Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Post-Game 20 Thread: Hitting The Wall

METS 7, DODGERS 3 (10)

We don't need no education. But you know who might? Whomever made this game-hinging call:

With the Dodgers up 3-2 going to the bottom of the ninth, following a brave five-inning start by the newly reactivated Ted Lilly, not to mention a (video review) HR and three runs off the bat of struggling Matt Kemp, Brandon League has two out and a runner on third with David Wright up and John Buck, lifetime .236 batter, on deck. League gets the call from his manager to attack Wright, who promptly knocks the first pitch into right for a game-tying single. Buck didn't even finish his ninth-inning AB since Wright was thrown out at second base.

Post-game radio interviews confirmed that League was told--by someone who will remain anonymous but whose name rhymes with "gone battingly"--to "go after" Wright, who "has a tendency to be aggressive." Unfortunately, Wright also has a tendency to be a good hitter (he's batting .309 this year). And League has a tendency to serve up meatballs like the grooved fastball to Wright.

Josh Wall struggled in his 0.1 IP in the tenth, yielding a single, a walk, a sac bunt, and an IBB before giving up the grand slam to Jordany Valdespin. Look, if you're going to get beaten, maybe getting beaten by Valdespin isn't so bad. But Wright? What a bizarre call.

Mattingly also made the point not to call for Matt Guerrier or Paco Rodriguez tonight, supposedly given their recent workload and the day game tomorrow. Wall was on his own tonight, which ended up "for worse" rather than "for better." Let's see if this bullpen gamble pays off tomorrow with a series-taking win.

7 comments:

Hideo Nomo said...

There was a domino effect that led to this loss. It started when Howell walked his first two batters then deflected that easy double play ball.

Steve Sax said...

I still blame gone battingly

Hideo Nomo said...

For Carl Crawford's inability to catch?

Wicks said...

It's the next morning and I'm still pissed off at Crawford "the defensive replacement". Sure he dropped the ball but the killer was him being lazy and letting the runner get to second. If he keeps him on first like he should have we win the game.

Alex Cora said...

Agree with wicks. He lolly gagged to the ball after it hit the heel of his glove. He even made a nice throw after he picked it up and that guy old have been out. :(

Alex Cora said...

^would

Paul said...

It was odd cause on the radio broadcast Monday blamed Kemp for not coming over to back up Crawford on the drop but when I saw it on replay it seems like there was no way Kemp could have helped out. Crawford needed to get on top of that ball quicker.