Huh? He had already given up a HR to Ramirez that hadn't landed yet. So he didn't get into trouble AFTER the HR... but still doesn't change the fact that he's a 1-2 inning pitcher max, and the managers job is to KEEP his players out of trouble, not yank them after they already cause trouble. Astros score last inning, move doesn't matter. Marlins score this inning, move doesn't matter (unless you miss Altuve's defense).
I really don't understand having Schafer steal with the heart of the lineup coming up. Give them a chance.
right, he's a 1-2 inning pitcher max...so why extend him past that in the first place? once you're at 2 2/3 (and he wasn't getting into trouble that inning), why not give him one more batter to try and preserve altuve in the event that the game gets wild?
Especially against a releif pitcher not used to going this long (and no more relief pitchers left). Make em work for it... I hate steals as it is. Very rarely do they win you games, and quite often the caught stealing ruins scoring opportunities.
Not sure I agree with loading the bases for Hanley, either. I know that's the typical play to get the force at every base, but when you're talking about a guy with that much power and putting him in a position where a simple fly ball wins it... I don't like it.
Because you got an extra 2/3'd inning out of him... and you preserved the bullpen an additional 2/3'd inning... in the event that the game got wild. Extra innings (on the road, esp) is all about how far your pitchers can go, and who you have left to relieve them. Position players (even good hitters) sometimes have to pay the sacrafice for this, especially if the rest of the lineup can't scratch out a run. Right here, if Ramirez wins the game, Altuve's spot never came up again to make a difference. Don't worry, next year (in the AL) you won't have to worry about any of this anymore.
That's it. Tough loss. Lost opportunities. Didn't capitalize. And yeah, maybe some blame to 'Millsy'.
You also set up a potential DP though, which gets you out of the inning. Really, all in all, a terrible time to have a wild pitch.
Last year notwithstanding, you're talking about one of the best hitters in baseball. I'd rather just about any alternative to bringing him to the plate needing only a fly ball to win it.
Despite being one of the best hitters in baseball, he can still hit into GIDP's. Likewise, Bonifica can still hit a deep fly ball. Percentages still say to set up for the force anywhere. The percentages do not say to throw a wild pitch with runners on base, butting the winning run at third with less than 2 outs. Once that gaffe has been commited, its pretty tough to blame managerial descisions for a lack of execution by the team.
my point is, letting lopez pitch to the next batter would have been virtually risk-free. he was pitching fine, and the only concern is a home run in a stadium where there have been 2 hit in 4 games. if he gives up a hit to morrison, bring carpenter in for the next batter.
and that is hindsight. i can just as easily say that if lopez never came out of the game, carpenter wouldn't have given up that run.
