Nationals starter John Lannan: He deserved better. (MLB.com)
I watched last night’s Washington Nationals-Boston Red Sox game with Sox fan named Hank, whose reactions may be of interest to baseball fans in general, as a suggestion of how the game is managed by some folks these days.
Top second, Nats 1, Sox 0
Hank: “Your team looks pretty good. I think they’ll win.”
RL: “Just wait.”
Bottom fourth, Nats 2, Sox 2
Hank: “Bases loaded, one out. Lannan the pitcher’s up next. You need runs now. Hernandez is fast and the infield’s back—why not squeeze?”
RL: “Our manager never squeezes. Doesn’t teach bunting.”
Hank: “Hit and run then?”
RL: “Doesn’t do that much, either. As far as I can tell, he doesn’t stress base running.”
(Hernandez grounds out, Lannan strikes out, rally over.)
Hank: “Inexcusable. No imagination. I see why this is a last place team.”
Bottom 6th, Nats 3, Sox 3
Hank: “They’ve come fighting back, they still have a good shot.”
RL: “Disaster doesn’t usually strike until the 7th, 8th or 9th.”
Top 7th, Sox 3, Nats 3
Hank: “Why is your manager pulling Lannan? He’s just struck out Drew….”
RL: “Over 100 pitches. Surprised he brought Lannan back this inning. The skipper worships pitch counts and match-ups, regardless of the situation or individual. Youklis is up and bats right-handed, so he’s calling for a right-hander.”
Hank: “Tavarez was pretty rough when he pitched for us…”
RL: “And still is…”
(The inevitable error puts Youk on, who goes to third on Bay’s single while Dunn’s throw allows Bay to take second. Youk soon scores and the Sox lead.)
Hank: “He’s bringing in Villone—good move.”
RL: “In this case his knee-jerk match-up move is right—not because Ellsbury bats left-handed but because Villone’s far better than Tavarez.”
(Side retired.)
Top 8th, Sox 4, Nats 3
Hank: “Why’s he pulling Villone already?”
RL: “Match-ups again. Pedroia’s right-handed, so in comes Wells. Just watch….”
Hank: “Two walks. Wells is gone but too late…”
RL: “Just in time for Colome. ERA about 8. Keep watching…”
(Four hits later, the game is gone.)
Top 9th, Sox 10, Nats 3
Hank: “So who’s this Hanrahan guy?”
RL: “You are now about to enjoy our pièce de résistance. He was our closer, which was a joke. He’s blown five or six games. He’s good for at least another run.”
Bottom 9th, Sox 11, Nats 3
Hank: “I don’t understand your manager. He seems to stand there like a deer in the headlights. No animation, no fire. Bound to rub off on the players.”
RL: “Some Nats fans still defend him, saying it’s the players’ fault.”
Hank: “Not entirely. Too many inexplicable and illogical moves. Pulling pitchers who are doing fairly well or yanking them strictly for match-ups is not situational managing. Pitchers contribute to errors when they walk so many batters that the fielders start standing on their heels.”
RL: “Can’t argue with you.”
Hank: “What is with the owners? Don’t they see that this manager is killing them? Surely they have their investment to consider.”
I didn’t know what to tell my friend, except that he was watching for the first time what I’ve been watching all year.
Maybe someone else has an idea.
