More on Trammell
posted in players |Baseball Prospectus’ Jim Baker added to the discussion on Alan Trammell today. (sub req). Baker wonders if Trammell was a victim of fate.
Had Trammell been able to stay around, they’d very likely be right where they are today. They reversed course to the tune of about 200 runs this year, picking up 100 on offense and losing over 100 on the other side. Can we really attribute that kind of swing to a manager?
With the same personnel, I think Trammell would have at least been .500, but I just didn’t see anything to make me think he’s a good clubhouse manager. The bigger question is, would Trammell have taken Joel Zumaya and Justin Verlander to Detroit in the first place? Would he have given Marcus Thames an entire season in the MLB? Given the decisions he made in 2004 and 2005 — cough Higginson — I’m not so sure he would have. Those guys help account for the swing. I’m sure Trammell’s teaching went a long way toward making these Tigers the players they are today, so I certainly endorse his coaching job today and think he’ll be a success there. But I’m just not sure I agree a Trammell-managed team would be in the World Series today.
Sphere It
I seriously doubt that Trammell leads this team to the postseason. Because it wouldn’t have been the team as we now know it. No Zulander, that’s for damn sure.
Trammell, probably at the prodding of Gibson, whom I think had way too much influence with Trammell, always seemed to favor the veterans, rather than more talented younger players. Much like Sparky, for that matter.
He couldn’t keep a leash on Pudge, either. He had little to no respect for Trammell and Gibson, if you go by all of the clubhouse dyfunction stories. I doubt he would have lasted the season if Trammell was still at the helm. I could easily see him going to Dombrowski and Ilitch and giving them a “Tram or me” ultimatium.
.500? Maybe. But not much better than that…