Aw, Come on, Washington! Let Holland finish the game out!

[drt7891]

Rangers are up 4-0 with a man on (BB), with only one other walk in the game, 2 hits, and a shut out. Let him finish it out. That's a shame.

 

[triton28]

Holland was begging to stay in. Apparently it was the right call though.

 

[drt7891]

The reliever wasn't in a save situation but just about worked his way into one. The tying run was on deck after a walk. But you certainly can't blame Washington with it being the world series. Any other level of the postseason or certainly the regular season, I bet he would have stayed in, but with the game being a must-win to maintain momentum in the series, I don't blame him for his decision. It was a tough one to make.

 

[Todd4State]

in that situation is if a pitcher has a shutout, let him finish it out, but do not let him lose the game under any circumstances. If it is a one run game and a runner gets on, pull him. If it's a score that is say 4-0, I would have a little bit more leeway.

It also depends on the pitch count and whether the pitcher is starting to lose command.

 

[KurtRambis4]

with it. He gave him a chance. It was the right call.

 

[drt7891]

I don't claim to have any kind of knowledge of knowing when a pitcher is losing command, but he certainly wasn't showing much fatigue for a pitcher going as long as he did. I think his pitch count was in the 115 range and certainly, with most pitchers, that is a relatively large pitch count, but not a ridiculous number. I wanted to see him finish the shutout and, from my perspective in my recliner, I don't think with the situation (a walk plus an out) there was any kind of immediate danger of him losing control. I don't get paid to manage a team and maybe Washington saw something he didn't like. Another theory is Washington didn't want to even toy with the idea of leaving him in and get another walk (which happened with the closer he brought in) and coming unglued, but I didn't sense that was happening. <div>
</div><div>I'm certainly not a Cardinals fan, but had the shoe been on the other foot, I would have said the same thing. I enjoy watching a good pitchers duel and tonight was just that (even with the Cards' closer giving up a 3 run homer, he shut down the Rangers after that one pitch). I also enjoy watching pitchers throw their best, and Holland was doing that. </div>

 

[Todd4State]

Basically, if the pitcher is missing his spots by a lot, then you take him out.

With a pitcher, control is always the first to go before velocity, so managers/pitching coaches watch for missing way out of the strike zone before they look at anything else. Pitch count is an individual thing, so it could factor in depending on who the pitcher is. In the postseason, pitch count doesn't matter as much- as the saying goes, you've got all winter to rest your arm.

So, you are correct when you say that Washington saw something he didn't like- and that's what it was. Loss of control. MLB managers are going to realize this and make a move before it gets even close to being a dangerous situation- or at least they should. I can almost guarantee you that had he left Holland in, it would have gotten dicey. Dicey as in runs being scored.

The Cardinals being down like they were- their hitters were going to take at least one strike. When you have a pitcher that is losing his command and is tired and the batting order has seen that pitcher 3-4 times- advantage for the hitters. And odds are real good that they would have gotten into favorable hitting counts- which means that they are going to have to throw fastballs, which a lot of times would be up in the zone because when a pitcher is tired, his arm is going to drop, and when that happens the ball goes up in the strike zone. You get a ball up in the zone to Pujols Holliday, or Freese, and it can change the game real quick.

 

[WestCoastBulldog]

I was at the game last night. And while I would have really liked to see Holland finish that incredible game out. He was starting to lose it for sure. He definitely had trouble locating. I think Wash went with the right move... Holland had a short leash in the 8th. Mike Adams was up and ready even though Holland was putting them down, but when the 9th rolled around he got his chance. Had he not walked and gotten him out he would have finished, but in the World Series down a game there is no excuse to take a chance and leave him in there to put two on and let St. Louis get anything going. Regardless of that, I'd call that probably Hollands best game he's ever had. The pressure and emotions were tangible so he did an incredible job.