When Torey Lovullo finds himself overseeing a struggling player, his inclination is not to push him aside. It is to give him time. Often, this has worked well during Lovullo’s three seasons as Diamondbacks manager. Occasionally, it has not.
But it always seemed to help Lovullo’s standing in the clubhouse, a place where players appreciate a long leash in a game built on failure.
Lovullo may not have such luxuries in 2020, not during a 60-game season that represents a little more than one-third of a normal year. In a season like this, patience could shift from virtuous to hazardous.