Maybe I wasn't overreacting after all. It wasn't that long ago that I took some flak after calling Mac unqualified for the manager position, but on the heels of what we've seen over these last few days, uh, yeah. I don't like to do this very often, but if there are any of you out there who still believe that McLaren deserves this job, you're wrong. You're wrong.
A manager has a lot of responsibilities, but first and foremost among them is helping his team win. Forget tonight's game; it became abundantly clear several weeks ago that John McLaren does not know how to do this. How did he even get the job? Was there any sort of questioning process, or did McLaren and the executives just go down to the field with the Moose's ATV and ghost ride the whip for half an hour? It's almost unfathomable how bad this has gotten. Kudos to the organization for making me miss a guy who at the time I would've gladly ridden out of town on a rail. I get it. You never really appreciate what you have until it's gone. You've made your point. Now, please, stop the lesson and start playing serious.
Biggest Contribution: Kenji Johjima, +27.7%
Biggest Suckfest: Jose Vidro, -29.0%
Most Important Hit: Johjima single, +16.2%
Most Important Pitch: Lofton walk, -34.1%
Total Contribution by Pitcher(s): -73.0%
Total Contribution by Hitters: +23.0%
Total Contribution by Opposition: 0.0%
I'm making this post sound more angry than I wanted to. I don't write very well at two in the morning, I guess. Truthfully, I'm not even that upset - when I heard from a few people how the game ended, I just started laughing uncontrollably. This is one of those things that, once you abandon all hope for the playoffs, becomes undeniably hilarious. I mean, Rick White in the bottom of the ninth of a tie game? Six consecutive losses, with four White sightings and zero JJ? How is that not funny? If nothing else, at least McLaren has managed to inject some humor into what would've otherwise been an emotionally crippling week of bad baseball. It hasn't been boring.
Toronto tomorrow. Four days ago we were getting set to begin our most highly-anticipated series in years. Now you're probably asking yourself if you even want to watch. Think about that for a minute.