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As I stated in the GDT, I didn't necessairly like the bunt in the first place, which would have brought Albert up with first base open. The insurance run was already in scoring position at second base, so give a pinch hitter the chance to drive him in with Albert on deck.

Why didn't TLR use anderson in the 12th and 14th innings to pinch hit instead of sending a pitcher up there?


Why did TLR double switch Holiday out of the lineup so a pitcher could hit behind pujols? Didn't the cardinals just spend millions to protect him in the lineup?

He would've had his emergency catcher Freese still in the game if he had taken Lopez out as part of the double-switch in the 8th instead. A tiny thing, but...

[SHOW]

That's the cost of maintaining a pecking order.

In game tactics have never been his strong point.

putting the pitcher in the 4 hole behind Pujols might be the dumbest of all his dumb moves

Its about time wrote:putting the pitcher in the 4 hole behind Pujols might be the dumbest of all his dumb moves

I don't know if he had a choice. If the guy was sick, what can you do?

jim wrote:

Its about time wrote:putting the pitcher in the 4 hole behind Pujols might be the dumbest of all his dumb moves

I don't know if he had a choice. If the guy was sick, what can you do?

Tell him to Man up!

jim wrote:

Its about time wrote:putting the pitcher in the 4 hole behind Pujols might be the dumbest of all his dumb moves

I don't know if he had a choice. If the guy was sick, what can you do?

Not double switch and put an OF there. There's never a good reason to put the pitcher behind Pujols in a close game. It just doesn't make any sense. It takes the bat out of Pujols' hands in most situations and it increases the likelihood the pitcher's spot will come up with runners on base. It also ensures that, if the pitcher makes the last out, Molina leads off the following inning. It's stupid on many levels.

jagtrader wrote:

jim wrote:

Its about time wrote:putting the pitcher in the 4 hole behind Pujols might be the dumbest of all his dumb moves

I don't know if he had a choice. If the guy was sick, what can you do?

Not double switch and put an OF there. There's never a good reason to put the pitcher behind Pujols in a close game. It just doesn't make any sense. It takes the bat out of Pujols' hands in most situations and it increases the likelihood the pitcher's spot will come up with runners on base. It also ensures that, if the pitcher makes the last out, Molina leads off the following inning. It's stupid on many levels.

So you are saying just move Craig to LF and bring in Miller and don't do the DS? Looking back on it I understand that, but you think 1 run wins the game and you are looking at a situation where you will be forced to hit the pitcher the next inning as opposed to DS'ing and moving that option an inning or two down the line.

I understand where you are coming from. I think he was forced into a bad situation - pulling Holliday - for whatever reason. Really nothing good was going to come of that. So while I understand the arguments against it, I at least see his side and don't necessarily disagree (I would have to know just how sick Holliday was). What gets me is the bases loaded situations, I just can't think of any reason at all why he didn't go to a better option. Also squeezing with Skippy vs a LHP was an option. Last year Skip K'd 19 times in 100AB's vs lefties, and with a runner on 2+3 even if the squeeze doesn't work you would still have a runner on 3rd with less than 2 outs. But, with Skip being a LHB and a guy that doesn't get doubled up much and 0 outs there are plenty of arguments against the squeeze. But I would have been real tempted.

This isn't a one-game issue with La Russa. He has a habit of moving the pitcher's spot around in the lineup (not usually cleanup, mind you) for the sake of a double switch that has limited or no benefit. The pitcher bats ninth for a reason. You don't want him jammed in the middle of all your good hitters.