BRAIN FARTS HAPPEN - - - TO MANAGERS

It was another typical Cub play. Luis Valbuena doubles to extend a two out rally against the Reds, putting the Cubs within a run of tying the baseball game. After his double, Valbuena wanders off second base, looking out to left field while taking off his batting gloves. Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips sneaks in behind, and pitcher Mike Leake throws to second. Valbuena is tagged out without even noticing what is happening. Another blunderbuss baserunning snafu. 

As Paul Sullivan of the Tribune reports, Manager Dale Sveum "can only shake his head at the latest in a series of mental gaffes by his players." Sullivan writes that  Sveum said the gaffe wasn’t reflective of the coaching staff, but of the player’s lack of focus.  “I don’t take anything to heart when a player gets picked off standing and gazing at the stars,” Sveum said.

It is interesting to note that Sveum's first reaction is defend HIMSELF by saying by saying baserunning gaffes are not "reflective of the coaching staff." He puts full blame on the players for their lack of focus.

All season long, Sveum has been yelling and harping on Starlin Castro's miscues in the field as a "lack of focus." Sveum has been harsh with Castro, because in some circles "tough love" is used to make a future team leader stronger. Castro, who signed a new long term extension, is the Cubs franchise shortstop.

But the double standard is apparent. Sveum has only gone after Castro. The rest of the team, especially the veterans, have been given passes on their baseball IQ lapses.

Sveum downplays Valbuena's bonehead play. “That’s one of these things,” Sveum said. “We have one of these things every three or four days that are not even explainable. You obviously don’t practice staying on a base when a pitcher isn’t on the mound. (These are) things that just boggle your mind, for major league players who have played a lot of baseball to just be looking off into left field when the pitcher is on the mound.  These things get unacceptable. And (asking) why are these things happening drives you crazy as a manager because there’s no rhyme or reason for things like that to happen.”

So Valbuena's mental error in the field, which directly killed a rally, is "unacceptable" behavior. Except, Valbuena is not benched for the next game. Why?

"(He) feels as bad as anybody,” Sveum said. “It’s not one of those things where you’re dogging it or anything like that. Why these brain farts happen ... it’s not (cause to) bench anybody over it. It’s hard to fathom when something like that happens, especially in a key moment of the ballgame. We had (Leake) on the ropes right there.”


So Valbuena in the line-up in a game that does not change the fortunes of the Cubs in the standings is more important than sending a clear message that such mental "brain farts" are unacceptable behavior. This is the problem with Cubs coaches: there is almost zero accountability on the players for their bad play. As a result bad play is tolerated, in some cases, now even expected during the season. So, why during a perfect "learning situation," does Valbuena continue to be rewarded with playing time at third base, at the expense of prospect Josh Vitters?

“We don’t have people who are here that are guaranteed jobs,” Sveum said. “That alone is a motivating factor for stuff like that to not happen. You’ve got to learn how to focus 300 pitches a game, nine or 10 innings, to never let your guard down. Those are the things we’re evaluating for people we want in this organization when we get ready to win.”


Except, it looks like Sveum has given up evaluating Vitters for next season by playing Valbuena today. It is another example of the inconsistency of the manager to assess and address these baseball issues with players. Favoritism of veterans and harshness towards young players is not a winning formula on the North Side. In fact, it is a poor reflection on management.