If there was any doubt that managers in Major League Baseball have little to no influence on the success of their teams, that should be dispelled by the 2024 season. Bruce Bochy was widely praised for leading the Texas Rangers to the World Series in 2023, but the Rangers are now 59-69 and effectively out of the postseason race in August.
The Chicago Cubs paid Craig Counsell the highest managerial salary in baseball history after a successful tenure with the Milwaukee Brewers. The Cubs are now 62-65, 11.5 games behind the first-place Brewers.
Nevertheless, managers serve a useful purpose for major league front offices: They are useful scapegoats for poor roster construction.
The Seattle Mariners will fire coach Scott Servais on Thursday, according to Ken Rosenthal of the New York Times. The athlete. This would have been unthinkable just two months ago. But since the end of June, things have been as bad as they could be in Seattle.
HOUSTON: Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29) is congratulated by Seattle Mariners center fielder Julio Rodriguez after hitting a solo home run against the Houston Astros in the ninth inning at Minute Maid Park on May 5, 2024. Photo: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports
Scott Servais pays the price for Seattle’s lack of offensive talent
As of June 18, the Mariners held a 10-game lead over the Houston Astros in the American League West. Their pitching staff was fourth in the American League in runs allowed and their offense contributed just enough to a 44-31 record.
Since then, however, the Mariners are 20-33, the second-worst record in baseball. That 10-game lead has not only evaporated, but has turned into a five-game deficit in the division. The Mariners have scored just 207 runs over the last two months, the third-lowest total, ahead of only the pathetic Chicago White Sox and Tampa Bay Rays.
Still, their expected record over that span is much closer to .500. But as is often the case in a game dictated by a healthy dose of luck, they have underperformed after an above-average performance to start the season. This season, their run differential is that of a 66-62 team, and they are 64-64. Not surprising considering the struggles of Julio Rodriguez and the rest of the Mariners offense.
The straw that broke the camel’s back for Mariners decision-makers was apparently an 8-1 road trip that ended in a victory for the Los Angeles Dodgers. But as is often the case with such decisions, Servais’ dismissal is a result of mistakes made by Mariners management in assembling the roster.
Victor Robles was cut from the roster by the Washington Nationals earlier this year. Luke Raley, Leo Rivas, Jorge Polanco, Mitch Haniger, Dylan Moore…that’s not exactly a scary roster. Seattle could and should have built more support for Julio Rodriguez. But that’s not the case. Servais may not have been the best manager in the game, but it’s not his fault that the roster he got isn’t particularly good.
It’s time to stop pretending that managers matter.
