Posted on 10/08/2013 10:04:36 AM PDT by campaignPete R-CT
Craig Kimbrel is supposedly the heir to Mariano Rivera. In his postseason career as closer, Rivera recorded 27 appearances of 2+ innings.
Uribe bunted two balls foul, ... and then tomahawked a high fastball from David Carpenter into left-field stands for a shocking two-run homer ....
Note that I wrote "David Carpenter" and not "Craig Kimbrel."
The Braves had to win this game. Lose, and they go home. Somehow they lost -- in the late innings, no less -- without using the most dominant relief pitcher in the game.
The sad thing is, Gonzalez apparently didn't even think of using Kimbrel for two innings. "I think six outs isn't something we were even talking about in the dugout," he said after the game.
But what’s the difference between four outs and six outs? Six pitches? Ten pitches? And that doesn’t even factor in that the Dodgers had the 5-6-7 hitters due up in the eighth and the 8-9-1 hitters up in the ninth.
So instead you lost a game with a guy who had a 6.07 ERA last year for the Houston Astros.
... ".. I want the ball." We'll see if Kimbrel confirms that, but even if he didn't say that, his look of disgust, standing there with his hands on his hips, will haunt Braves fans all winter.
This should be covered in Managing 101. ... Who cares if it's the seventh inning or the eighth inning or the ninth. I'd rather lose with Carpenter in the ninth inning or the 10th inning or whenever ...
Look, managing your bullpen in a structured manner in the regular season is one thing.
October is not the regular season.
Fredi Gonzalez didn't think the best reliever in the game can get six outs.
He ended up getting none.
(Excerpt) Read more at espn.go.com ...
i think you need to write the sabermetrics book on:
a. playoff elimination game
b. NL, no-DH
c. on the road
d. fall behind in mid-innings, so bottom of 9th may never come ...
your best reliever is your closer, what does “the book” say to do with him?
(P.S. no Grilli last nite ... until the bitter end)
He resides in a Shoney's parking lot in the TAM-STP area...
His name, only to be spoken in hushed and revered tones is: His Highness Lordius of Baseballium, Josephus Maddonium II
Reddick hitting 8th tonight for OAK...makes no sense.
??? I’m with you.
Cabrera goes deep for a 2 run homer.
I saw that - good for him. Too bad he’s hurt.
Verlander hasn’t allowed a hit since September 18th.
Maybe Leyland should consider letting him pitch a complete game tonight.
Impressive. He should.
Bad news for Boston....Verlander is Back!
I think the Tigers are fixin to have a hot streak.
They still aren’t quite there but the bats started to wake up in Detroit and seem to be coming back in this game.
...and there goes the no-hitter.
A no hitter in a post season game would be awesome but its a tall order.
He spent this season transitioning from a contact pitcher to a strikeout pitcher. He’s already got two no hitters with the Tigers.
I was on here for the Roy Halladay no-hitter in the playoffs a few years ago. And I am sure he will get that 3rd one.
3 outs away from advancing.
And the Tigers advance.
Should be a fun ALCS.
It’s ¡MAURO TIME!
Gray was spent at 98 pitches ..
well, Melvin got Balfour in the game. Easy to do as home team and no DH.
Leyland a bit slow on gettin’ Iglesias on the field, but he did it in the 9th! Maybe the injury is a real factor. These guys are catching on, aren’t they BayState=ShoneySterinMA?
Boston gets to set their rotation. Verlander won’t be pitching ALCS game 1 and Lester has 7 days rest for the game.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.