So we get the first game in under Pete Mackanin and it ends up on the plus side for us. Did you guys see a difference in this ballclub tonight or was it too soon to tell? During tonight's game thread we talked about some of Mackanin's early mistakes. Is he just getting used to the team?
My thinking is that we are all probably so worried about getting a big name manager that it is very hard for us to respect much of what Mackanin is trying to do. I am right there with everyone in this line of thought. My saving grace is that Castellini was in the booth tonight and seemed adament in the idea of needing a manager to adjust what we have in a much better manner. I think Castellini is serious right now. He has come of to me as someone who is all talk because I am holding him to his first words to the fans on bringing championship baseball to Cincinnati.
So for any of you have lost your trust in him, take a look at what he has tried to do first. Then realize that he is at least trying and is sort of on the job training by learning from his mistakes. He realized Narron was a mistake and took care of it. He has allowed Krivsky to unload on some of his mistakes. So money has been lost at these trying matters and this team really has no way of showing where they are trying to be.
I believe they have a direction and the shoe hasn't fit right now. There are a lot of underperforming players right now and a good portion of that had to do with Narron type decisions over the course of a game. The entire organization sees a good team. We keep hearing that. Now we are hearing that we are going to get an effective leader.
If money isn't a concern for an owner, then we should have absolutely no reason to expect someone like LaRussa or Davey Johnson or Girardi to come in. Of course, that is if they even wanted the job. But Castellini is an expert in marketing, surely he could market this team for a good manager, right?
Whether that be allowing Krivsky to make some deals to bring in young future talent and free up money with the promise that said money would go into the team salary, you could show a manager and your fans that you are serious about your first statements all at the same time.
I have a new feeling about Castellini because I see him distraught and trying to work out kinks. Do you feel the same way?