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San Jose Giants Internet Broadcasts Discussion Membership
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Lenn Sakata: One Man's Opinion
by Chris R. Lampe Last Thursday night at San Jose Municipal Stadium, the San Jose Giants routed the Bakersfield Blaze by a 13-2 score. The win was the 527th for San Jose manager Lenn Sakata, making him the winningest manager in California League history. I have had the personal pleasure to watch Sakata as a manager since 1999. In my opinion he is the best manager I have ever seen in the twenty years that I have been associated with the California League. Many San Jose fans would argue that 2005 was his finest year as he led the Giants to the best regular season record and came back from a 0-2 deficit in the finals to win the California League title. I would beg to differ, as his leadership in 2000 and 2001 were, in one man's opinion, his finest years in the California League. In 1999 Sakata took the San Jose Giants to within one pitch of the California League title, losing to the San Bernardino Stampede in the final game of the Championship series. The Giants had the tying and winning runs on second and third as Pedro Mota took a third called strike to end the season. The San Francisco Giants assigned Sakata to manage the Bakersfield Blaze in 2000. From 1997 to 2000 the San Francisco Giants fielded two teams in the California League. Bakersfield was considered by many to be the "B" team entry for San Francisco. In 2000 Sakata guided the Blaze to the second best record in the California League, winning the second half of the Northern Division. Sakata fielded a team that would produce only one future major leaguer, outfielder Carlos Valderrama who had a total of seven major league at-bats. The San Jose Giants, in 2000 had three future major league pitchers in Joe Horgan, Jack Taschner and Jerome Williams. Future major leaguer Tony Torcato and California League All-Star first baseman Sean McGowan led the Giants in the field. The San Jose Giants, the San Francisco "A" team finished 27 games behind Sakata's Bakersfield Blaze! Needless to say Bakersfield made the playoffs while San Jose missed for only the second time in their, at the time, twelve year history. While Sakata's 2000 run with the Blaze was outstanding, his 2001 season with the San Jose Giants was even greater. The 2001 San Jose Giants were the only California League team to win both halves. They compiled the second best record in the California League and were named Co-Champions with the Lake Elsinore Storm (best regular season record in 2001) due to the 9/11 national tragedy that canceled the minor league playoffs. The question that begs to be answered is, how did the San Jose Giants win in 2001? Consider the following: 1. The 2001 SJ Giants had a NEGATIVE Run Differential, giving up 19 more runs than they scored! The only other 4 SJ Giants teams with a Negative Run Differential finished 10th (1997), 9th (2000), 7th (2002) and 9th (2003) respectively! 2. The 2001 SJ Giants were 4th in Batting of the 6 playoff teams. 3. The 2001 SJ Giants were 5th in ERA of the 6 playoff teams. 4. The 2001 SJ Giants were 8th in the league in Home Runs. 5. The 2001 SJ Giants were 10th (worst) in the league in Strikeouts by pitchers. 6. No batter had more than 120 base hits for the 2001 SJ Giants. 7. Only 2 batters had more than 50 RBIs for the 2001 SJ Giants. 8. The starting right fielder and center fielder had a total of 4 home runs in 836 at-bats for the 2001 SJ Giants. 9. No pitcher struck out 100 batters for the SJ Giants. 10. Two starting pitchers had a combined 0-19 record in 27 starts! 11. The 2001 SJ Giants had the fewest walks in SJ Giants history at that time. 12. The 2001 SJ Giants struck out more than any team in SJ Giants history. 13. The 2001 SJ Giants allowed more earned runs than any team in SJ Giants history except for the 1997, 2000 and 2003 SJ Giants which finished in 10th, 9th and 9th place respectively. 14. The starting catcher and third baseman were lost to season ending injuries. 15. The team's 2 leading hitters were promoted at mid-season. 16. The team leader in runs scored was promoted just after mid-season. 17. 49 players performed for the 2001 SJ Giants, 25 pitchers, 24 position players. 18. 12 different hurlers started games for the 2001 SJ Giants. 19. From May 25th thru June 2"d, the 2001 SJ Giants lost 9 games in a row, the third longest losing streak in SJ Giants history. 20. The catcher who caught the most games in 2001 was Jeff Alfano, who appeared in a grand total of 49 games behind the plate. The answer is "Lenny-Ball!" Manager Lenn Sakata never complained about the constant roster moves or injuries. He was always there for his players. He instilled confidence and taught them the fundamentals of the game of baseball He led with quiet reserve and believed in his players. They, in turn, responded with a championship performance! Lenn Sakata, since his first year in the California League, has had nothing but winning half seasons and winning seasons. He has taken his teams to the playoffs every year since 1999. To this one observer, however, what he accomplished in 2000 and 2001 were his greatest achievements. His managerial skills produced winning teams under trying circumstances. And in 2001 he earned the cherished "Ring" for his team. Congratulations to Lenn Sakata, the winningest manager in California League history. He is a credit to himself, the San Jose Giants and the California League.
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