If Pettitte had the same strike zone as Jason Isringhouse, it would have been a far different result. DD
I've had no problems with a lot of what Garner has done this season, but putting Viz is was a terrible move. There was a man in scoring position. It should have been Bagwell. Get the run, get Biggio up and see what happens there. What is Viz going to do in that situation? Exactly what he did in the last at bat in game 7 last year...a weak ass grounder to 2nd. Bad move. Let's make up for it tomorrow by kicking Mulder's ass.
If I were the Angels... I'd just throw it to 1st after every single K... for the rest of the series. Make the umps look like the true idiots that they are... they could have easily come together and verified that the ball didn't hit the dirt (or the ump signalled the K already)... but they're useless again.
Yeah maybe I should rephrase... what happened to the Angels wasn't controversial. They just got flat out burned.
Did not like Jose Viz in that situation. They should have used some else with a heavier bat. Oh well, we will get them in game 2,3,4,&5. Go 'Stros!
That's what I don't understand. If you don't use your hall bound, former all-star 1B whose had success against Isringhausen in the 9th inning of Game 1 of the NLCS with a runner in scoring position down 2, then what's the pt of putting him on the roster. Maybe Garner felt Viz had a better shot of driving one out of the park than Bags. But still, you can't waste Bagwell in that situation. Just like Game 4 of the NLDS, only then it worked out w/ the Ausmus HR.
I had a bad feeling about tonight's game. I feel good about the rest of the series though. WE WILL WIN THIS.
i don't even get it. the ump signaled him out. what exactly are you supposed to go on? well the ump called him out but maybe he'll decide later that he isn't so i'll throw to first?
A rule for Garner and the Astros the rest of the series... DON'T PITCH TO PUJOLS WITH A BASE OPEN...especially with men on base. I just don't get why you let him get a chance to hit and drive runs in. He kills us every time. I'd have like to seen Bagwell, but we had our chances before that anyway.
does Viz have really good career stats against Isringhausen. we know bagwell does, at least according to the announcers...
Viz has a .417 BA against Izzy in 12 at bats Bagwell has a .333 BA against him in 15 ABs. Garner's played hunches all year and for the most part they've worked. I can't blame him for putting someone with a slightly better average against Izzy than someone who is coming off of shoulder surgery. (Although, common sense says use the veteran no matter what, as he's done fairly well in his few pinch at bats.) http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/bvsp?playerId=3289&teamId=18 ^Isringhausen vs Astros (Career)
I asked myself when I saw Viz coming up why he was going to bat right then instead of Bagwell. But in the end I won't second guess Garner after all the amazing things he did to win that last game against Atlanta. Those were things that seemed questionable at the time and he ended up being right on those calls. Bagwell wasn't guaranteed a hit just because he came up to the plate, but if I were the manager I would have used Bags. However, I have confidence in Garner so maybe he knew something that I didn't. I didn't like losing this one, but maybe tomorrow we can still one at Busch stadium, and bring the series back home.
FWIW, I don't think any of Bagwell's career numbers matter at this point. His shoulder is different and thus his swing is different. I doubt his future pattern of hitting will match his past (good or bad). If you have a lefty that has a .400+ average against the guy, I can't really argue with going for him.
I'm not arguing that he shouldn't have used Viz. If I had Viz who had a better average, and Baggy with a less than healthy shoulder, I go Viz. (knowing the stats I know now, which I'm sure Garner/Gaetti have in the dugout) Plus, like you said, there is NO reason to second guess Garner at this point. When he's been as successful as he's been the past 240+ games as an Astros manager have been great and has lead us to the NLCS TWICE now. If he can lead us to the WS, and more importantly, a title, he definately acheives Rudy T status in my mind.
