We’ve taken a look at Ryne Sandberg each week in this “Sizing Up Sandberg” column. Some good moves, like plucking John Mayberry off the bench at just the right time, or expecting Kyle Kendrick to hit a sacrifice fly, were legitimate moves that could be praised or ripped. This week, the team was just so bad that there was a small pool of moves to even consider.
However, there is more of theme that Sandberg can be measured up against. The Phillies looked lifeless and had countless mistakes across the board from players and coaches.
You know things are bad when Chase Utley is making mistakes all over the bases and in the field. Cole Hamels, a veteran, failed to cover first base. Pete Mackanin was coaching thirdbase as poorly as, well, Ryne Sandberg. And yet some players seemingly remained satisfied with what was going on. Ben Revere hit a solo home run trailing by three and acted like he hit a go-ahead home run in a World Series game. Larry Bowa ripped Dom Brown’s seemingly care-free attitude about struggling.
With that being the case, you have to wonder about the accountability. Brown didn’t hustle and didn’t lose a second of playing time. Revere made a bone-head mistake not tagging up and was promoted up the lineup the next day. I can’t speculate what happens behind closed doors, but I can only comment on what I see and I see no one being held accountable.
Sandberg did hold a team meeting Tuesday in Washington. Those are the types of things that are either turning points, as it was when Charlie Manuel held one in 2010 and the team erupted for a 27-8 finish.
Now, it would be unfair for me to fault Sandberg for having a poor meeting after the team did not respond and were swept in Washington. But whatever he said did not turn things around, that much is clear. Looking ahead, one can only wonder what other tricks Sandberg has up his sleeve to save the season as it is quickly going down the drain.
