Frank Senior Moments: Part XXXVII
Last night was full of the madcap hijinks we've come to expect when Frank Robinson is awake on the bench.
Combine Tony LaRussa's penchant for overmanaging and asserting himself in the game, with a BPGer's knowledge of strategy, and a healthy dose of quaaludes, and you'll get decisions like those in yesterday's game.
Bottom 8 and down 1, Schneider leads off (against a lefty) and singles. Livan Hernandez hits for himself and bunts situation. Frank pinch runs for Schneider with his other catcher, Gary Bennett.
I really don't even know what to make of that. You could quibble with each of those decisions. That they didn't produce a run adds ammo, but, even if they had, do any of those make sense to you?
When was the last time you saw a team pinch run for a catcher with another catcher?
When was the last time you saw a starter hit for himself while trailing in the 8th inning of a game?
Why, when Frank seems so obsessed with strict platooning, did he let Schneider hit for himself?
It all goes back to the consistency of his decisions. Why is he making these calls?
Maybe there's a legitimate reason? But, laughing it off, and attributing it to one's gut isn't acceptable.
Later in extra innings, he let Gary Majewski 'pinch hit' for the pitcher to lead off an inning.
He did this with Tony Blanco sitting on the bench.
I don't know how you could PH a relief pitcher when there's a bat still sitting on the bench, but hey, I didn't play in the majors. What do I know?
Maybe there's a reason for it. I'm sure Frank's got one. What is it though?
Frank needs to start giving us answers. Not lukewarm platitudes.
And our beloved beat writers need to start asking those tough questions, instead of letting these things slide.
I know we don't have the same cannibalistic attitude they do in NY or Boston. But, at a certain point, tough questions have to be asked. And answers need to be given.
Right now, they're not.
Combine Tony LaRussa's penchant for overmanaging and asserting himself in the game, with a BPGer's knowledge of strategy, and a healthy dose of quaaludes, and you'll get decisions like those in yesterday's game.
Bottom 8 and down 1, Schneider leads off (against a lefty) and singles. Livan Hernandez hits for himself and bunts situation. Frank pinch runs for Schneider with his other catcher, Gary Bennett.
I really don't even know what to make of that. You could quibble with each of those decisions. That they didn't produce a run adds ammo, but, even if they had, do any of those make sense to you?
When was the last time you saw a team pinch run for a catcher with another catcher?
When was the last time you saw a starter hit for himself while trailing in the 8th inning of a game?
Why, when Frank seems so obsessed with strict platooning, did he let Schneider hit for himself?
It all goes back to the consistency of his decisions. Why is he making these calls?
Maybe there's a legitimate reason? But, laughing it off, and attributing it to one's gut isn't acceptable.
Later in extra innings, he let Gary Majewski 'pinch hit' for the pitcher to lead off an inning.
He did this with Tony Blanco sitting on the bench.
I don't know how you could PH a relief pitcher when there's a bat still sitting on the bench, but hey, I didn't play in the majors. What do I know?
Maybe there's a reason for it. I'm sure Frank's got one. What is it though?
Frank needs to start giving us answers. Not lukewarm platitudes.
And our beloved beat writers need to start asking those tough questions, instead of letting these things slide.
I know we don't have the same cannibalistic attitude they do in NY or Boston. But, at a certain point, tough questions have to be asked. And answers need to be given.
Right now, they're not.
posted by Chris Needham at
10:21 AM
2 Comments:
The first domino to fall was Byrd PHing for Church in the 5th ... yes, Church had struggled in two previous appearances but two bad AB is hardly a basis to cut bait at the expense of your bench.
Later on, already a man down on the bench, the decision to let Livan hit for himself (motivated in part by a plea from Livan, the TV seemed to imply) made some sense. Why PH to sacrifice? Of course, really PHing instead of sacrificing would be even better - but again, the bench was short.
The second domino was PRing Bennett for Schneider, which not only shortened the bench further but weakened the team in the field (God bless the Reds and their steal-happy coaches) and at the plate with no appreciable gain in speed.
PHing Majewski - literally giving away an out in order to keep a better bat on the bench "for later" - was simply madness.
Perhaps we need to send FRobby to Constanza therapy - "take my first instinct and do exactly the opposite."
Who's with me?
By
Anonymous, at 5/25/2005 11:38 AM
There's nothing wrong with the average BPGer. Just as long as you like petty political squabbles that've already been decided... and if you're a big Ian Desmond fan. :)
By
Chris Needham, at 5/25/2005 11:55 AM
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