in case nobody knew this. Joe Maddon decides to call on a pinch hitter in the bottom of the ninth with two outs and down by a run. The Rays are down a run and have nobody on base and have to score or the season might be over. Who does Joe Maddon look for to save his team? Dan Johnson. Dan Johnson that is currently batting .109 for the year with one homerun and last got a HIT of any kind in APRIL. What does Dan Johnson do? Only hits the game tying homerun with two strikes on him. I'm still in disbelief at all that took place on Wednesday for MLB. Greatest night of baseball ever. I hope some got to watch it.
Joe Maddon...
- Thread starter DAWG61
- Start date
Unfortunately for baseball, Joe Girardi elected to keep the greatest closer of all time in the bullpen or people would be talking about a pillow fight between the BoSox and the Rays.DAWG61 said:
Seriously Joe, would it hurt to trot him out there for a 15 pitches?
By taking care of business in the regular season they earned the right to rest their pitchers in a meaningless series for the Yankees. Can you imagine him trotting Mo out there on Wednesday and he gets hurt? Talk about getting killed
with the way the Red Sox were stinking things up I really don't think they would have beaten the Rays in Tampa on Thursday anyway. The Rays have owned the Red Sox all year. Although I do admit it will be very ironic if the Rays somehow come back and put out the Yankees given the Rays are likely not even around if the Yankees had actually played competitively in the last 3 game series. Just hate things ended for Paps the way they did. Overall he was very solid this year but in that last game he just made some REALLY poor 2 strike pitches after getting the first 2 outs. On the 2 doubles the pitches were right down Broadway.
I can't imagine someone trying to manage a baseball teamin fear of gettting criticized because of an injury. Closers need regular work.Girardi had a perfect opportunity to provide that. Unfortunately, he didn't.hatfieldms said:
The other very curious move was pinch hitting for Cano with two on and no outs in the 10th.Was he worried about an injury there?
You are a moron. Why should Girardi do anything to help the Red Sox? Better yet in 48 hours his team starts the playoffs, that's all his focus is and should be. Also, Rivera pitched TUESDAY night, why pitch him Wednesday, when you will probably need him Friday (or at least want him available since you know you are in the playoffs), and Saturday. Are we to believe that he should have been prepared to pitch the best closer of all time 4 out of 5 days all for the benefit of his arch rival?
The Yankees earned the right to do what they wanted. If they wanted to sign you and pitch you that night, they earned it. Boston choked. They had a 9 game lead a month ago. Win more games they could have rested their players as well.
Girardi did the right thing for his team, which is his job. Anyone that complains about it, is either stupid or a homer Red Sox fan or both.
The Yankees earned the right to do what they wanted. If they wanted to sign you and pitch you that night, they earned it. Boston choked. They had a 9 game lead a month ago. Win more games they could have rested their players as well.
Girardi did the right thing for his team, which is his job. Anyone that complains about it, is either stupid or a homer Red Sox fan or both.
if he pitched Rivera in the game Tuesday the Yankees had no chance to win and wasn't even a save situation. No reason to pitch him at all and risk any kind of injury in the Tampa series if it didn't mean at least trying to win a game.
The Yankees took a 7-0 lead in that game. It's not like they weren't trying. Sure Girardi pulled most of his starters, because why overwork your starters when you play in 2 days and you don't need the win?
Still, even with pulling his starters and nearly blowing the lead in the 8th, they had the Rays down to their final strike with no one on, down a run, and the pitcher wasn't throwing softballs up there.
Could they have thrown Rivera out there? Sure, but why?
They weren't trying to lose the game. The players in there at the end were clearly trying to win. They just didn't use all of their best because they were resting some of them for the playoffs.
If they get in a 17 inning game or something with their starters all running out there for 7 or 8 at bats, and the bulk of their main relievers getting the work, they're tired out for Friday's game that actually counts. You can't fault the Yankees for any of that. They didn't use all of their best, but they definitely tried to win the game and nearly did.
ETA: It's no different than what some coaches do during the SEC baseball tournament when they already have a national seed locked up. You'll see teams hold their ace for a day or two to keep him on a normal rotation rather than pitching their ace in the opener, because the game doesn't matter to them. If they're playing a bubble team, is it fair to other bubble teams that they're giving that team a good shot at a big win while facing a midweek guy? Maybe not, but you coach for your own team's situation. If you have everything you need clinched, you can rest players and set your rotation.
Still, even with pulling his starters and nearly blowing the lead in the 8th, they had the Rays down to their final strike with no one on, down a run, and the pitcher wasn't throwing softballs up there.
Could they have thrown Rivera out there? Sure, but why?
They weren't trying to lose the game. The players in there at the end were clearly trying to win. They just didn't use all of their best because they were resting some of them for the playoffs.
If they get in a 17 inning game or something with their starters all running out there for 7 or 8 at bats, and the bulk of their main relievers getting the work, they're tired out for Friday's game that actually counts. You can't fault the Yankees for any of that. They didn't use all of their best, but they definitely tried to win the game and nearly did.
ETA: It's no different than what some coaches do during the SEC baseball tournament when they already have a national seed locked up. You'll see teams hold their ace for a day or two to keep him on a normal rotation rather than pitching their ace in the opener, because the game doesn't matter to them. If they're playing a bubble team, is it fair to other bubble teams that they're giving that team a good shot at a big win while facing a midweek guy? Maybe not, but you coach for your own team's situation. If you have everything you need clinched, you can rest players and set your rotation.
The game was 5-3 Tuesday night, how is that no chance to win??? He faced one batter and like someone said closers need regular work. I would rather pitch him Tuesday then not Wednesday if I were Girardi.
The Yankees did try to win, they had a 7 run lead. I wish Girardi had just not started any of his starters and lost 15-0. I damn sure wouldn't want Cohen to do anything to jeopardize State to help Ole Miss. 17. Get a life Sox fan.
People whining about Joe not using Rivera just sound stupid. It was his plan all along. Once again, he said at the beginning of the week he would not be used Wednesday night
I'm actually glad, given the situation, the Rays and Cardinals are in because the playoff series should be better. The Red Sox and Braves both sucked royally at the end of the year and weren't going to do anything anyway. If I were the Phillies or Yankees the only motivation I would have had for helping the Red Sox or the Braves would have been to have less competition during the playoffs. The Rays and Cardinals will be much tougher outs right now for whoever ends up playing them in whatever round they play them.