Stumbled across a factoid while writing another post...

Building up for the post season, I was planning on writing a series of obsessive lists about players and coaches who are looking to win their first World Series ring.

I have a fixation with people getting their World Series ring as I can only imagine it would be the apex of anyone's career... and NOT winning one must be a never ending source of frustration.

So I was looking up info on the coaching staffs of the teams that have either clinched a spot in the post season (Yankees, Cardinals, Dodgers, Angels) those who will clinch in the next day or so (Red Sox, Phillies) and those still fighting for a spot (Tigers, Twins, Rockies, Braves) to see which  coaches are looking for THEIR first ever World Series ring.

And the bit of trivia I have discovered was this...

All the managers of the teams still with October aspirations already have a World Series ring... except for Rockies manager Jim Tracy.

Joe Girardi of the the Yankees won as a player during the Joe Torre era.

Terry Francona of the Red Sox managed the 2004 and 2007 Red Sox teams.

Mike Scioscia of the Angels won as a player with the 1981 and 1988 Dodgers and as a manager with the 2002 Angels.

Jim Leyland of the Tigers managed the 1997 Marlins.

Ron Gardenhire of the Twins earned a ring as a coach for the 1991 Twins.

Charlie Manuel of the Phillies managed the 2008 World Champion Phillies.

Tony LaRussa of the Cardinals managed the 1989 A's and the 2006 Cardinals.

Joe Torre of the Dodgers managed the 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000 Yankees.

Bobby Cox of the Braves managed the 1995 Braves.

Which means Tracy stands alone as a ringless manager.

And if the Braves pass the Rockies for the Wild Card, then this whole "winning a ring" would be old hat for ALL the managers.

A strange thing happened at the Dodger game the other day

I'm talking about the August 27th game between the Dodgers and the Rockies.

I was listening to the game in my car and there was a managerial decision that has been bugging me because it made no sense to me.

In this critical game, the Dodgers had a 3-2 lead in the 9th. Torre had already brought in Jonathan Broxton to escape an 8th inning jam. Broxton was in the #5 hole because of a previous double switch.

In the top of the 9th, Franklin Morales was pitching for Colorado. He had thrown a 1-2-3 8th inning and got the first two out in the 9th when Andre Ethier reached on an error. 

Manny Ramirez was up next followed by Broxton.

Rockies manager Jim Tracy walked Ramirez. A no brainer. Who would you rather face in Coors Field? A Hall of Famer or a reliever with 4 career plate appearances?

So Ramirez is put on... and remember Morales has pitched well thus far... and should have been out of the inning because of the error... and now is pitching against a reliever.

And Jim Tracy makes a pitching change.

And more than that... a double switch.

He removed Brad Hawpe from the lineup, brought in Ryan Spilborghs to play the outfield and put Rafael Betancourt on the hill.

Am I missing something?

I checked the Rockies websites, and Morales wasn't injured.

Why the heck did Jim Tracy not trust Morales against a reliever who has only 3 more plate appearances than Eddie Gaedel? 

Did Morales plead his case?

"Skip! This guy is 0-4 lifetime and doesn't participate in batting practice. I have a plan on how to get him out!"

"What is it?"

"I am going to throw the ball towards the plate and he won't hit it."

He had no problem having him throw to Andre Ethier but was there a scouting report saying "Broxton kills Morales. He takes him deep!"

Maybe he thought Broxton was due.

Rolling Rockies

Well, it looks like getting rid of Clint Hurdle was the right move for the Rockies.

Jim Tracy has been the manager for 15 games and they've won 11 of them, including the last 9.

I bet you didn't know the Rockies just won 9 in a row. I bet there are people in Denver who didn't know that.

But Ubaldo Jimenez threw a complete game in Coors (humidor or not, that is quite an accomplishment) and the Rockies are playing like it is late September/early October 2007.

Before you say it's too late, keep in mind they are 3 1/2 games back of the wild card with 101 to play.

They were 4 1/2 out of the wild card with 13 to play in 2007.

Let's start seeing a full Coors Field, Denver fans.