What was he thinking?
Let's set the stage during yesterday's Cardinals-Astros NLCS game.
It's the bottom of the sixth, and Kiki Calero is pitching. Berkman comes up first and smashes a home run. (Keep in mind, Calero has already pitched the fifth.) Now, anyone can give up a homerun on a bad pitch. So, at this point, there's no need to panic.
Next batter. Kent. He strikes out. This seems to indicate that the Berkman at-bat was an aberration. But then Ensberg comes up to the plate. He takes a monster cut, and sends one to left, just about to the warning track. Now, it's time for LaRussa to sit up and take notice. The second batter of the inning that actually made contact, makes GOOD contact. Calero is getting hit hard, but fortunately, only one run has scored as a result. Now, might be a good time to think about replacing him.
Next batter. Vizcaino. Not exactly a fearsome hitter. But he smacks a double into the left field corner. Again, SOLID contact. Not a bloop double here. Now, that's three batters making contact, one homerun, one double, and one LONG flyball. It's understandable that, bottom of the order and all, you don't really want to bring in a pitcher for the 8 and 9 batters. But this IS the NLCS. You make the moves you have to make to win.
But he leaves Calero in. And sure enough, Chavez smacks a single and Vizcaino scores. Tie ball game. THEN, LaRussa brings Ray King in for his one batter. What a waste.
Consider this. King gets brought in after the Berkman homerun or after the long Engsberg flyout or after the sharply hit Vizcaino double. He finishes off the inning, getting Chavez and Palmeiro. Cardinals still have a one-run lead.
That makes Beltran's homerun an entirely different animal. It TIES the game instead of giving the 'Stros the lead. Now, they use Lidge for his two innings and the game goes into extra innings. At some point, Garner has to go back to his bullpen. A bullpen the Cardinals have feasted on for those first two games. A bullpen they haven't really seen in these last two games. Maybe the Cardinals don't end up winning anyway, but it sure gives them a better chance.
Come on LaRussa, quit playing your stupid matchups. They don't mean anything. Pay attention to what's going on in the field, for crying out loud. If you lose us this series, I will never forgive you. (You do remember that Gibson homerun, don't you?)
posted by Land Murphy @ 8:40 AM
2 comments
2 Comments:
Actually, I think the x for y against z pitching is irrelevant during the postseason. How had Chavez done against Calero before? All this right-hander/left-hander stuff is hogwash as far as I'm concerned. Besides, let's be honest, a sample size of 36 gives us some significant statistical problems. Namely, its TOO SMALL for it to do us much good. And look, let's be serious. At the only time that it counted, right then, that at-bat, he hammered a pitch, just as three previous batters had done, and the Cardinals go on to lose.
Let's say,for the sake of argument, that Calero strikes Chavez out. I'm still not happy. Because Calero was clearly done. He was tired, or he didn't have his best stuff. I don't know. But his pitches were getting smacked around by the BOTTOM of the 'Stros order. That's not good in my book -- especially since they were having a bad night until they got to see Calero's stuff.
Jeesh. See, you get me in the middle of Corporations, and I'm trying to pay attention to about three different things at once. It just doesn't work. Oh well.
I get what you're saying about the sample size. My comment was directed more towards non-consecutive at-bats. Separating out vs lefties/vs righties, or worse, at bats vs. a specific pitcher. There the sample size is more important. But if you're saying player x is in a 3 for 29 slump, so I'd rather pitch to him, I'm all for that.
And what is up with my Cardinals? Billy Beane was smiling and nodding as Kent launched that one, saying, "See, high paid closers are overrated." And, he's going over once again just how much he got for Izzy. Izzy the goat.
Post a Comment
<< Home