This isn't true at all - teams bring in lefties to get lefties out all the time in less-than-critical situations. The White Sox have started Neal Cotts in the 9th inning a few times to get 1 guy before bringing in their closer (Bobby Jenks) to finish off the inning. I disagree with it as a strategy, but it's done a lot. Tends to work a lot better when you have a GOOD lefty specialist, of course. But consider this: Wheeler and Lidge this year are putting more people on base this year than Gallo did last year. Admittedly, Gallo is much worse this year, but its not like our other pitchers have been dominant or anything. Wheeler has an ERA over 5. Lidge is over 6. Qualls is almost at 5. Wheeler has a batting average against of over 0.300.
I won't speak for everyone else, but I hope fans continue to do it to put the pressure on Garner to stop. It's very clear that, for whatever bizarre reason, Garner ignores all statistics and logic when it comes to Gallo and faithfully puts him in on a nightly basis in key situations. As a fan, I want us to do everything in our power to change it... and the only thing we can really do is complain. I don't have faith in Garner to fix the problem himself, so my last hope is that maybe they'll be enough outrage in the public and in the media that the pressure will be on him to try something new. Also, the baserunner getting himself out is next to irrelevant considering Lofton's out allowed the hitter to reach scoring position. Spin it however you want, but that run - the run that turned out to be the winning run - would not have scored on the next hit if Lofton had not reached base. I'm not saying it wouldn't have scored anyway, but those are the facts. And yes, coming in with a runner on base does affect how a pitcher pitches.
If Garner ever manages based on what fans think, he needs to be fired that day. So Pettitte gives up 6 runs in 5 innings. Wheeler gives up 4 in 2/3 of an inning. Gallo gives up a single that doesn't score. Yes, it clearly must be Gallo's fault that we lost. If it was any other pitcher that had give up a single that didn't score, no one would be blaming him.
I think it's incredibly naive if you don't think pressure from the fans and media is in the minds of managers when they make decisions. Maybe I'm wrong. We'll see. That single had a direct impact on when and how the winning run scored. Is there a part of that statement you don't get? I'd hold the pitcher who allowed the leadoff single partially responsible no matter who it is. That said, yes, you're right - I am being harder on Gallo because it's Mike Gallo. See my reasoning in the previous part of my last post. If you don't agree with it, fine, but it's about the only hope I have left.
don't disagree with you there. these are the ramifications of sucking every time you take the mound. runners reaching base with him pitching seem like a given at this point.
Last night definitely was not Gallo's fault. He gave up more or less a bloop single and that is it. I'd say it was one of his best performances this season Last night was all on Pettitte and Wheeler. That said, I'd still prefer not to see Gallo in any more. I've talked to him before and he is a really nice guy, but man he just cannot seem to get outs.
Mike Gallo had a 2.7 ERA last season, and has a career 3.8 ERA. That's better than league average. He's made 10 appearances for us in the postseason with an ERA below 2. He's a young lefty reliever with decent stuff, which means he's going to be around in the majors for a long time. I'm not president of his fan club or anything, but it seems to me that he's done nothing to deserve the venom he gets on this BBS. You guys have picked him for your scapegoat for some reason, when he's actually not bad.
Gallo was very good last season. Gallo was GREAT in the playoffs last year. Saying "he's always sucked" is pretty freakin' stupid. That being said - whether it's due to the WBC or whatever - Gallo needs to work this crap out in AAA once Miller's OK to come back. Pretty sure he has options left. Pettitte & Wheeler pitched like crap, Stros couldn't touch their bullpen. That's the ballgame in a nutshell.
He said a week or so ago that he's reluctant to rest Biggio during home games due in part (his ridiculous numbers at home are a huge factor too) to fans' travelling in from out of town desire to see him play. I don't have a problem with that.
oh and lane's double clutch was probably because he didn't have control of the ball. so if he threw it right away, it still wouldn't have gotten the guy. the reason he didn't have control? Cause he didn't know where it was in his glove cause he short-hopped it and came up so fast. The reason he short-hopped it? I don't know, cause if he kept running instead of stopping..he could've made a sliding grab. Not as safe a play, but you gotta go for that...it looked pretty doable. Preston's was inexcusable. Although the baserunner turning the bag and going was also ridiculous considering how fast Preston had the ball. I know he expected the runner to stop...but for him not to at least be ready to throw is dumb.
If he's choosing to rest him on the road instead of at home, I don't have a problem with that. I'd play him at home simply because of his ridiculous splits - he's actually really good at home. That said, if Garner is making decisions that he thinks hurts the team he puts out on the field because fans want to see Biggio, I'd be disappointed. I suspect he doesn't feel that way, so then its a just a "when do I rest him" rather than "do I rest him" situation.
For some reason? He's used as the left-handed specialist out of the bullpen. His numbers against left-handed batters the last three years: 2006: .438 avg, .944 OPS 2005: .268 avg, .766 OPS 2004: .286 avg, .885 OPS That's not productive. That's awful. ERA is a misleading statistic for left-handed specialists, because they very rarely pitch for an entire inning. Usually, they pitch for one or two batters, and are then removed for the right-hander. In the Astros' case, Qualls, Wheeler and Lidge are usually good enough (with the exception of a few games this year) to minimize the damage and not allow any runs even with an inherited runner on base from Gallo. When put in the context of his other numbers, Gallo's ERA is more of a reflection on the bullpen surrounding him than it is on him personally. Yes, the Astros' entire bullpen has struggled the first five weeks of this season. But as a whole, Qualls, Wheeler and Lidge are all very talented and none are routinely torched by lefties. In fact, Qualls' numbers against lefties are fantastic. So, to watch those excellent relievers sit in the bullpen and wait in crucial situations while Mike Gallo takes the mound against good lefty hitters with his career track record against them being as poor as it is... it's one of the stupidest things I've ever witnessed as an Astros fan. It's unthinkable, unfathomable stupidity and it deserves every bit of the reaction it's getting. Gallo may not have directly lost as many games as some people here give him credit for. Nonetheless, his role on this team is a joke and has been for some time.
Exclusively so? He sucks as a lefty-specialist, but when pitching an inning here and there he's been much better.
