Joe Morgan is an Absolute Embarassment

Billy Beane: Sometimes Joe doesn't like facts to get in the way of his opinions.

I don't expect every major leaguer to welcome the new onslaught of numbers and statistics into "their" game with open arms, but at the very least I'd appreciate an open mind. Players like Reggie Jackson and Derek Jeter oppose the controversial destruction of the concept of clutch hitting, but that is not surprising considering their pasts. Joe Morgan is also skeptical of the conclusions drawn from numerous calculations but is far more vocal about his opinion (the custom in MLB is that if you strongly object to a statisitcal calculation that you can't refute effectively, just remain quite unless questioned about it).

On multiple occurrences Morgan has berated Michael Lewis' Moneyball, though he has the misguided view that Beane wrote the book despite constant attempts to inform him otherwise. While the book is clearly biased in its presentation of a new outlook on baseball, one must give it credit for introducing a revolutionary scheme. Morgan abhors the new statistical discoveries to such a large degree that he has not even read the book that he claims is completely devoid of worth.

Sadly, not only has Morgan's rash disregard for reason not tarnished his public reputation, it hasn't slowed down his announcing career either. Morgan carries his misguided beliefs into the booth every time he works for espn who has ironically paired him with one of the more passive, but quality, play by play announcers in the business, Jon Miller. On several occasions have I listened to Morgan's stupidity run unchecked on national television and I am becoming increasingly frustrated with Morgan's pure idiocy.

Last year Cubs manager Dusty Baker opted not to pinch hit for one of his scrawnier hitters (the Cubs are filled with scrappy mid-infielders and I apologizing for not remembering the collection of junk the Cubs are forced to use) in a bases loaded situation trailing by two. Morgan repeatedly belittled Baker for not pinch hitting, claiming that the batter "didn't drive in runs, he only scored them". On the third pitch the little man launched the ball into the right field bleachers, giving the Cubs the lead. Before he could get to second Baker blurted out "You know I've been talking to Dusty lately about how this kid has really turned his hitting ability around and made himself a better player." I nearly jumped through a window. I wish I had been sitting in the booth to replay the previous 3 minutes where Morgan would not shut up about Baker's foolishness to Morgan himself.

On July 2nd, the Yankees responded to the Mets' early 4 run lead with an offensive explosion in the 3rd inning. After the Mets were already down three runs (they'd eventually end the inning down 9-4) Morgan decided it was time to use the clarity hindsight to blame Randolph for the sudden turn events. "He should've pulled Soler earlier and brought in Darren Oliver!" screamed Morgan multiple times before his co-worker Jon Miller interjected with an obvious flaw in Morgan's proposition, "But with an 11 game lead in the division, wouldn't you prefer to not put a strain on your bullpen and suffer possible repercussions down the rest of the season?" Miller's qualm was a result of Pedro's recent injury and the Mets were preparing to start Oliver the following day in his place. "You can't worry bout the 11 game lead, you have to win today. All you have to worry about is winning this game, I don't care about how far ahead you are in the division." countered Morgan.

0 games as a manager
0 games as a bench coach
0 games as any type of hitting, pitching or fielding instructor
0 games as a base coach
0 games as an affiliate of an major league organization in an influential position

There lies the managing career of Joe Morgan after his retirement in 1984.

1.5 years as manager of New York Mets.
1 year as Yankee bench coach
10 years as Yankee third base coach

Randolph played a coaching role in 4 world championship teams and has turned an underachieving team into the NL's strongest.

For the following 2 innings Morgan assaulted Randolph's move (or lack thereof) until Miller finally conceded his numerous attempts to reason with his counter part with basic baseball logic. Sure enough the Mets, hindered by lack of available arms, needed Oliver in the next game.

A week later, on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball game, Morgan was present at the NL Central showdown between the Astros and Cardinals. The Cardinals had gotten leadoff man Eckstein on trailing 2-0 on the top of the eighth. Morgan insisted that Spiezio should bunt despite the fact that St. Louis needed two runs, not one. Instead of listening to Morgan, Larussa smartly put the hit and run on and Spiezio delivered with a single that advanced Eckstein to third. Morgan's comment: "See, now that's a lot better than a bunt." Needless to say the Cardinals proceeded to score five runs that inning, and after several misuses of their fatigued bullpen they allowed the Astros to tie the game and send it into extra innings. In the twelfth the Cards once again had Eckstein on 1st with nobody out, but this time with Iguchi at the plate. Not surprisingly Morgan strongly advocated the bunt (though to his credit the Cards did need just one run to take the lead) but Miller caught him off guard, "Yes but if you bunt, you're taking the bat out of the hands of your best clutch Albert Pujols" referring to Phil Garner's predictable decision to intentionally walk Pujols with 1st base open. Morgan's response (word for word) "Yes, but you want to score runs!"

Silence. Miller didn't understand and frankly no one else ever will understand the thought process that occurs in Joe Morgan's head.