I wasn't blaming one particular thing on the loss, but you can only control what your team does, and the three main things that hurt us today were first and foremost, the lack of key hits when we needed them, the bullpen being off and not having our best guys in there the whole game.
I was under the impression this was a game thread where things including managerial moves could be discussed. We're not all team employees here.
No I'm not worried. Again, for the one millionth time, more concerned about getting homefield, and therefore, you can't be giving away games like this one and the other day in Washington. It wasn't a do or die game, but I'm assuming the goal was to clinch as soon as possible, and to that end, go ahead and put your best lineup out there, maybe win and then rest guys on Sunday for getaway day. It's common sense. Hell, even for any three-game series, you typically wait until the last game.
The way the team is playing, does it look like home field is going to matter one way or the other? Home field is the first round is what I'm most concerned about, and that's well in our reach. However, we scored one run, ONE FREAKING RUN. The hitting has been a joke all month. It's nobodys fault but theirs. I'm not convinced that having McCann and Elliot Johnson out of the lineup was the difference in the game.
How many times do I have to say it? It isn't that McCann was or wasn't the difference; it's that he's better and would have been better to start with after having a day off Thursday, playing a DAY game Friday and the chance to take Sunday off. Heyward, who supposedly felt great, was a better option than BJ to start the game. It's that EJ or Schafer would have had a chance to bunt their way on in the ninth, possibly setting up McCann with a chance to tie it. Rather than watching Laird's pathetic attempt, followed by Uggla's and BJ's. Why do managers even make any changes, be it taking a starter out, changing relievers, pinch-hitting, pinch-running, substituting defensive specialists? TO GIVE THEM THE BEST CHANCE POSSIBLE AT BEING SUCCESSFUL.
And if we're going to get homefield for one round, why not try for both rounds? Especially when we're 30 games over .500 at home and below .500 on the road, and when most of our pitchers pitch better at home.
Other options?!? At this point in time Schafer, Terdo, or even Constanza is a better option than your 14 mil golden boy. And yes Elliot Johnson is a better option because he can hit to all sides of the field and steal bases when he is on. Uggla and BJ is hitting in the .180s for Christ sake! With Laird, Uggla, BJ, and the pitcher hitting, that's 4 guaranteed outs you freakn genius. They don't give you the heat opportunity to win...why are we even stuck on that on game 154!?!
Our best bet for this year is to slot Uggla at 6, BJ at 7 and Simmons at 8. Schafer and EJ are not the answer.
Forever Fredi
Since the Nats got rained out, we'll have another chance tomorrow. Let's not blow it this time!
Don't forget the other side of yesterday's 2 headed monster: most of the bullpen has been porous lately! That stumble in one of the team's best assets, half the starting staff faltering here at the end and the continued, streaky ineptitude of the offense sometimes does not bode well for the playoffs only a week away! Losses stink and everyone wants to see them clinch but yesterday was this team's fatal flaws in a microcosm.
Maybe another day of the Cubs and then some Brewers will get the team back on track!