Bizarre comment from Bochy?

by delorean on Apr 4, 2008 3:06 PM PDT

Or am I reading to much into this? From the Vizquel unlikely to make home opener story on mlb.com:

Although second baseman Ray Durham said that his bruised left shoulder felt fine, he was benched in favor of Eugenio Velez for the second game in a row. Asked if this reflected Bochy's preference for Velez or the need to give Durham additional rest, Bochy replied, "A little bit of both, but more my decision [to play Velez]. I figured Durham still would be a little sore, but, honestly, I haven't talked with him. Velez is 100 percent [healthy] and he's playing well." [emphasis added]

Anyone else find that completely bizarre? I understand playing Velez over Durham (duh), but:

Durham tells this reporter he feels fine
Bochy assumes Durham is sore
Bochy tells same reporter that he hasn't even spoken to his (erstwhile) starting second baseman.

How is Durham supposed to feel if he reads this? How does a skipper tell a reporter that he hasn't even bothered to ask after one of his starting players?

Curious, I tell you.

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smart managing

Think about it. If Bochy went to Durham and found out he was OK, then Bochy would kind of have to play him. But if he assumes that Durham is hurt, in the same way that economists make certain necessary assumptions about conditions in order to move forward with the model (heh heh), then Bochy gets to play Velez. See how that works? I think Bochy has a little econ background in him.

Anyone else think the Justice League of National is more strategic & interesting than the Justice League of America?

by Mayor of 311 on Apr 4, 2008 3:14 PM PDT reply actions

Always remember:

Economists do it with models

I was THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME (for 3 days in 1995).

by Mike Benjamin Hit King on Apr 4, 2008 3:23 PM PDT up reply actions

i see how it works, yeah

but it doesn't seem like smart managing.

Billy Hayes: Nine more big-league plate appearances than you.

by delorean on Apr 4, 2008 3:30 PM PDT up reply actions

Durham is supposed to feel like a crappy baseball player.

"he walked 18; new league record! Struck out 18, another new league record! He also hit the sportswriter, the PA announcer, the bull mascot twice..."

by i did my job on Apr 4, 2008 3:20 PM PDT reply actions

this makes me feel like bochy is forced to play the older guys by the people above him and is using durhams injury as an excuse not to

by Azmanz on Apr 4, 2008 3:20 PM PDT reply actions

...or he just spends too much time thinking about players' pride.

I'm all for a guy who's a "player's manager", but sometimes you end up with too much deferential treatment to the vets. (See Dusty playing Lofton in CF.)

2008 Giants: A steaming pile of scrap!

by Goofus on Apr 4, 2008 3:23 PM PDT up reply actions

I don't think so

At least, probably not Lincecum's.

by natteringnabob on Apr 4, 2008 3:32 PM PDT up reply actions

Right now

I want Lofton in CF.

Aaron "Swag" Rowand

by victor frankenstein on Apr 5, 2008 12:01 AM PDT up reply actions

doubtful

Bochy was damn near ran out of San Diego for overplaying sharply declining veterans like Klesko, Nevin, and Vinny Castilla, hoping they'd "just pull out of it." To be honest, from what I saw he was just a stubborn with their young (at the time) third baseman Sean Burroughs, but that turned into yet another example of everyone around him screaming mercy and Bruce just "staying the course."

The feeling I've been getting about Ray Durham is that the front office is unhappy with Ray. Toward the end when Ray missed quite a few consecutive games, I seem to recall Sabean expressing a bit of disdain for a veteran player not getting himself ready for the season, while it was Bochy who defended him as a veteran who just knows what he needs to do to compete.

I'm sure if it was JUST about getting Eugenio playing time, we'd be seeing him at SS more often. In fact I'd bet this would be Bochy's choice to get as many guys that "know how to succeed" out there as possible..
But I honestly think Sabean/Magown/Baer are fed up with Durham, offensively, and after what we saw in LA, defensively. At least...I hope so.

by ExcuseMeSwing on Apr 4, 2008 4:33 PM PDT up reply actions

Seems like Sabean has been unhappy with Durham for a while...

...when he gave his famous "answer the bell" speech last year, right after trading Armando, it seemed like Durham must've been one of the players he was referring to.

2008: My previous assessment may have been overly optimistic.

by EliminateMe on Apr 4, 2008 5:06 PM PDT up reply actions

Thats not a bizzare comment at all

Its typical of those in End Stage Jock Itch Dementia

by E Ticket on Apr 4, 2008 4:20 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

If Boch keeps playing Velez, I don't care what he says.

SAVE_US.RAY
Get yer Nattowear

by Natto on Apr 4, 2008 4:35 PM PDT reply actions

This.

Adopted son Notgardo tearing up Spring Training ... that's tearing as in tears. Make mama proud!

by tk on Apr 4, 2008 5:04 PM PDT up reply actions

That?

The Basil Fawlty Moderating Strategy:
"We could run a nice blog here if we didn't have all these members getting in the way."

by WalrusMan on Apr 4, 2008 8:31 PM PDT up reply actions

The Other.

Aaron "Swag" Rowand

by victor frankenstein on Apr 5, 2008 12:03 AM PDT up reply actions

You want..

This, that, and the other? Well who doesn't, you're entitled.

The Basil Fawlty Moderating Strategy:
"We could run a nice blog here if we didn't have all these members getting in the way."

by WalrusMan on Apr 5, 2008 8:06 AM PDT up reply actions

Veteran Affairs

Bochy has always been a veteran guy, these veterans on the giants aren't his "boys". Hoffman and Giles those guys are his boys. I dont think he cares if he hurts Ray's feelings. He wants to play Eugenio.

by Pitch 2 Barry on Apr 4, 2008 5:03 PM PDT reply actions

pretty weird

I think the Giants are in disarray right now because these veteran guys know they're not in the plans and Bochy is under pressure to play the youngsters. And BTW did you see that throw Roberts tried to make from LF today? Wow!

Check out my baseball preview breakdown if you get a chance, it's good, I promise: www.dantheman85x.blogspot.com

by dantheman85x on Apr 4, 2008 5:42 PM PDT reply actions

Has Aurilia been DFA'd yet?

"He called the sh** POOP!" -- Adam Sandler

by JRPhillips on Apr 4, 2008 6:05 PM PDT reply actions

And the hits keep rolling in

This season really is funny. I don't know if this is true. From the same article as quoted in the post

Mostly, the Giants were left to admire Brewers starter Carlos Villanueva, who originally came through the San Francisco organization but went to Milwaukee in the 2004 trade that netted pitcher Wayne Franklin. There is a story here in Cheeseland that when the Brewers asked for Villanueva in the deal, Giants general manager Brian Sabean did not know who he was.

Meanwhile, Aaron Rowand (see video) continues to impress with his adaption of the speed component of what many are referring to the end of the power era. Many consider him to be the prototypical outfielder for the 21st century, capable of batting anywhere in the batting order with others of similar skill sets. This enables the manager to approach his lineup construction with a horizontal rather than a vertical mindset.

by E Ticket on Apr 4, 2008 6:07 PM PDT reply actions

Damn you.

by sfgiantsflgators on Apr 4, 2008 7:41 PM PDT up reply actions

+1

Billy Hayes: Nine more big-league plate appearances than you.

by delorean on Apr 4, 2008 8:06 PM PDT up reply actions

Shouldn't that read

"..lack of skill sets."

Aaron "Swag" Rowand

by victor frankenstein on Apr 5, 2008 12:06 AM PDT up reply actions

I kind of just feel like it's very likely that Bochy just didn't talk to Durham, and that he didn't have an ulterior motive for not doing so, nor did he have a compelling reason not to have made the effort. He just didn't.

It's probably the least questionable thing he's done all week, anyway.

He is Vengeance. He is the Knight. He is Dave Righetti. PRAY TO HIM!

by howtheyscored on Apr 4, 2008 8:51 PM PDT reply actions

It's probably the least questionable thing he's done all week, anyway.

amen.

and if you're right about all the other stuff, as you very well may be, I think it's idiotic for Ginormodome to say out loud, to a reporter, that he hadn't even inquired about the readiness of his starting second baseman.

It's either stupid or disingenuous.

Billy Hayes: Nine more big-league plate appearances than you.

by delorean on Apr 4, 2008 9:03 PM PDT up reply actions

I think Bochy is too punchdrunk to be disingenuous

Like Tyson after Buster Douglas pummeled him. if you had to work for a bunch of smug pinheads like he does, I don't know if anybody would make much sense to the outside world. Managing for Magowan's crew has to be similar to the travails suffered by one of The Human Comb over's middle managers at Trump Casinos. Just because trust fund guys like Trump and Magowan, inherit a lot of money and somehow don't squander all of it in one generation, they're considered smart guys.

They may be, but I'm of the opinion that that smartness gets offset by egomania to a great degree. I think that is why so many of them get confused and eventually worn out by those of lesser means. They simply do not understand the world the rest of humanity lives in. Or if they do, they find it distasteful, and would rather withdraw (either literally as in Lurie's case, or figuratively as Steinbrenner did to an extent) than stoop to a place of mutual interdependence with ordinary citizens on a truly personal level.

Anyway, as far as Boulderskull, I expect by June, he will literally be drooling, mumbling with eyes crossed, and on heavy doses of prozac, valium, and tequilla shooters.

by E Ticket on Apr 4, 2008 10:54 PM PDT up reply actions

Has Bochy been talking to Mike Nolan? This Durham thing sounds a lot like the Alex Smith injury, only different.

I'm an ESPN Insider!

by The Thrill on Apr 4, 2008 9:53 PM PDT reply actions

Let's see Bochy wear a suit in the dugout first.

SAVE_US.RAY
Get yer Nattowear

by Natto on Apr 5, 2008 12:55 AM PDT up reply actions

Durham landed hard on his big butt

however his shoulder is hurt?

Only Durham...

"You're all worthless and weak, now drop and give me twenty!"

by Lidocaine on Apr 5, 2008 6:06 AM PDT reply actions

It sounds to me like Bochy is sending a message to the fans, front office and team that there is open competition for playing time. But that makes too much sense.

Bengie Molina: stretching doubles into singles since 1998.

by jasomack on Apr 5, 2008 8:12 AM PDT reply actions