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Where's Craig Kimbrel? Not in the game (Oct. Baseball Live Thread)
ESPN ^ | October 8, 2013 | David Schoenfield

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 ...


TOPICS: Sports
KEYWORDS: 2013worldseries; alcs; alds; baseball; cardinals; dodgers; mlb; nlds; rays; redsox; tigers; worldseries
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To: Red Steel

Leyland isn’t big on pitch counts.

I don’t expect him to leave Sanchez out there all night unless he has a good reason to. Verlander and Scherzer are another matter.


161 posted on 10/12/2013 7:43:12 PM PDT by cripplecreek (REMEMBER THE RIVER RAISIN!)
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To: cripplecreek

Sanchez is starting to lose it.


162 posted on 10/12/2013 7:44:55 PM PDT by Red Steel
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To: cripplecreek

So how’s your bullpen? Boston is lights out


163 posted on 10/12/2013 7:46:06 PM PDT by Red Steel
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To: Red Steel

Tigers have a pretty solid bullpen. I’m guessing Albuquerque, or Coke will pitch with Benoit closing.


164 posted on 10/12/2013 7:53:03 PM PDT by cripplecreek (REMEMBER THE RIVER RAISIN!)
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To: cripplecreek

Well, Leyland has yanked Sanchez. Good move.


165 posted on 10/12/2013 7:55:24 PM PDT by Red Steel
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To: Red Steel

16 strikeouts on the night - tying a franchise record.


166 posted on 10/12/2013 8:29:18 PM PDT by cripplecreek (REMEMBER THE RIVER RAISIN!)
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To: cripplecreek

Still only 1 run. Id “hate” to see Sanchez’s outing go to waste.


167 posted on 10/12/2013 8:35:52 PM PDT by Red Steel
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To: Red Steel

That outfield catch looked like a disaster in the making. Nice running catch though.


168 posted on 10/12/2013 8:45:45 PM PDT by cripplecreek (REMEMBER THE RIVER RAISIN!)
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To: cripplecreek

Maybe he’ll smash one out of here and make Boston regret that trade.


169 posted on 10/12/2013 8:47:38 PM PDT by darkangel82
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To: cripplecreek

Same time tomorrow for game 2.


170 posted on 10/12/2013 9:12:37 PM PDT by Red Steel
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To: Red Steel; campaignPete R-CT; GOPsterinMA; darkangel82; cripplecreek; AuH2ORepublican; dfwgator

I knew Benoit would at the very least blow the no-hitter, but he gets the save.


171 posted on 10/12/2013 9:14:45 PM PDT by Impy (RED=COMMUNIST, NOT REPUBLICAN)
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To: Impy; GOPsterinMA

It’s a classic.


172 posted on 10/12/2013 9:19:16 PM PDT by campaignPete R-CT (WWLD? What would LaRussa do?)
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To: Impy

Benoit is exactly that kind of closer.

Interesting interview with Jose Veras after the game. That dude is one solid Christian.


173 posted on 10/13/2013 6:16:44 AM PDT by cripplecreek (REMEMBER THE RIVER RAISIN!)
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To: Mears

bfl


174 posted on 10/13/2013 6:20:56 AM PDT by Mears (Liberalism is the art ot being easily offended.)
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To: Impy; Red Steel; campaignPete R-CT; darkangel82; cripplecreek; AuH2ORepublican; dfwgator

What a game!

Both LC series are excellent, both feature evenly matched teams. Where the Hell does STL get guys like Michael Wacha and Joe Kelly from?

Any of the 4 remaining teams could win the WS.


175 posted on 10/13/2013 9:27:17 AM PDT by GOPsterinMA (You're a very weird person, Yossarian.)
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To: GOPsterinMA

Game 2 about to begin.


176 posted on 10/13/2013 5:11:38 PM PDT by Red Steel
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To: Red Steel

Yes - just finishing dinner and getting ready. TY!

This is must win for BOS; don’t want to be down 2-0 to DET with the way they’re pitching.

Great finish to the NEW-NO game. Da Pawts!


177 posted on 10/13/2013 5:16:50 PM PDT by GOPsterinMA (You're a very weird person, Yossarian.)
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To: Impy; Red Steel; campaignPete R-CT; darkangel82; cripplecreek; AuH2ORepublican; dfwgator

Great finish to the NEW-NO game! Brady surprises.

SFO, SEA and DEN win (JAX covers, though).


178 posted on 10/13/2013 5:23:05 PM PDT by GOPsterinMA (You're a very weird person, Yossarian.)
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To: GOPsterinMA
DEN win (JAX covers, though).

A crazy line of 28 or was it 32? In any case, a sucker's bet.

179 posted on 10/13/2013 5:27:54 PM PDT by Red Steel
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To: Red Steel

I saw 28, and yes, it was a sucker’s bet!


180 posted on 10/13/2013 5:28:37 PM PDT by GOPsterinMA (You're a very weird person, Yossarian.)
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