Raven: 7-0. This is what it means to get a no decision . Our needs are pretty obvious. We need another quality middle reliever and a bat off the bench. We have one decent pinch hitter in any game - Mike Lamb (or Ensberg, if he's not playing). We badly need another one. My stomach gets squeamish when we pinch hit Vizcaino.
he remains 7-0. It was a no decision. Had the lead held he would have been 8-0. But because a reliever blew the game it automatically became a no decision for him.
he will stay at 7-0. one good thing though is his ERA will go down even more. he is making a straight line for a cy young.
all i know is we lost the last 2 series because Dotel couldn't close out a game. I'm pretty close to wanting Lidge moved to the closers role. Compare the 9th with the 10th inning. Dotel pitched much better once he was relaxed in the 10th. I don't think he's cut out to be the closer. I hope i'm wrong but he hasn't proved to me i am so far
In any other season, I'd be content to let Dotel work through his problems. But this season...........this is it. This is the one where 1 game could decide our fate, just like last year. I'm upset that Dotel has blown yet another game (lets not forget the first game of the season.....although not a blown save, he let them take the lead). However, I have to go back to the bats. Its sad that Clemens had the biggest clutch hit the whole series (or seemed like it anyway). The bats continue to fail when trying to put a game away, tie the game or give us a lead. The margin for error this season is smaller than any other. Cubs are now tied with us cause they took care of business, while we didn't, and they have done so without their ace. Dotel's leash should be short.
Lidge is a better pitcher than Dotel...put Dotel back in his spot in the 8th and move Lidge to the closers role. DD
The good news, at least we have a backup plan. The season is only 1/4 old. Let's give him until the All Star break and then make a decision. This is just his first year. I think we owe him some time to work it out.
Somehow I don't think that Lidge can close it out either. Dotel looks unhittable as a setup man also. We may need to look for other options if the bullpen keeps blowing games up.
Lidge is a better pitcher than Dotel.. Based on what, exactly? Last year: Lidge ERA: 3.6, Dotel: 2.5 Last year: Lidge WHIP: 1.20, Dotel: 0.97 I would hope you wouldn't ignore a full year's worth of data and look at one month to make your case.
Just got back from the game... God it was sad to hear all the alleged Astros fans around me cheer for a Mets homerun in extra innings just so that the game would end and they could finally go home. "Root, root, root for the home team...." my ass.
Not looking at last years data isn't nearly as bad as not looking at all at this years data. Dotel needs to be back in the setup role to get some more confidence. We don't have the luxury of him getting back to form in the 9th inning. It's not like the games he has saved have been easy 1-2-3 or anything. He just needs a break.
Not looking at last years data isn't nearly as bad as not looking at all at this years data. This year's data is fairly useless. Lidge has given up 6 runs in 22 innings. Before today, Dotel had given up 6 runs in 18 innings (now 8 in 19). Dotel has blown 2 saves. Lidge has blown 2 saves. Dotel has 7 saves+holds. Lidge has 6 saves+holds. Is there a difference that's significant enough to ignore a full year's worth of data? If this year's data is the argument, why not make Miceli the closer? He's pitched more innings and given up fewer runs than either Dotel or Lidge, with 7 hold/saves and no blown saves.
Major, I just think that Lidge has more pitches available to him than Dotel, and that would make him a better closer. Wags became an elite closer when he had the slider working, and Lidge has the same capability. Dotel really only has one pitch, and when it is not moving it is jumping off the opponents bats. I simply think Lidge is better suited to be a closer. Just an opinion, nothing more. DD
Fair enough - I just feel the opposite. I think Dotel has a great slider to complement a fastball with lots of movement. I haven't seen any of the games this week, so I'm not sure what's wrong with him, but it appears to be control issues. He's never really had major control issues in the past, so I'm more willing to let him work through it. I think switching them would cause all sorts of potential problems.
So, did anybody see me on tv? You can see me in the 13th inning. At least my back you can see. I was wearing a maroon shirt, with the red rockets ball cap. I was standing near the stairs watching that baseball fly into the crawford boxes. Maybe if you look out for me, you can see me. That game was rolling along. Then Dotel came in.
Ummm yeah, screw you Dotel. DAMN IT! It's so frustrating Roger throws 7 shutout innings and doesn't get a win. I really hope Dotel gets it together come playoff time. I remember during one point last year he had an insane amount of consecutive scoreless innings, so hopefully he goes back to that form.
I really hated to lose this game. When Bags made that catch in foul ground to end the 7th and Roger was fired up I was like hell yea we gotta win this game for Clemens. I think we had the bases loaded twice before extra inings. This shouldnt have even been a save situation. Our bats need to wake up! Through out this 6 game home stand, werent Biggio and Everett the only ones to go deep? We need to start getting consistant 4 and 5 runs games. But still, Dotel needs to get his **** together. I don't know if you flip Dotel and Lidge. If he blows another one this month, give Lidge a chance.
Does anyone know what pitch was called when Piazza had two strikes? Did Dotel miss with the pitch and leave it out over the plate, or was the call to try to get a fast ball by Piazza? I just question in that situation, with 2 strikes, why the pitch was anywhere near the plate and not in the dirt (or up at the eyes).
