Comments on: ALCS Coverage: Girardi Is Nuts

By: Andrew

Andrew — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 05:53:05 +0000

The biggest difference is teams are facing better pitching in the postseason. There are no fifth-starters. Every team goes to a 4-man rotation and some go to a 3-man. The days off also mean that teams can use their ace relievers more. Dave had a good article about how CC, Burnett, Pettite and Mo pitched 80% of the Yanks innings this postseason, whereas they only pitched about half of them during the regular season.

Example) I don’t think Mariano has done a 6-out save once in the last three years before the ALCS Game 6. This is something Girardi should do more, but most games are not nearly as important as a Penant clincher so he doesn’t.

It’s also why bunting was not a bad move in Game 6. The Yankees were trying to score just one more run, and one run is HUGE for mo.

By: freshhops

freshhops — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:46:17 +0000

One thing I can’t figure out about baseball managers is how they reconcile their behavior during playoffs with their regular season behavior. They employ two different strategies in the different strategies but there’s zero reason to think that you maximize runs differently in the two situations.

By: Jimbo

Jimbo — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 01:32:01 +0000

Not enough shameless book plugs.

By: wobatus

wobatus — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 13:26:52 +0000

Walking a-rod didn’t make much sense, but he maybe didn’t trust fuentes to pitch around him after the earlier 0-2 meatball. pinch-running for a-rod was idiotic.

By: Pete

Pete — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 17:24:17 +0000

Yes it was.

By: Pete

Pete — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 17:18:25 +0000

Ah, but which is a more favorable situation…

Nobody on, where a HR ties the game, or a guy on where a HR puts you behind? Obviously A-Rod is hammering the ball right now, and by IBBing him you get a platoon advantage, but you’re still running the risk of falling behind on a HR. Even A-Rod is more likely to get out than not.

By: Zu Long

Zu Long — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 02:46:54 +0000

Nestor- that’s not exactly fair, as it doesn’t include the pitcher tendencies in the equation. Fuentes was a much better pitcher against lefties than righties, all season. Scioscia calculated that while the batters might have roughly equal chances of a winning hit, his pitchers chances of giving up said winning hit were far lower against Matsui than A-Rod. That being the case, he went with the better matchup.

By: pounded clown

pounded clown — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 22:52:34 +0000

Agreed. Furthermore they weren’t playing in Yankees stadium. That HR off of Fuentes in game 2 came courtesy of the shortest porch in all of baseball. And it just made it out at that. Also bad pitch selection. Fuentes should thank Sciosscia for making him A-Rod’s bitch. And yeah that really boosted his confidence. Didn’t he proceed to .load the bases with a hit batsmen and another walk..with 2 outs and in front of his home fans no less? Then he goes from 0-2 on Swisher to 3-2. The next time out Fuentes needs some Depends cause you could see the crap running down his leg. Horrible player management and by an ex-catcher to boot. I might consider it a decent move had they’re been 1 out but with 2 outs and no one on in that pitcher’s park, the outcome favored Fuentes. Fortunately all thing worked out which is good because it’s nice too watch the Yankees lose.

By: Rally

Rally — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 20:12:04 +0000

“This makes replacing Robertson with Aceves look downright tame. Someone stop Joe Girardi before he manages the best team in baseball right out of the playoffs.”

NO! More Girardi genius moves are needed. Please pinch run for Alex in the first inning. Take Pettite out after the first baserunner allowed, it will mean he’s lost it and you must bring in Joba. (and keep him in). And make sure you save Mariano Rivera in case he’s needed in the 18th inning!

That will help bring about an optimal outcome for the series.

By: Daniel

Daniel — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 20:07:05 +0000

As an Angels fan, I’m used to seeing it from Lackey, so it didn’t surprise me. Most other pitchers keep their emotions in check better than that.