SABR: 1977, When Weaver Became Weaver

[weams]

http://sabr.org/research/1977-when-earl-weaver-became-earl-weaver

Earl Weaver as a grand strategist is remembered today for his philosophy on the merits of the three-run home run (he subtitled the chapter on offense in Weaver on Strategy "Praised Be the Three-Run Homer"), disdain for run-creation strategies (they cost outs and are inefficient), and deliberately building his bench with pinch hitting and substitution options for position players in anticipation of batter-pitcher matchups. This also allowed him to platoon in his daily starting line-up with nearly wild abandon. "You need someone for each job that needs to be done when the time arises," he wrote. Weaver was a manager with a plan for every individual player on his team. The Earl of Baltimore did not want mere emergency back-up players on the bench, who rarely played but were there when needed. He didn't just want "utility" players who could play a variety of positions, or a power bat from each side of the plate. He had in mind a specific set of roles "that's plural" for each player sitting on the Baltimore Orioles bench. He knew what each could do in particular situations against particular pitchers, and used them often and accordingly. Everybody played, and he expected them all to contribute

[weams]