OFFICIAL TLR HEAD SCRATCHER THREAD

[Richie Allen]

Some of those late moves by Tony tonight almost felt like the wanting to get everyone some playing time variety. Nonsense in a 1-0 or 2-1 game. Not blaming the loss on him, just hate how he constantly feels compelled to make switches in the final couple innings. Freese is a liability in the field at third? Berkman needs to be pulled from every game by the 9th inning? And if pinch running is going to be a priority for you in close games late, as it probably should be, maybe think ahead and carry an extra position player with some speed in lieu of your 8th reliever.

[Bo Hart]

...and removing Puma from the game but NOT PR for him.

That was truly bizarre. The only thing that came to mind was that he didn't want Schumaker motoring around the bases with his bad hamstring... but then again, if that's the explanation, why would he have brought Schumaker into the game as a defensive replacement?!

That was kind of the classic Tony La Russa move... sort of like those head-scratching times when you'll see him keep a starting pitcher in to hit in like the 6th/7th inning of a game, only to remove him at the start of the ensuing inning for a relief pitcher.

[Richie Allen]

...and removing Puma from the game but NOT PR for him.

That was truly bizarre. The only thing that came to mind was that he didn't want Schumaker motoring around the bases with his bad hamstring... but then again, if that's the explanation, why would he have brought Schumaker into the game as a defensive replacement?!

That was kind of the classic Tony La Russa move... sort of like those head-scratching times when you'll see him keep a starting pitcher in to hit in like the 6th/7th inning of a game, only to remove him at the start of the ensuing inning for a relief pitcher.

I've always wondered when Tony makes these type of moves, like you listed above, if he's thinking more of his players. In other words, you know Berkman wants to be out there running the bases. Certain pitchers love to hit. So he endears his players to him but leaves the fans scratching their heads.

[Fan_In_NY]

...and removing Puma from the game but NOT PR for him.

That was truly bizarre. The only thing that came to mind was that he didn't want Schumaker motoring around the bases with his bad hamstring... but then again, if that's the explanation, why would he have brought Schumaker into the game as a defensive replacement?!.

And this is why TLR is smarter than most/all of us as a manager. You may kill him all you want for all of this stuff that you can see but he doesn't, but you would have been making a much much bigger mistake if you pinch ran Skip for Puma because he needed to make the double switch when Motte came in. If you pinch run with Schu, then Motte's (and all the other RPs) spot comes up in the 9th (he would have been due up 3rd) with your best hitter that was on the bench now occupying in the 5 hole.

[go birds]

Why oh why he didn't have motte throw heat to a hobbled Hamilton and then walk young to set up a double play is beyond me.

[dmarx114]

...and removing Puma from the game but NOT PR for him.

That was truly bizarre. The only thing that came to mind was that he didn't want Schumaker motoring around the bases with his bad hamstring... but then again, if that's the explanation, why would he have brought Schumaker into the game as a defensive replacement?!.

And this is why TLR is smarter than most/all of us as a manager. You may kill him all you want for all of this stuff that you can see but he doesn't, but you would have been making a much much bigger mistake if you pinch ran Skip for Puma because he needed to make the double switch when Motte came in. If you pinch run with Schu, then Motte's (and all the other RPs) spot comes up in the 9th (he would have been due up 3rd) with your best hitter that was on the bench now occupying in the 5 hole.

Yup, I said the same thing in the game thread.

FWIW, I think pinch running or pulling him for defense is stupid at any point in the game.

[wart57]

Why oh why he didn't have motte throw heat to a hobbled Hamilton and then walk young to set up a double play is beyond me.

Exactly what I was thinking....

[skmsw]

Why oh why he didn't have motte throw heat to a hobbled Hamilton and then walk young to set up a double play is beyond me.

yeah, i haven't looked at the game thread but this is the head scratcher for me. Playing matchy-matchy in the 9th inning of a 1-0 game in the World Series is frustrating; when you're swapping out your presumptive "closer" for Arthur Rhodes to face a recent MVP slugger, it's something else, well beyond frustrating.

I don't really care how hobbled Josh Hamilton is, we're talking about Arthur Rhodes in the 9th inning of a World Series swing game with a one-run lead.

Arthur Rhodes!

Am I over-reacting? did anyone like this move?

[wart57]

Why oh why he didn't have motte throw heat to a hobbled Hamilton and then walk young to set up a double play is beyond me.

yeah, i haven't looked at the game thread but this is the head scratcher for me. Playing matchy-matchy in the 9th inning of a 1-0 game in the World Series is frustrating; when you're swapping out your presumptive "closer" for Arthur Rhodes to face a recent MVP slugger, it's something else, well beyond frustrating.

I don't really care how hobbled Josh Hamilton is, we're talking about Arthur Rhodes in the 9th inning of a World Series swing game with a one-run lead.

Arthur Rhodes!

Am I over-reacting? did anyone like this move?

I hated it.

[Fan_In_NY]

Why oh why he didn't have motte throw heat to a hobbled Hamilton and then walk young to set up a double play is beyond me.

yeah, i haven't looked at the game thread but this is the head scratcher for me. Playing matchy-matchy in the 9th inning of a 1-0 game in the World Series is frustrating; when you're swapping out your presumptive "closer" for Arthur Rhodes to face a recent MVP slugger, it's something else, well beyond frustrating.

I don't really care how hobbled Josh Hamilton is, we're talking about Arthur Rhodes in the 9th inning of a World Series swing game with a one-run lead.

Arthur Rhodes!

Am I over-reacting? did anyone like this move?

Hamilton tOPS+ of 77 in his career against lefties and strikeouts ever 4.5 PAs against lefties as opposed to every 6 PAs against righties. Of course you can easily argue that difference is made up in the fact that Motte is more of a strikeout pitcher than Rhodes. Motte struck out lefties at a rate of one every 5.5 PAs and Rhodes struck out lefties at a rate of one every 6.1 PAs.