Today, let's examine what it shows about Paul Molitor's tactics in the season past.
Molitor in 2015, his rookie season as skipper, did not lead the league in anything. This year, he
- used more lineups than anybody else in the AL
- made more pitching changes than anybody else in the AL
- and, of course, lost more games than anybody else.
Compared to 2015, he
- pinch-hit slightly less often
- called for more bunts, steals and runners-in-motion
- issued fewer intentional walks and was less successful with the strategy
That last segment is ... a bit odd. Team generally pinch-hit more often when behind, and lordie, the 2016 Twins were behind a lot. Teams generally break out the one-run strategies when ahead or at least tied late; again, that was not the rule for the 2016 Twins. Even the IBB -- the intentional walks is a tactic best used by the trailing team.
All this suggests that Molitor spent the season trying to "make something happen." He didn't pinch-hit as often because he wasn't starting defensive specialists; he was starting weaker fielders in an effort to push the offense. Eduard Nunez and Jorge Polanco at short. Juan Centeno at catcher. Miguel Sano as a right fielder. Even Danny Santana -- he hasn't hit for Molitor, but Molitor plays him as if he will.
Juggle the lineup. Change the pitcher. Put on the hit-and-run. Molitor was the managerial equivalent of the famous cartoon of two buzzards, one saying to the other: "Patience, my ass. I say let's go kill something." Molitor may have been losing, but he wasn't passive tactically. Indeed, he may have been trying too hard.
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