some input on what he sees/hears in the clubhouse? He’s not being objective which is killing us. Loyalty is great and all………….in a dog. I want teams to be loyal as long as players keep up their end of the whole deal.

by Buc Wild on May 15, 2009 10:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The question is what he is saying behind closed doors

The babying approach Maddon employs is nice in many situations. However the yell, scream,and criticize approach works in other situations. The best leaders know when to use both and when to shut up totally.

Maddon needs to boost the urgency of the team. He is the manager so it is his job.

All of this can be done behind closed doors so the truth is we have no idea what he is doing although we can speculate.

by matthan on May 15, 2009 10:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It already seems like guys are pressing too much

I’m not sure turning up the heat would help at this moment. It’s not like they’re trying to lose. Except maybe Navarro, I think he has a bet with someone that he can hit into 35 DP’s this year.

Do what you love to do and give it your very best. Whether it's business or baseball, or the theater, or any field. If you don't love what you're doing and you can't give it your best, get out of it. Life is too short. You'll be an old man before you know it.

-Al Lopez

by Sandy Kazmir on May 15, 2009 11:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Much Like Tito Fancona, Maddon will never call a player out publicly.

The only reason BJ Upton was called out last year (which I disagreed with to begin with) was because the benching was made public and he had to address it. You won’t hear him do anything but defend his players publicly. That’s what a good manager does.

Tools Whore

by Tyler on May 15, 2009 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think being public or private about it has no impact on whether you are a good or bad manager

Plenty of great managers go public. The key isn’t whether you go public or private, but rather you employ the right tactics at the right time.

by matthan on May 15, 2009 11:44 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Who says Maddon is making this call?

Do we know for sure that Maddon is the way he makes these calls? I’d suspect that Friedman and Co. make the decisions and Maddon just does the in game managing. With everything else the front office does, why wouldn’t they dictate who’s put in what situation. They run the numbers, scout, and do the analysis. Are we really sure that they just give all the information to Maddon and tell him to do what he wants?

by tallyray on May 15, 2009 4:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs