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Originally Posted by phightin
He also won them a ton of games including a world series last year by making every right move in the post season. Remember game 5 where he let Jenkins pinch hit despite everyone's ovious thoughts it would be dobbs, or when he stuck with moyer despite his playoffs last year and it payed off in the world series, etc etc etc, as a philly fan myself you can't have it both ways. In baseball if you win the manager is a genius and if you lose its because he's an idiot, still holds true to this day.
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We'll definitely have to agree to disagree on the idea that he's won this franchise more games than he's blown. You're actually one of the few Phils fans that I know (and I know a lot) that believe this.
Quote:
Originally Posted by phightin
Blanton did effectively match-up with CC last night. He allowed 4 through 6 while CC allowed 3 through 6.2. So Blanton did his job. Not starting lee on 3 days rest is something that I agree with but at the same time maybe the guy truly doesnt feel comfortable doing it.
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6 innings and 4 runs was doing his job?? Yikes. that's not doing his job at all, that's a BAD outing. He put them in an early hole and then killed their momentum later in the game after they tied it by allowing 2 more runs. He definitely didn't do a good job last night and I'm not sure how anyone could argue otherwise.
Quote:
Originally Posted by phightin
He didn' have much choice at that point considering you need Durbin and Happ to be able to go multiple in extras if needed and the only option you really have other than him at that point would have been Eyre. Sure he melted down but if ruiz catches that foul tip into the glove on damon's ab with two outs than he gets out of the inning. Not saying he didn't melt down but the guy had looked dominant recently and it was the right move to make in the top of the 9th of a tie game with the pitchers spot due up.
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This is exactly my point. It was a MUST WIN game, Rivera wasn't going to pitch the ninth if it was tied, they needed to play to win the damn game (thanks Herm) and not play for extra innings. They had plenty of arms they could have used in that spot. You never ever play for extra innings when you have a pinch hitter and the top of your order coming up. The decision he made last nite is called playing not to lose.
Quote:
Originally Posted by phightin
You can't put two runners into scoring positon first during a tie game in the top of the 9th two outs when you have a chance to win it right after. Plus you load the bases and for a guy like lidge who relies on pitching out of the zone it wouldn't have been the righ call either. You had to pitch to A-Rod there.
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Once again, 1 or 2 runs wasn't going to make much difference because either way they were going to face a guy who truly is lights out in Mariano Rivera if they gave up a run. There were two outs, all they would have needed to do was get Posada out. Like I said, an absolutely asinine decision to pitch to him in that spot. The runner on third took away Lidge's BEST PITCH, he became even more useless once Damon stole 2nd and 3rd and was limited to his fastball which has sucked all year long.