East Coast Bias against the Giants?

[sharksrog]

The MLB Network has put together its top 10 RIGHT NOW at 10 positions including reliever, as well as the top 10 managers. So how did the Giants fare?

They had no one mentioned as far as I know at shortstop, first base or in left field (although former Giant Melky Cabrera was ranked #8 in left). But they fared pretty well elsewhere.

As an aside, I have to admit I was impressed with how many good players there were at most positions.

They had "honorable mentions" among starting pitchers (Matt Cain), center fielders (Angel Pagan) and right field (Hunter Pence).

And they had five who placed in the top 10.

Pablo Sandoval was ranked #10 among third basemen. Had he been healthier and not seen his power sapped by two broken hamate bones in two years, he likely would have been ranked higher. And that, even though he has been heavily criticized here among Giants fans.

Marco Scutaro was ranked somewhere between #7 and #10. I can't quite remember which, although I think that, like Pablo, it was #10. Bill James ranked Marco #5, and Bill works for the Red Sox, which is about as East Coast as it gets.

In perhaps the biggest surprise, Sergio Romo was ranked #2 among all relief pitchers. Sergio has something like 15 saves in his career, so it is hard to see an anti-type bias there. It's been only two or three years since Sergio came under heavy criticism here for giving up a couple of critical late- and extra-inning home runs.

Perhaps the most criticized of all Giants aside from Brian Sabean is Bruce Bochy. All he did, for the second straight season, was get ranked the top manager in the game.

Finally, in perhaps the least surprising development of them all, Buster Posey was ranked the #1 catcher. Even Buster is criticized here on at least a weekly basis.

So out of 11 rankings, the Giants finished with two firsts and two seconds. And EACH of them has been criticized here, one heavily and one almost mercilously.

So I ask you, where was that East Coast bias? It would seem there is more bias here on this board than in the MLB rankings.

[sharksrog]

When speaking about Bruce Bochy, those on Clubhouse Confidential spoke about his willingness to take a chance, about how he wasn't afraid to play young players, and how he handed his bullpen. About the last quality, one of the panelists said Bruce was as good as he had ever seen.

While to me what Bruce has done with his bullpen has been almost entirely common sense, perhaps it has been his willingness to defy convention (such as by using the bullpen-by-committee) that has made him stand out. Bruce has also been more proactive than most in using his closer for more than one inning. He was praised for his usage of Tim Lincecum in this past postseason.

Most agree with what we have discussed here, that the primary job of the manager is to manage men more than to manage the game.

The guy whose judgment I most valued ranked Bruce 2nd. Boly will like this: He ranked Mike Scoscia #1. The guy is Chris Jaffe, who wrote a book evaluating the all-time managers.

Brian Kenny spoke of Bruce as being a potential Hall of Fame candidate, although it's rather shocking how few managers make the Hall and how many good candidates Bruce would likely have to wait behind.

Former Giants manager Dusty Baker was ranked #3, with his ability being cited to motivate players by getting them to like playing for him. He was given some praise for how he handled the Reds' bullpen this past season.

Baker is one of the few managers who has put three teams in the playoffs, while Bochy is one of the few who has won a pennant with two teams.

Speaking of Bruce's old team, the Padres, has anyone checked them out to see if they are likely to be for real this season?

[Islandboagie]

Rog- So out of 11 rankings, the Giants finished with two firsts and two seconds. And EACH of them has been criticized here, one heavily and one almost mercilously.

So I ask you, where was that East Coast bias? It would seem there is more bias here on this board than in the MLB rankings.

Boagie- In almost all cases where Giants players or manager got good rankings it was in spite of the east coast bias. Buster, Bochy and Sergio put up indisputable numbers. Bochy and the Giants have won two of the last 3 World Series, and there was still a question to me whether he would get #1. There'd be no question whether A yankee or Redsox manager would get it if they achieved the same feat.

But, I don't think we're talking about the MLB persay when we talk of east coast bias. The MLB Network is made up of alot of ex players, analysts, and baseball minds from various areas. Whereas ESPN and other large sports media companies are made up of alot of east coast writers.

[sharksrog]

Rog- So out of 11 rankings, the Giants finished with two firsts and two seconds. And EACH of them has been criticized here, one heavily and one almost mercilously.

So I ask you, where was that East Coast bias? It would seem there is more bias here on this board than in the MLB rankings.

Boagie- In almost all cases where Giants players or manager got good rankings it was in spite of the east coast bias.

Rog -- I get it. If the Giants or one of theirs isn't highly ranked, it is because of the East Coast bias, and if they are highly ranked, it is is in spite of it. Now I understand.

Boagie -- Buster, Bochy and Sergio put up indisputable numbers.

Rog -- In the case of Buster, I would agree. In the case of Bruce, no two people can agree on just what makes a good manager, so just how exactly is it that Bruce put up indisputable numbers? And what were those numbers.

With regard to Romo, there is a bias (not necessarily any stronger on the East Coast than elsewhere, in favor of closers. Sergio doesn't have much experience other than as a set up man. What are the numbers that sustain him?

Boagie -- Bochy and the Giants have won two of the last 3 World Series, and there was still a question to me whether he would get #1.

Rog -- I wasn't certain he would. But given that he was ranked #1 a year ago after the Giants hadn't even made the playoffs, I would have been surprised if he hadn't again been chosen #1. What did he do last season that would have reduced his ranking?

Boagie -- There'd be no question whether A yankee or Redsox manager would get it if they achieved the same feat.

Rog -- Really? I believe Joey Girardi has the most wins of any manager over the past five seasons or so, and I believe he was in the second half of the top 10. IMO you have precious little to support your positions here, Boagie.

Boagie -- But, I don't think we're talking about the MLB persay when we talk of east coast bias. The MLB Network is made up of alot of ex players, analysts, and baseball minds from various areas. Whereas ESPN and other large sports media companies are made up of alot of east coast writers.

Rog -- The MLB Network is headuartered in Seacausus, New Jersey, which is fairly close to the East Coast on my atlas. Of course, the MLB Network's rankings are done by the objective "Shredder."

Are you saying that an objective method can overcome the East Coast bias? If so, that speaks pretty well for objective methods, doesn't it?

Are you pro-analytics here, or simply for anything that will overcome the alleged "East Coast bias." By the way, how can the East Coast be biased? Is it against the Atlantic Ocean or something?

Read more: sfgiantsmessageboard.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=1559&page=1#8950#ixzz2LD3bQlW7