The Thrilling Competence of Joe Maddon and Terry Francona

At some point, the producers of baseball broadcasts for television decided that the managers were the most important people in the ballpark. During this World Series, between what seems to be nearly every important pitch, the camera cuts to Terry Francona, of the Cleveland Indians, or Joe Maddon, of the Chicago Cubs, standing on the top steps of their respective dugouts, surveying the field, looking hopeful, or worried, or a bit bored—much like the rest of us. Unlike their peers in other sports, during games, baseball managers don’t seem very busy. Sometimes they signal to a coach on the field; occasionally a microphone catches a stray shout of encouragement to one of their players. When things get really exciting, they pick up a phone to call the bullpen or walk out onto the field to make a pitching change. Still, the TV tells us that it’s mostly in this stillness of a middle-aged man bearing witness that much of the drama resides. Watching baseball is, to some degree, about watching a manager watch the game.

See the rest of the story at newyorker.com

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