Regretable Decisions - Playoff Edition

by Nico on Oct 19, 2008 11:37 AM PDT Comment 37 comments

There have been some questionable decisions made in this post-season, even dating back to before the first game was played. Here are some conversation starters in the "hindsight is 20/20 - but sometimes foresight is too" department:

* As the team with the best record, the Angels got to decide the format for the ALDS, choosing between two options for how many off-days the teams would have. One option would have forced each team (Angels and Red Sox) to go four starters deep (or pitch guys on three days rest), but the Angels chose the format that allowed each team to use only three starters. That eliminated Jered Weaver and Tim Wakefield from the rotations, which I found odd because the Angels' starting pitching depth is one of their strengths. Weaver threw the ball well in relief in the ALDS, while Wakefield got lit up when he finally started in the ALCS. Would the Angels have been better off had they chosen the other format?

* Leading 7-1 and needing just 7 outs to clinch the ALCS, Joe Maddon let his right-handed reliever, Grant Balfour, pitch to David Ortiz with two runners on base, when he had two lefties available - J.P. Howell, who was extremely effective in 2008, and Trevor Miller, a LOOGY reserved for just these kinds of moments. Maddon likes to talk about "jug runs" - those runs which go for the jugular and put a game away. This was a spot in the game where he needed a "jug out" - an out that would leave the Red Sox down 6 runs with only 6 outs left and no one on base. Maddon did not manage against "the worst thing that could happen" (an Ortiz HR that got Boston back in the game). Ortiz was 2/20 lifetime against Howell and Miller combined, with one hit off of each.

Overall, I think Maddon's management of the bullpen has been pretty suspect, underusing Chad Bradford, a veteran with an outstanding post-season track record, overusing Balfour, who is understandably wobbly in his first ever post-season, bringing Dan Wheeler in for a seven-out save when he had better situational options available to handle the 7th inning, and neglecting to take advantage of matchups when he has three lefties (including Price) in the bullpen. I love Maddon and think he should be Manager of the Year hands down, but I haven't been impressed with his decisions these last two games.

Your thoughts? Other decisions that stand out in this post-season so far? See you at 5:00pm PDT for a very important game.

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as you know I agree with you on Maddon's use of the pen

in Game 5.

Martie Lurie’s latest article also talks about the Ray’s pen in the postseason, as well as questioning Torre taking out Lowe in his second start in the NLCS.

by OaklandSi on Oct 19, 2008 11:45 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

FWIW, I'm with Maddon on lifting Kazmir after 111 pitches and 6 innings

He’s a high pitch-count pitcher and to work the 7th probably would have finished around 130 pitches. Stretching him to get one or two more outs in a 7-0 game doesn’t make much more sense. They had a deep and rested bullpen and asking 9 outs of it wasn’t much. The guys he asked to get those 9 outs puzzled me, however.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Oct 19, 2008 12:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think it was a puzzling decision by Maddon in game 5,

not including all of the stuff with Balfour and Ortiz, i thought it wasn’t smart to ask wheeler to get a six out save after pitching so much just the game before hand.

by mattman on Oct 19, 2008 12:01 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

It reminded me a bit of Game 6 of the 2002 World Series,

when Dusty Baker lifted Russ Ortiz after 6 innings. Both Felix Rodriguez and Tim Worrell failed to get the job done, then Nen came in early but it was too late.

Similar to Balfour and Wheeler, Rodriguez and Worrell both had to fail in order to blow the game, and both had pitched well throughout the year. Maddon can say, “Look, how often did Balfour or Wheeler fail this year, let alone both?” To which I point out, “Yeah, they had great years but they’re not great pitchers.” Still not the guys you want pitching to David Ortiz, or trying for a seven-out save.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Oct 19, 2008 12:06 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

angels in game 4

Top of the 9th, tie game, Morales leads off with a double. Then Kendrick sac bunts him to 3rd…annoying but not unexpected from Scioscia. But then, they have the balls to try a squeeze when a sac fly does the job. Just silly.

by dscel on Oct 19, 2008 12:18 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Definitely agree on the squeeze

The infield is in – swing away and whether you hit it on the ground or in the air, something good is likely to happen.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Oct 19, 2008 1:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Plus, if you take a pitch, the ump might call it a ball

pissing off your pitcher so much that he doesn’t even catch the throw back from your catcher, allowing the runner to score from 3rd.

"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s

by Nick on Oct 19, 2008 4:09 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is where we have a difference in style,

as an A’s fan it probably hard to believe anyone would try something like this, although the angels do this sort of thing all the time. Personally I don’t agree with it myself, but I trust MIke he knows his team better than anyone else.

by mattman on Oct 19, 2008 1:15 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I actually like aggressive baseball in general

I think the A’s have usually pushed the envelope way too little – especially being a team without a lot of ways to score runs. But the squeeze is not a favorite of mine, just because if the infield is back there are too many ways to score that run anyway, and if the infield is in, your hitter just became a .400 hitter if he swings away. I’d say it’s good to squeeze once/year, just to keep teams honest, but it’s not one of my preferred ways to play aggressive baseball.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Oct 19, 2008 1:32 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

"The Angels do this sort of thing all the time"

I don’t have stats on suicide squeezes, but the Angels had 36 sacrifice bunts this year. The A’s had 30.

"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s

by Nick on Oct 19, 2008 4:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think I can be here today --

can someone tell 67MARQUEZ to keep a list of the QOTM’s for me? If I can come, i’ll tell you guys then. GO RAYS!!

We're in a team-wide funk. ~Mark Ellis

by #14fan on Oct 19, 2008 12:46 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Unacceptable.

Are we all going to your house instead?

Thanks for last night. I’ll cover for you tonight.

39 remarkable innings.

by ZigFan31 on Oct 19, 2008 3:56 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

woo hoo!!! You don't have to!!!

I ditched out on what I was SUPPOSED to be doing, saying that I had a previous obligation (and that’s not a lie; I’m obligated to do QOTM’s. sort of) So they let me go! Yay!!! I don’t think it was too evil of me.. and it doesn’t matter, because I’m not there, I’m here. GO RAYS!!!

We're in a team-wide funk. ~Mark Ellis

by #14fan on Oct 19, 2008 4:16 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

haha..well I moved my date until 8pm.

So this game better be over in 3 hours or there will be hell to pay!

39 remarkable innings.

by ZigFan31 on Oct 19, 2008 4:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

your "date?" the same one who prevented you from being with us yesterday?

hmm…

We're in a team-wide funk. ~Mark Ellis

by #14fan on Oct 19, 2008 4:24 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

no. different person.

I’m really not as popular as my two dates would make me seem. I promise!

39 remarkable innings.

by ZigFan31 on Oct 19, 2008 4:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

you seem to be popular around here!!!

We're in a team-wide funk. ~Mark Ellis

by #14fan on Oct 19, 2008 4:32 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

You can use the Search function to find QOTMs

"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s

by Nick on Oct 19, 2008 4:14 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

what?

We're in a team-wide funk. ~Mark Ellis

by #14fan on Oct 19, 2008 4:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

On the AN frontpage there's a box called "search post and comments"

It’s right under the horizontal banner menu, and above the highest ad in the right column (the sandal ad, right now).

Type “QOTM” in that box, hit return, and it’ll give you this. Click on “comments” and you’ll get a list of all the QOTM comments people have posted. Sift through those to find the month’s QOTMs.

"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s

by Nick on Oct 19, 2008 4:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

That'll make my life easier!!! Thanks!!

We're in a team-wide funk. ~Mark Ellis

by #14fan on Oct 19, 2008 4:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Now, if only I could find the "Red Sox play like shit and end up losing Game 7 15-3" function...

"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s

by Nick on Oct 19, 2008 4:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wouldn't even give them the 3, but I suppose you're nicer than me...

We're in a team-wide funk. ~Mark Ellis

by #14fan on Oct 19, 2008 4:45 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

They score 3 when Maddon lets Fernando Perez pitch the 9th

"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s

by Nick on Oct 19, 2008 4:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

ah.

We're in a team-wide funk. ~Mark Ellis

by #14fan on Oct 19, 2008 4:55 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Too bad the search funtion won't make them funny.

If I don't comment on your comment how will you know you are completely wrong? -Rocktopus

by pam5981 on Oct 19, 2008 4:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not my department

"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s

by Nick on Oct 19, 2008 4:43 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

You could try!

If I don't comment on your comment how will you know you are completely wrong? -Rocktopus

by pam5981 on Oct 19, 2008 4:45 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Trying -- it's seems like so much...effort.

"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s

by Nick on Oct 19, 2008 4:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I haven't seen this one talked about yet...

Still nobody out, top of the seventh inning – Sox have just walked Pena, with BJ Upton at second – I think Maddon took his foot of of the pedal – he didn’t want to show up the Sox, so he didn’t pull a double steal – something that worked successfully just prior to Upton’s double.

He does that, Upton, likely safe at third, Pena at second, and the Rays get at least one more run that inning.

by plrraz on Oct 19, 2008 1:03 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs