jagtrader wrote:La Russa pinch-hit a league average hitter for another league average hitter. It was puzzling, but it isn't worth getting too worked up about. If he had more than one league average hitter on the team, he probably wouldn't try so hard to make that imprint.
.304 .337 .515 .852
.248 .347 .410 .757
Which would you rather have facing KRod in the 9th inning of a 1 run game?
So you're going to base the decision on microstats against righthanders this season? Duncan's career OPS against righties is .868. I realize you get an erection every time Rasmus is on TV, but he's just not a great offensive player, yet. He probably will be one day. Then you can have righteous indignation if he doesn't get to bat in these kinds of situations.
Yes, I would have let Rasmus bat. But I don't think the move is that big of a deal.
jagtrader wrote:La Russa pinch-hit a league average hitter for another league average hitter. It was puzzling, but it isn't worth getting too worked up about. If he had more than one league average hitter on the team, he probably wouldn't try so hard to make that imprint.
.304 .337 .515 .852
.248 .347 .410 .757
Which would you rather have facing KRod in the 9th inning of a 1 run game?
So you're going to base the decision on microstats against righthanders this season? Duncan's career OPS against righties is .868. I realize you get an erection every time Rasmus is on TV, but he's just not a great offensive player, yet. He probably will be one day. Then you can have righteous indignation if he doesn't get to bat in these kinds of situations.
Yes, I would have let Rasmus bat. But I don't think the move is that big of a deal.
I think it's a bigger deal in using the last hitter on the bench than who's taking the AB, in a game where a tie coming out of that inning is a distinct possibility.
I'm somewhat concerned about the Rasmus mental state in the long run - with the way TLR jacks him around. When/if ever TLR lets Rasmus play regular, face LHers, tough pitchers and situations - will Rasmus press too much?
No way to really know the effect on his head. If I had Rasmus - I'd want him to gain that experience and know the coach has confidence in him.
jagtrader wrote:La Russa pinch-hit a league average hitter for another league average hitter. It was puzzling, but it isn't worth getting too worked up about. If he had more than one league average hitter on the team, he probably wouldn't try so hard to make that imprint.
.304 .337 .515 .852
.248 .347 .410 .757
Which would you rather have facing KRod in the 9th inning of a 1 run game?
So you're going to base the decision on microstats against righthanders this season? Duncan's career OPS against righties is .868. I realize you get an erection every time Rasmus is on TV, but he's just not a great offensive player, yet. He probably will be one day. Then you can have righteous indignation if he doesn't get to bat in these kinds of situations.
Yes, I would have let Rasmus bat. But I don't think the move is that big of a deal.
What Duncan did 3 years ago is pretty irrelevant now. OPS of .757 vs RHP this year and .711 last year. Pinch hitting with Duncan burned the bench. If it goes to extras you have nobody left on the bench and have significantly downgraded your defense. It was a stupid move.
jagtrader wrote:La Russa pinch-hit a league average hitter for another league average hitter. It was puzzling, but it isn't worth getting too worked up about. If he had more than one league average hitter on the team, he probably wouldn't try so hard to make that imprint.
.304 .337 .515 .852
.248 .347 .410 .757
Which would you rather have facing KRod in the 9th inning of a 1 run game?
So you're going to base the decision on microstats against righthanders this season? Duncan's career OPS against righties is .868. I realize you get an erection every time Rasmus is on TV, but he's just not a great offensive player, yet. He probably will be one day. Then you can have righteous indignation if he doesn't get to bat in these kinds of situations.
Yes, I would have let Rasmus bat. But I don't think the move is that big of a deal.
I think it's a bigger deal in using the last hitter on the bench than who's taking the AB, in a game where a tie coming out of that inning is a distinct possibility.
OK, that's fair. They should probably have Stavinoha on the roster instead of Hawksworth, then you have a deeper bench. La Russa tends to make more bizarre decisions when he has a weaker team, based on my observation. Right now the lineup sucks except for one player. Even Ludwick, Mr. OPS+ 150, can't hit a good fastball since he returned from the DL. That's a big problem.
I'm really confused right now because mlb's boxscore and gameday don't jive. GameDay and the boxscore during the game had Rasmus replacing Ryan and the boxscore they have up in the wrap has Rasmus replacing LaRue (who PH for Carp in the 8th spot).
The gameday makes sense...
T.Greene PH for Ankiel and stays in the game hitting 6th.
LaRue PH for Carpenter in the 8th spot.
Reyes comes into the game for LaRue in the 8th spot.
Rasmus comes into the game in the leadoff spot in CF.
If the boxscore is right then ...
T.Greene PH for Ankiel and stays in the game hitting 6th.
LaRue PH for Carp in the 8th spot.
**Reyes comes into the game for B. Ryan batting 1st**
Rasmus comes into the game replacing LaRue in the 8th spot.
So even if the boxscore is right, why would you insert the pitcher in a spot where you have to PH immediately with the only guy left on your bench? It's not quite as bad as PH for Rasmus (the gameday scenario) but it's still pretty braindead to me.
The correct move imo was to do the gameday scenerio where you insert the pitcher in the spot where you don't have to worry about a PH (8th) and then insert Rasmus in the 1 spot and have him hit.
So even if Rasmus wasn't PH for I don't apologize for my comments. I am interested now to see what the official boxscore looks like though.
jagtrader wrote: La Russa tends to make more bizarre decisions when he has a weaker team, based on my observation. Right now the lineup sucks except for one player. Even Ludwick, Mr. OPS+ 150, can't hit a good fastball since he returned from the DL. That's a big problem.
I think it's natural to make strange decisions while frustrated. If this team is frustrating us as fans, it has to be driving LaRussa bat schmidt crazy.
Freed Roger wrote:I'm somewhat concerned about the Rasmus mental state in the long run - with the way TLR jacks him around. When/if ever TLR lets Rasmus play regular, face LHers, tough pitchers and situations - will Rasmus press too much?
No way to really know the effect on his head. If I had Rasmus - I'd want him to gain that experience and know the coach has confidence in him.
If Rasmus is that fragile, he'll never be a star anyway. He's a 22-year-old rookie who has never played more than 128 games in a season. He's not a 150-game big leaguer at this point. It wouldn't be fair to put him into that spot. Resting him against tough lefties and keeping him in the 130-game range is a good idea for his success long-term.
jim wrote:I'm really confused right now because mlb's boxscore and gameday don't jive. GameDay and the boxscore during the game had Rasmus replacing Ryan and the boxscore they have up in the wrap has Rasmus replacing LaRue (who PH for Carp in the 8th spot).
The gameday makes sense...
T.Greene PH for Ankiel and stays in the game hitting 6th.
LaRue PH for Carpenter in the 8th spot.
Reyes comes into the game for LaRue in the 8th spot.
Rasmus comes into the game in the leadoff spot in CF.
If the boxscore is right then ...
T.Greene PH for Ankiel and stays in the game hitting 6th.
LaRue PH for Carp in the 8th spot.
**Reyes comes into the game for B. Ryan batting 1st**
Rasmus comes into the game replacing LaRue in the 8th spot.
So even if the boxscore is right, why would you insert the pitcher in a spot where you have to PH immediately with the only guy left on your bench? It's not quite as bad as PH for Rasmus (the gameday scenario) but it's still pretty braindead to me.
The correct move imo was to do the gameday scenerio where you insert the pitcher in the spot where you don't have to worry about a PH (8th) and then insert Rasmus in the 1 spot and have him hit.
So even if Rasmus wasn't PH for I don't apologize for my comments. I am interested now to see what the official boxscore looks like though.
Tony said that in the postgame. Stupid either way. Why force yourself to use a PH when you're inserting a better hitter into the game?
