After they got swept by Kansas City, IIRC, Rocco tried the tough love routine and took to writing on the white board. The team then came out even flatter and more lifeless than they were against the Royals and lost to one of the worst teams in baseball.
I agree that baseball doesn't necessarily have the same level of 'strategy' as you see in the other pro sports. See ball, hit ball. See ball, catch ball. I guess it could be that simple. But more than the other sports, I think you need to have a manager that can push the right buttons and get his team to respond. 162 games is a long season. There's going to be highs and lows. Good managers have the pulse of their team and the players respond in kind.
This team doesn't respond to Rocco. If they did, they wouldn't be in such a tailspin right now.