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jim wrote:So many things from one AB last night.

First off, I wish TLR would stop using AW in a PH role. He's most likely not a better option, and you are putting the guy in a position to get hurt. I'm all for keep plugging ahead, run AP and Holliday and those guys out there every day, but stop with the pitchers PH. We have a lead sufficient where you don't have to resort to desperation maneuvers every night to win the game. Not only that, we have a bench now. Use it. (edit .. and yes I know Glauss is out).

Second off, if you do have AW up there just bunt. I generally like pulling the bat back and keeping the other teams on their toes, but we needed one run badly at that point. Just get the guys to 2+3 with 1 out.

The end result was Thurston hitting with a 1-2 count, and of course we know what happened.

Terribly managed game at a very critical spot.

heyzeus wrote:

jim wrote:So many things from one AB last night.

First off, I wish TLR would stop using AW in a PH role. He's most likely not a better option, and you are putting the guy in a position to get hurt. I'm all for keep plugging ahead, run AP and Holliday and those guys out there every day, but stop with the pitchers PH. We have a lead sufficient where you don't have to resort to desperation maneuvers every night to win the game. Not only that, we have a bench now. Use it. (edit .. and yes I know Glauss is out).

Second off, if you do have AW up there just bunt. I generally like pulling the bat back and keeping the other teams on their toes, but we needed one run badly at that point. Just get the guys to 2+3 with 1 out.

The end result was Thurston hitting with a 1-2 count, and of course we know what happened.

Terribly managed game at a very critical spot.

I have nightmare visions of pinch-hitter Adam Wainwright squaring to bunt and taking a fastball off his right hand, breaking a few fingers. if that ever happens, Tony better be living in a fireproof building.

heyzeus wrote:

jim wrote:So many things from one AB last night.

First off, I wish TLR would stop using AW in a PH role. He's most likely not a better option, and you are putting the guy in a position to get hurt. I'm all for keep plugging ahead, run AP and Holliday and those guys out there every day, but stop with the pitchers PH. We have a lead sufficient where you don't have to resort to desperation maneuvers every night to win the game. Not only that, we have a bench now. Use it. (edit .. and yes I know Glauss is out).

Second off, if you do have AW up there just bunt. I generally like pulling the bat back and keeping the other teams on their toes, but we needed one run badly at that point. Just get the guys to 2+3 with 1 out.

The end result was Thurston hitting with a 1-2 count, and of course we know what happened.

Terribly managed game at a very critical spot.

I have nightmare visions of pinch-hitter Adam Wainwright squaring to bunt and taking a fastball off his right hand, breaking a few fingers. if that ever happens, Tony better be living in a fireproof building.

jim wrote:

I wish TLR would stop using AW in a PH role.

JackofDiamonds wrote:

heyzeus wrote:
I have nightmare visions of pinch-hitter Adam Wainwright squaring to bunt and taking a fastball off his right hand, breaking a few fingers. if that ever happens, Tony better be living in a fireproof building.

I am glad we're keeping things in perspective.

greenback44 wrote:I guess a manager makes enough decisions over the course of a game that he has to rely on many quick rules of thumb. "I need a bunt, save a position player, use Wainwright." Then midway through the at-bat he remembers that particular rule of thumb originated from a time when he had a three-man bench, and now he's got something much longer than that.

The dumb decision followed by the strange reversal reminded me of my dad complaining at the same age about how he (my dad) just wasn't as sharp as he used to be. La Russa looked old during that at-bat, and it's kinda discouraging that nobody protected him from himself there.