You seem to have a thing for Buck. As a commentator /play by play guy he is pretty good, not a Dan Shulman but certainly acceptable.While I may be wrong of course, Buck Martinez agrees with me so my opinion is not naive.
As a manager he was 100-115 with the Jays in 2001 - 2002 before being fired and replaced with Carlos Tosca.(yes I had to look it up!)
Carlos was replaced in 2004 by John Gibbons and he was 305 - 305 from 2004 -2008 Gibbons was rehired in 2013 and from then his record is 339-309.
My point is Gibbons numbers as a manager are better than Bucks.
Having said that, I have no problem with a team playing small ball if that is what they are built to do. I don't think this team is built to play small ball.
I do agree that there are times when some of the power hitters could and should look to take a pitch the other way, however, with pitchers throwing 90 plus and having great second and third pitches that is not easy to do.
You mention Pompey, agree he has speed, but, he is biggest asset is that of pinch runner. He has to pick his game up or he will be back in the minors, again!