When the Yankees let Buck Showalter go and brought in Joe Torre, the famous headline of "Clueless Joe" was printed on the front cover of the New York Daily News. Well, seems like the Daily News was about 14 years early. In what has been the running of theme of these playoffs, Girardi's managing- or rather mismanaging has finally cost them a game and has also gotten the Angels right back into this thing.
There was the micro managing of the bullpen in round one. The pulling of Pettite early in Game 3 and some other not-so-worthy moments that we glanced over because of Arod and Jeter's heroics, we didn't seem to care.
Game 2 in the ALCS saw Girardi pinch run for Nick Swisher in the 7TH Inning of a tie game, using Coke and Chamberlain for too short a period in a tie game that eventually could have burnt Girardi and then using another pinch runner in the 9th, to now having Guzman and Gardner protect Arod in the late stage of a tie game of an ALCS (which makes Arod's HR off Fuentes the other night that much more amazing. Plus, how does Fuentes throw a down the middle fastball there with those guys in the wait?).
Well, last night the Yankees Magic couldn't bail out Girardi's Knumbskullness (new word?).
I don't really have a problem with leaving Pettite in there for the 7th. He was pitching well and had not thrown too many pitches. You can't kill Girardi there. He brought in Joba and Marte when we was supposed to. Marte did the job, getting Figgins out with one pitch and a runner in scoring position to end the inning.
Here's where Girardi's micro managing, mismanaging, drunken stupor, whatever you want to call it started. It's a tie game. Late innings. Just coming off a 13 inning game two nights before. So of course, Joe removes Marte after ONE PITCH, to bring in ANOTHER LEFTY ( Coke) to pitch to ONE BATTER, and now, he is left without a single lefty in the pen in a tie game- late. Ummmm, why? What possible reason could there be to make that change?
Ok, so in the top of that inning Matsui leads off with a walk. He brings in Gardner to pinch run. No problem there. Stay out of the Double Play, score on a ball into the gap, first to third on a single, it's the right move. Posada is up, first pitch strike. 0-1. Pitcher throws over to first base a few times. And then Gardner tries to steal second on the IDEAL PITCHOUT count. So of course, Scocia, a real Manager, pitches out, nails Gardner easily and there goes the threat. Now keep in mind, John Sterling- probably the most clueless baseball announcer in history was saying this prior to the pitchout so how doesn't a Major League Manager know this? Inexcusable. Of course, Posada then goes deep and ties the game which potentially could have been a go ahead HR.
Now the inexplicable of inexplicabilities happens (another TPC addition to the Miriam Webster Dictionary). Bottom of the 11th, postseason star Dave Robertson (who also mind you led the majors in Strikouts per Nine Innings this season) was in the game cruising along, easily getting out the first two batters. Now remember, tie game, again, 11th inning. Yankees have only Gaudin and Aceves left in the pen. So, for no reason whatsoever, Girardi pulls Robertson (after a whopping 11 pitches) for Aceves, who has been very shaky in the postseason (he gave up the run in the 11th the other night when Arod bailed him out). First batter singles, next batter doubles, game over. Angels go crazy on the field, get a major pump of life back into their chests in their homefield and now it's a series again.
I have seen many bad managerial moves and second guesses. Torre had tons of questionable moves. But they were "questionable". These moves had no rhyme, reason or defense. Coaches can win Football games and basketball games. They can only lose Baseball games and Girardi just cost the Yankees big yesterday.
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6 comments:
Toree was a low-life. He had his inner circle of players who liked him, everyone else hated him. That book was a disgrace.
"Pulling of Pettite early in Game 3 and some other not-so-worthy moments that we glanced over"
Um, all those moves worked, you have no idea how Andy would have pitched. Maybe Andy's numbers after 6 innings stink. Look it up.
"Game 2 in the ALCS saw Girardi pinch run for Nick Swisher in the 7TH Inning of a tie game,.....and then using another pinch runner in the 9th"
Yea, staying out of a double play and getting a runner to steal second is a bad move? Have you heard the term "scoring position"
Late in tie games you play for that one run. That is why people put in defensive outfielders and pinch runners.
"Using Coke and Chamberlain for too short a period in a tie game"
Says you, maximizing matchups is not a bad move.
"It's a tie game. Late innings. Just coming off a 13 inning game two nights before. So of course, Joe removes Marte after ONE PITCH, to bring in ANOTHER LEFTY ( Coke) to pitch to ONE BATTER, and now, he is left without a single lefty in the pen in a tie game- late. Ummmm, why? What possible reason could there be to make that change?"
He maximizes matchups and uses pinch runners to maximize his chances to score one run and lower the oppositions ability to score one run. If all this does not work, he will go to Gaudin who is good for 70 pitches.
"0-1. Pitcher throws over to first base a few times. And then Gardner tries to steal second on the IDEAL PITCHOUT count."
According to you, this is always a pitchout? Come on, monday morning QB. Possada had a ball allready and the pitchout was another ball, then he gets a strike to crush. Bottom line, the runner is told we want you to go early. He should have went earlier.
"So, for no reason whatsoever, Girardi pulls Robertson (after a whopping 11 pitches) for Aceves"
Unlike you who only looks at one game. Girardi is managing a series. He is trying to get Aceves, Hughes and Chamberlain right in the head. He does this by maximizing matchups so they have the best chance to succeed."
Bottom line, TPC has no matchup numbers in front of him. TPC didn't watch how Girardis method worked all season long, managing a great bullpen. TPC is looking at one game.
Hoo'as
Hooa's- You clearly don't know baseball and clearly like to ignore the facts:
Game 3 Pettite had thrown 81 pitches and was cruising. He gave up one run. I have no problem taking out Pettite there, but you can make a very good case against.
Having Swisher being pinch run for in a game in the 9th is a good move. In the 7th, it's a bad move. He's going to get another at bat. He has played great defensively in the playoffs. It's way too early to make that move. It did backfire because the Yanks had no middle of the lineup after Arod.
Explain how pitching Coke and Joba to one batter each in a tie game is a wise move? Explain the matchup? Joba is a righty. They brought in Hughes, who is also a righty- who has also struggled to that point in the playoffs. It's asinine is what it is.
On the pitchout to Gardner, I wasnt the only one second guessing. PRIOR to the pitch JOHN F'ING STERLING, MR. CLUELESS was saying it prior to the pitchout. It was an asinine move.
Please explain why and how bringing in Coke for Marte and Aceves for Robertson was good for the Yankees and good for the matchups. The numbers dont agree, the players history vs. the pitchers dont agree, nothing agrees. It was asinine. You dont try and get "someones head into a game" when you have a chance to bury a team and go to the World Series. Stupid.
"Having Swisher being pinch run for in the 7th, it's a bad move. He's going to get another at bat. "
Because the Yankee bullpen never gave up a lead after the 7th all season. This means you get that one run. You don't worry about the bottom of the ninth now. You get that run. Posada was after Arod. And you have no idea when Arods coming up. Again, you manage to get that one run in. If you can get a guy in scoring position with 1 or no outs, odds are you will get the one run.
"Explain how pitching Coke and Joba to one batter each in a tie game is a wise move? Explain the matchup?"
We don't have all the matchup info. He also now has them both for tonight. Game 3 when up 2-0 is a relatively meaningless game. It's all about game 4.
"On the pitchout to Gardner, I wasnt the only one second guessing. PRIOR to the pitch JOHN F'ING STERLING, MR. CLUELESS was saying it prior to the pitchout. It was an asinine move."
No, you make no sense. If it is a guarenteed pichout and no one would run, then why do a pitchout if your Mike Socia. Your simplifying, you agree with Sterling, enough said.
"Please explain why and how bringing in Coke for Marte and Aceves for Robertson was good for the Yankees and good for the matchups. The numbers dont agree, the players history vs. the pitchers dont agree, nothing agrees. It was asinine. You dont try and get "someones head into a game" when you have a chance to bury a team and go to the World Series. Stupid."
There is more info that you don't have. Batters vs certain pitches, etc. Trust in Joe. He will get you there. I guarantee it. The playoffs are a formality.
Track Record for 2009
He got everyone on the team hitting.
He managed the aged players perfectly. None of these old timers got hurt.
A bullpen of no-names (Besides the great one) is considered one of the best in baseball.
Joe is best Manager ever. He will manage the Yankees for at least 10 years and will be in the hall of fame.
Actually, Roberton pull was a mistake, he was piching great.
I give Girardi credit for the play of Alex. It is the managers job to make the player relaxed.
I do not think his play is a result of low expectations due to steroid admission and hip injury. I give Joe G. credit and think Torre never liked Alex and never made him a priority as shown by his book.
Good move going with Andy.
Now we are lined up for a World Series win.
Girardi knows Baseball.
Admittedly, yanking Arod in game 5 made no sense. The only possible reason was that he didn't want him risking injury on a steal. Probable outcome is that was all that was left of that position in that game so let the scrub do it.
I expect Hinske will replace Guzman in series.
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