Sosh is doing something with the Angels that defies contemporary analytical study, perhaps because contemporary analytics is based on mainstream events and methods of the past. So Sosh is doing something different. Something that nobody can put a finger on. Something that is extremely successful. Something that spans players, general managers, and owners.

Patrick may just recognize that Sosh is playing a slightly different (elevated) game than everybody else, and may be a decade ahead of the rest of baseball. But since what he does is not easily identified and remains inaccessible, Sosh is too readily subjugated as “not quite the best”. Dan Patrick must think differently about the issue. Bravo.

Soxh’s line up’s and his sticking with guys who are clearly not producing leaves me scratching my head. I can show you the bald spot if you like. That being said, what soxh brings to the team and to the bigger picture is stability and having every team at every level play the game the way Mike wants it to be played. Everyone at every level knows their role. Their is no confusion. Just Angel baseball.

And Buddy Black, if he gets anywhere near .500 with his sack of clods this year.

What Scioscia has done that’s arguably unique to baseball (with the possible exception of Maddon) is build an entire organizational culture from top down, one that has seemingly been both successful and sustainable. He has also — as much as we hate on him! — done an overall very good job in overhauling the major league roster with young in-house talent that happens to be inculcated with his vision. That’s different than, say, Torre.

His in-game strategies and lineups can certainly bug, as can his deference to veterans, and I think he needs to get another World Series before he really earns the top slot, but he’s damned close, and we’re damned lucky.

Soth (Maddon, Black) is Bill Belichek (Mangini, Crennel).

Even though you can argue that the Belichek disciples have struggled, the key is that teams in both leagues will reward success and pluck from that tree as often as possible to try and recreate the same magic.

I thought is was and absolute steal the day he signed, and I’ll still feel that way in a decade.