The "What Ifs" of last night
by thad728 on Jul 10, 2008 1:03 PM CDT
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PrintSo this is totally a "what if" discussion. This stems from my thoughts on Washingtons ability as a "game manager".
First of all, i think RW has done an awesome job in getting this team to believe in themselves and he has got them playing and believing like they are for real. My concern of Wash only comes from in game decisions that, to me, are often questionable.
Lets take last nights decision to have MY steal second. I know you want the tieing run on scoring position. But, if Socia knew what he was doing, arent you taking the bat out of Hambone's hands? If Young gets caught, we are all talking about how stupid that decision was and how dumb RW can be.
The situation played out last night and it was in our favor, but how many times is it going to bite us in the butt?
Just a thought and wanted to get thoughts on Wash's in game managing.
Is it good, average, or poor.
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Last night
Think about all this. We were down by one run against one of the toughest closers in the majors and our division rival who we are chasing in the standings. Hamilton has been in an extra base hit slump for awhile now going without a homerun for about 3 weeks now. David Murphy, the #5 hitter last night, has been on a hot streak with 2 hits so far that night and in the past week he has two 3 run home runs. Given all that the decision to send Michael was a good one. Because if they choose to pitch around Hamilton then you still have Murph coming up with a guy in scoring position. And if they pitch to hamilton you have the ML leader in RBIs with a guy in scoring position.
Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.
Not to mention
that K-Rod had only given up 1 homerun this season, so you have to get your guys in scoring position if possible.
by Anonymous New Guy on Jul 10, 2008 1:59 PM CDT up reply actions
i didn't know until this morning...
...that is the first walk-off home-run he’s allowed in his career.
by oc on Jul 10, 2008 2:09 PM CDT up reply actions
First regular season home run
Manny won Game #2 of the 2007 ALDS against K-Rod with a walkoff HR at Fenway.
Milton Bradley
might have hit for Murphey..
Hamilton hadn’t hit a homer in 22 games, and was 0-4 for the night..
Good call by Wash, and good call by Scioscia.
Bradley...
...has his batting gloves on in the video.
by oc on Jul 10, 2008 1:32 PM CDT up reply actions
Young
was on his own according to Washingtons post game interview.
That was my guess
I kind of thought the MY did that on his own after KRod ignored him for two pitches. Then cool, i conceed to it being a great heads up baseball play. I have been impressed with how RW has these kids playing, however, i still questions many of his in game decisions.
what if Jamey doesn't shut them down in the 8th or 9th?...
...couple of key contributions in last nights win.
by oc on Jul 10, 2008 1:36 PM CDT up reply actions
Agree on Wright for sure...
...he had the best pitching line of the night for Texas.
Also nice to get a win using the bullpen but not using Eddie or C.J.
Physician: Primum non nocere
Batter: First, make no out
boy... how about Warner Madrigal...
...getting the ball, literally hours before game-time… going out there and throwing that gas for three innings… getting great defense behind him… and holding them to one run.
same with Rupey. can’t give either of those guys enough credit. Rupey finally started zoning in after a couple of bad outings…
by oc on Jul 10, 2008 2:08 PM CDT up reply actions
Ramon's walk was key...
...but as much as I would like to praise him all I really saw was a patient hitter taking pitches that weren’t close to the strike zone.
I guess he gets some credit for not going up there with the typical pinch-hitter’s attitude of hack at the first thing close.
But then again I don’t remember those pitches being all that close.
Physician: Primum non nocere
Batter: First, make no out
Rupe was vetry good last night...
...I like what he brings to the team. A long man who is anything but a “give-up” most night s he is used.
Physician: Primum non nocere
Batter: First, make no out
This team is not winning because the manager is...
...”getting this team to believe in themselves and he has got them playing and believing like they are for real”.
They are winning because they are a more talented team than they have been in recent times.
Physician: Primum non nocere
Batter: First, make no out
Im with you that they have more tallent
But with the complete lack of experience, Wash has them playing with confidence. Are they are more talented team than two or three years ago when they finished the season over 500? Yes. But they have a club house condusive to winning and a manager that encourages that. I dont think you could say the same think about Buck?
You don't win because you play with confidence...
...you win when you have better players and play better than the other team. Sometimes there are in-game decisions that affect the outcome. Sometimes there are pre-game decisions, such as starting lineup and batting order, that give one team an edge.
Physician: Primum non nocere
Batter: First, make no out
Whoops, replied to the wrong post...
...a thousand apologies.
Physician: Primum non nocere
Batter: First, make no out
What about April
So, what about the Rangers of April? Similar roster, same manager? What is the difference from then and now?? Maybe, confidence? Possibly? Yeas you win with talent, but if you dont have any confidence in yourslef, you get “April”
No black hole at 1B for one thing...
...better play from Laird once he started splitting time with Salty for another.
I just don’t buy that they play better because they have confidence, especially any confidence from the manager telling them they should have it. I think they are confident now because they are playing better.
It might seem like a “chicken-or-the-egg” type thing but I don’t see it that way. I see it as they started to play better and now they have some confidence. But I don’t think whatever confidence they have built up lately is going to have a significant impact on their results in the future.
They will continue to win when they outplay their opponents and lose when they fail to do so.
Physician: Primum non nocere
Batter: First, make no out
Sooooo
the team the Rangers fielded yesterday was a more talented team than what the Angels fielded? Madrigal/Rupe/Wright vs. Weaver and all?
by robert_d_wilfong on Jul 10, 2008 2:46 PM CDT up reply actions
Maybe not last night specifically...
...but there are other factors that go into winning games. In the course of a 162 game season even the best teams lose at least a third of their games.
Physician: Primum non nocere
Batter: First, make no out
i think you'll have that answer after tonight...
...the Angels are far superior on the mound…
...but, you simply can’t overlook the contributions that these rookies are making in place of injuries.
if this team was even remotely healthy, imagine…
by oc on Jul 10, 2008 4:29 PM CDT up reply actions
Chad,
How would you explain the New York Mets, New York Yankees, or any other underachieving team? Do they not have talent?
"Shut the F*** up Lloyd!!"- Superagent Mr. Gold
Not sure what those teams problems are...
...as I do not follow them closely. But I wouldn’t believe that a lack of confidence or inspiration from their managers is to blame.
If I had to take a wild guess I would say something like declining skills of aging players or injuries or something like that. I seriously doubt there is some mental edge that is lacking on those teams.
Physician: Primum non nocere
Batter: First, make no out
My point was....
That a team has to have more than good players. The Mets have just as much talent and great players as anyone.
”...you win when you have better players and play better than the other team”
The two teams that I pointed out have better players better plays than just about any team in the league.
"Shut the F*** up Lloyd!!"- Superagent Mr. Gold
here's how I see it
Young on first, Hamilton can single (which he’s done a lot of lately) and it’s no big deal, 2 on, 2 out, still a 2 run game. But when Young stole 2nd, he put himself in position to score on a Hamilton single. And all of a sudden, with Young on 2nd, K-Rod’s gotta start thinking, “I can’t give up a single here…I have to be perfect.” Then he makes a mistake and Hamilton makes him pay. So really, even if Washington HAD sent Young, it makes sense…
"No, Donny, these men are nihilists, there's nothing to be afraid of."
Interesting thoughts...
...I wouldn’t be surprised if something like that went through his mind.
Hindsight is 20/20 but when the count reached 3-1 with MY at second I fully expected Scioscia would choose to face Murphy. And if Bradley pinch-hit I about half expected he would be walked too and Byrd would have the game on his shoulders.
Physician: Primum non nocere
Batter: First, make no out
I wouldnt be surprised
if that thought went through his mind either, but, what was Mathis thinking when he set up in the middle of the dish to Josh.
Another thought. What if…..Salts had’nt of pulled 2 RBI’s out of his bat making the walk-off celebration null and void?
"reply" is
your friend.
"...my balls are really like a veiny flesh color" blueballlefty on Jun 4, 2008 7:44 PM EDT
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
"If you ain't got no money, ain't nobody calls you honey," Bo Diddley
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