Athletes - Mike Scioscia

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	Athletes - Mike Scioscia

Michael Lorri "Mike" Scioscia (born November 27, 1958 in Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania) is a former catcher and current manager in Major League Baseball. His last name is pronounced SO-shuh.

Since 1999, he has served as the manager of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, leading them to their first World Series championship in 2002, their fourth American League (AL) West division title in 2004 (their first since 1986), and their fifth AL West division title in 2005.

Playing career

Mike Scioscia was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1st round (19th overall pick) of the 1976 amateur draft, debuting for the Dodgers in 1980 (replacing Steve Yeager) and playing 12 years for the team. He went to the San Diego Padres in 1993, but suffered a torn rotator cuff injury during spring training that year and did not play in any regular season games for the team. He closed out his career with the Texas Rangers in 1994 after a failed attempt to come back from the injury, again without having played in any regular season games that year. Thus, the Dodgers are the only Major League team for whom Scioscia ever played in a meaningful game.

Exclusively a catcher, the 6-foot, 2-inch, 230 pound Scioscia was primarily known for his defense. Former Dodgers vice president Al Campanis once called Mike Scioscia the best plate-blocking catcher he had seen in his 46-year baseball career. In one collision with St. Louis Cardinals' slugger Jack Clark in July, 1985, Scioscia was knocked unconscious but still held onto the ball.

Offensively, Scioscia was generally unspectacular, but he was known as a solid contact hitter, striking out fewer than once every 14 at bats over the course of his career. He also hit a dramatic, ninth inning, game-tying, home run against the New York Mets' Dwight Gooden in the Game 4 of the 1988 National League Championship Series. Scioscia's homer was crucial to the Dodgers' ultimately winning that series.

Scioscia was a key player on the Dodgers' 1981 and 1988 World Series champion teams, and is the Dodgers' all-time leader in games caught (1,395.)

Career Statistics

Coaching Style

His coaching style is widely written about among the baseball press (especially in Southern California). It can be characterized by two things: taking the season one game at a time and emphasizing a game (offensively) of "small ball". He is also known for being more confrantational with umpires than most managers when he feels one of his players is treated unfairly.

One Game at a Time

Scioscia's "one-game-at-a-time" approach was first truly noticeable during the excellent season the Angels had in 2002, leading up to their World Series title. He was extremely patient with members of the media, who expected the Angels to be more excited about doing well, or more concerned about how well the Oakland A's (who won the A.L. West Division that year) were playing. He reminded them time and again that 162 games are a lot to play, and a team can't play well "today" if they're focused on next week, or next month, or yesterday, for that matter.

Players such as clubhouse leaders Tim Salmon, Garret Anderson and Darin Erstad followed his lead and refused to publicly dwell on future problems or to rest on past victories. After a game, if asked, they would make comments like, "I can enjoy (some achievement) in November (the offseason), but right now I'm really focused on playing well tomorrow." This focus also leads his team's reputation of never giving up on a game, even when behind, because, just like the season, the game is not over until it's over.

Small Ball

Tactically, he emphasizes an offensive game of "small ball," meaning that theoretically you do the little things that help you win: steal bases, lay down sacrifice bunts (including the suicide squeeze), lay down a surprise bunt for a hit with nobody else on base, and be more concerned about hitting for average than for power.

Some consider this a "National League" style of play. Unlike the American League (to which the Angels belong), pitchers in the N.L. must take a turn at-bat just the same as all the other fielders. However, quality pitching is so important, that teams don't really care how bad of a hitter their pitchers are; consequently, most Major League pitchers are not good hitters; the batting average of most pitchers does not rise above the Mendoza Line. However, coaches in the N.L. don't want to waste their pitcher's turn at bat, either, so the pitcher is often called upon to "at least" try to lay down a sacrifice bunt, enabling a runner already on base to advance one spot, and the pitcher will likely be thrown out at first.

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Athletes - Mike Scioscia

Playing career

Coaching Style

One Game at a Time

Small Ball

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