The playoff distinction seems applicable.
Casey managed in the minors. He had helped to get Jim Turner up to the majors in 1937, having managed him in the minors. Casey had Milkman Jim as his pitching coach with those Championship Yankee teams. Casey was in baseball forever, he knew a right smart about the game. I think it's too easy to underestimate what he accomplished.
In addition to the playoff system as a difference, the players are different. Current (modern) players have agents. They have idiosynchrasies, attitudes, and demands that would have been non existent back in Casey's day. Seems to me that Roberts is better attuned to deal with that.
|