Can't anyone here manage a pitcher?

jjmoney62 · **Posted:** Wed Oct 24, 2007 9:30 pm

Bottom of the 4th, two outs, runners on second and third. You're down by 3, still in the ballgame. Similar situation in the first, and you escaped down by only 3. The runners on 2nd and 3rd are their big thumpers, so you consider yourself lucky to have kept them from scoring. Lefty pitcher. Two righthanders coming up, the fifth and sixth hitters. The first has popped out twice, the second is 1 for 2 and a clutch, veteran hitter at home.

Why would you even think of walking the first one intentionally to load the bases? (Of course, the next hitter scorched a pitch down the line for 2 RBIs.)

Discuss.

(I hope SeaRaven's tickets aren't for Game 5 again.)

Wayne Countryman · **Posted:** Sat Oct 27, 2007 3:08 am

I had the same thought. It's one thing if the second batter is weak, but this month the Red Sox don't have many weak bats--even Lugo can hit when he gets ahead in the count. He who walks tends to score.

As Tim McCarver and everyone else is belaboring, the Red Sox are incredibly patient at the plate (aside from Padroia taking his uppercut-overswing to a new level). Nor do they strike out often.

The Rockies have great fielders. There's no Green Monster in left field or short porch down the right field line in Denver. Their pitchers need to throw strikes. If they walk batters or get behind in the count and then groove one, they're going to get hurt.

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Can't anyone here manage a pitcher?

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