Norman Chad: Managerial expectations set too high

In 10 seasons as New York Yankees manager, Joe Girardi produced 10 winning records, six playoff appearances and a World Series title.

In two seasons as Washington Nationals manager, Dusty Baker won two division titles, with records of 95-67 and 97-65.

Both were fired recently.

Turning to the other extreme, in the NBA last week, Earl Watson was fired as coach of the Phoenix Suns three games into the season; in the team’s defense, he was 0-3.

Girardi and Baker never had a chance, looking at their organizations’ recent history.

Before Girardi, the Yankees had run off Joe Torre in 2007; Torre had managed the team 12 seasons, with 12 playoff appearances and four World Series titles. The Yankees essentially gave him an offer he could refuse, and he refused it

Meanwhile, Baker is the third straight winning manager – following Davey Johnson and Matt Williams – that the Nationals have axed; none of them lasted three seasons.

If these front offices ran NASA, they would’ve fired Neil Armstrong in 1969 when he walked on the moon because he hadn’t made it to Mars yet.

Management seems to believe there is somebody better on the horizon.

Actually, this all starts with the age-old flawed premise that the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence – or road, if you don’t have a fence.

It’s not; I’ve been to the other side of the road, where usually there is a strip mall with a 7-Eleven, a nail salon, a coin-op laundry and a bail bondsman. And, more often than not, there’s not even any grass at that strip mall.

Problematically, the Yankees and the Nationals follow the notion that, if you’re very good but can’t win a championship, to get over the hump you must find a new leader.

This seldom works.

Time and again throughout history, civilizations wish they still had what they had forsaken:

• John, King of England, replacing Richard the Lionhearted.
• New Coke replacing the original Coke.
• Erinn Hayes replacing Leah Remini on a Kevin James sitcom.
• Artisan cupcakes replacing fried Twinkies.
• Social media replacing suffering in silence.

It’s even possible that, after one of my ex-wives decided to replace me, she discovered that the Mae West credo, “Between two evils, I always pick the one I never tried before,” to be tragically in error.

Analytics now drives the sensibility of the suits upstairs; they treat sport as science, and when the product doesn’t match their prognosis, they seek change. But here’s the thing: Climate is a science. Medicine is a science. Science is a science. But baseball? No.

In sport, all the analytics in the world cannot account for a player waking up with a bad back or a ball bouncing an odd way or a momentum shift when a mathematically correct decision fails. All the analytics cannot account for team chemistry, motivational tools and countless intangibles that shape athletic performance and game results.

Anyway, for New York and Washington, the solution here is obvious and easy:

The Yankees should hire Baker and the Nationals should hire Girardi. And one of them should bring on Earl Watson as their bench coach.

Ask The Slouch

Q: So as I watch the World Series, I notice that any time there is a mound conference, every pitcher, catcher, pitching coach, manager, shortstop or third baseman covers his mouth with his hand or glove when talking. If you had covered your mouth during your first two marriage ceremonies, do you think the outcomes may have been different? (Jeff Dent; South Charleston, W.Va.)

A: Actually, no.

Q: Any advice for an aspiring poker commentator? (Tom Pollins; Rockville, Md.)

A: If you’re working alongside Lon McEachern, stand on an apple box.

Q: Is the Astros’ Brian McCann wise to save his arm strength by walking out to the mound seven times every inning? (Bob Bonville; East Greenbush, N.Y.)

A: Pay the man, Shirley.

Q: Did you know that while I was typing this question, Dave Roberts attempted to replace me with a relief reader? (Scott Shuster; Newton, Mass.)

A: Pay the man, Shirley.

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