TunneySide of Sports

On The TunneySide of Sports May 7, 2018 #691 Up next…Lead People, Manage Games!

After further review…The title of the man in charge of a baseball T*E*A*M is called the manager at the major league level. At the high school, college, Little League and in softball, that same person is usually referred to as coach. The TunneySide believes that whatever that title, the most important distinction is that that person is the team’s leader. The idea is that whoever the title refers to, he or she leads people, but manages games!

Don Shula, the winningest coach in the history of the National Football League and formally head coach of the Baltimore Colts and the Miami Dolphins, was a leader of men and carried the title of head coach. His counterpart of the Baltimore Orioles was Earl Weaver with similar responsibilities, but with the title manager. Why the difference? Some say that in baseball, particularly in the major leagues, the manager is one who had been a player (often as a catcher) who traditionally managed the game. Although both Shula and Weaver played their respective sports before taking on the head title they are both known for, and each achieved great success not only as tacticians but as leaders.

Dave Roberts is in his third year as manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Last year was a rousing success as the Dodgers won 104 games –  most in their history – and advanced to the World Series, where they lost to the Houston Astros in seven games.  22-year-old Cody Bellinger, in his second year in the big leagues, is the Dodgers’ star first baseman who played a pivotal role in the team’s run to the World Series last year as a rookie.

In the fifth inning of a recent game against the San Francisco Giants, Bellinger hit a ball deep into right-center field and stopped at second base for a double. Roberts thought that the ball was hit far enough that Bellinger should have easily made it to third base for a triple, and pulled him from the game for a lack of hustle. These types of plays have a lot to do with “managing-the-game”. Fans, announcers and everyone seeing Ballenger’s decision to stop at second base may have their own ideas on how that play should have unfolded.

The question here is one of leadership, not managing.

The TunneySide’s opinion is that Roberts can teach Bellinger better by waiting until after the game, discussing the best strategy with the player and the T*E*A*M, using it as a teaching lesson. By “yanking” the player during the game, the leader risks embarrassing the player in front of his teammates and fans, which he did in this case. We feel it’s best to chastise in private and praise in public.

Will you help others learn best by building their confidence, and avoid embarrassment?

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