![\"Wotus4\"](\"https:\/\/haughtcorner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/wotus4.png?w=246\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Ron Wotus is terrific. And he deserves to be a big-league manager.<\/p>\n
Now.<\/p>\n
He was Manager of the Year in A-ball and AAA. His teams won consistently. He was the Giants’ bench coach for 18 years, under three managers.<\/p>\n
He has run spring training for the Giants. He is organized and thorough.<\/p>\n
His players rave about his skills as the Giants’ longtime infield coach. He has helped to develop Gold Glove winners Brandon Crawford, Brandon Belt, and Joe Panik.<\/p>\n
When Bruce Bochy has had health issues or (ahem) disagreements with umpires, the Giants turned to Ron Wotus to keep things running smoothly. Make all the right moves.<\/p>\n
And he does.<\/p>\n
He has nothing left to prove.<\/p>\n
Yet several times — with the Pirates, Dodgers, Mariners, Rays, Padres, and Nationals — he interviewed well by all accounts, yet never came away with the big prize.<\/p>\n
That’s a shame. And some team(s) and organizations are weaker because of that.<\/p>\n
I am a displaced Giants fan of long standing, who has lived in the Midwest most of my life. As such, I am often questioned about my loyalty:<\/p>\n
Who’s your favorite team?<\/em><\/p>\n The Giants.<\/p>\n The<\/em> Giants? Why?<\/em><\/p>\n Well, I like the organization. The way they do things.<\/p>\n And who is your favorite on the team?<\/em><\/p>\n Ron Wotus.<\/p>\n Who?<\/em><\/p>\n The bench coach. Now the infield coach.<\/p>\n Huh?<\/em><\/p>\n “He’s so smart. Listen to him in interviews. He’s articulate, and he is obviously a great teacher.\u00a0 He loves to win. He has a great track record as a manager and working with the infielders.”<\/p>\n I can understand why people think I’m crazy to like a coach more than the players. But the really<\/em> crazy people are those who had a chance to hire Ron as a field manager and didn’t do it.<\/p>\n Here’s to you, Ron. I hope some organization wises up and hands you the reins soon.<\/p>\n See my “In Appreciation” story about Ron Wotus here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"