Astros @ Cardinals

Lidge is in.... thank God

 

I can definitely see your point. If the 8th is quick enough Lidge can also do the 9th.

 

I think garner just like the idea of Lidge vs Cardinals.

 

He wouldn't be the only one

 

Yea... its kinda like Edmonds vs. Astros at this point... every Cards fan I know (I used to live in St. Louis) is driving themselves CRAZY over how to beat Lidge.

To them, Lidge is not human... he's a cyborg.

 

7 pitches? Lidge owns the Cards. Definitely comes back in the 9th.

 

Nice to have an inning where Lidge has to throw minimal pitches to the heart of the Cardinals line-up.

 

feel the same way

 

My thinking was pitch lidge in the eighth and wheeler in the ninth to keep Lidge eligible to pitch tomorrow....

I chalk this one up to one of those Bill James saves where the eighth inning is the key inning in the game with the better batters coming up.

Save his arm... put in Wheeler.

 

only 8 pitches in the 8th for lidge. Although the off innings usually is tiring, I don't think garner will take lidge out. This is a crucial game to hold on to. If astros don't score, 1 man on and tying run's at the plate.

 

Uh-oh... Bonds just went deep (again) to give the Giants a 3-0 lead in San Diego.

Suddenly the Cardinals, and all of St. Louis, are fearing the possibility of having to face Bonds, Schmidt, and Noah Lowry (who they can't hit) in a short series.

 

why would you double switch if you were going to pitch hit for the 9 hole anyway?!? Garner must be thinking of letting Wheeler pitch the ninth and is looking for insurance.

 

the double switch is to keep lidge in.... Otherwise he's gonna be PH for.

 

but you pinch hit for the nine hole anyway, thus costing you one extra player for later in the game. The one aspect of Garner's managering strategy that I think needs the most work is his late inning strategy. He routinely made the wrong move in crucial junctions in the playoffs last year.

 

What are you talking about? You'd rather gibson hit than Baggy? Or would you rather Lidge only throw one inning?

 

because if garner doesn't double switch, in this scenario, Lidge will have to bat. You pinch hit for the 9th spot to get a better bat in with 1 man on. There's still Burke and Palmiero available for defense in the 9th.

 

They have a ton of extra players this time of year... so its not as dumb of a move as you think.

Garner made some gambles in the playoffs, but I could see the reasoning behind them each and every time (bringing in Lidge in the 7th inning in game 2 of Atlanta, starting Roger on 3 days rest... and starting Munro in game 6).