Buck Showalter is not afraid to challenge convention.  He let Andrew Miller go 1.2 innings and face a bunch of RH hitters, then intentionally walked the winning run, of course followed by a GDP to win the game. That is confidence in your players.  Congratulations to the Orioles, they are in the ALCS, probably against another team rolling sevens, the KC Royals. 

Showalter has always had a great reputation as a smart and quality baseball guy. And for the most part, he's had good success wherever he's been.

 

It's always seemed that his personality ends up rubbing everyone the wrong way, players and FO. He's done a great job with the Orioles. Has he found the right match? Has he mellowed over time? Or will he run himself out of Baltimore eventually as well? Just wondering.

Showalter has always had a great reputation as a smart and quality baseball guy. And for the most part, he's had good success wherever he's been.

 

It's always seemed that his personality ends up rubbing everyone the wrong way, players and FO. He's done a great job with the Orioles. Has he found the right match? Has he mellowed over time? Or will he run himself out of Baltimore eventually as well? Just wondering.

 

Showalter has a reputation for being a curmudgeon.  

 

As far as "success" goes, the Yankees started their WS run the year after he left and the 100-62 AZ team he managed went belly up in the post-season. 

 

Not that much success.

The TV announcer said something like:  "he left the [RP] in there rather than 'watch me manage' by using more pitchers."  Hopefully, the next Twins manager doesn't suffer from the 'watch me manage' syndrome.

Works every time.

 

Fail proof.

The intentional walk also prompted Ausmus to pinch hit - I don't think he really needed to do that, the pinch hitter was not that much different than Romine (and actually was less experienced). Pinch hitting in that moment seem unneccesary to me.

 

I wonder if Ausmus would have pinch hit if Castellanos had reached via a regular walk instead of an intentional walk...

 

The IBB was interesting, I didn't like it that much in the moment. I didn't think Castellanos was that great of a hitter; putting him on to get to Romine maybe wasn't needed. But it sure worked out that time, and setting up a force out came in handy.