As I grew up watching baseball, I had the understanding that the best hitter on the team hit third and it was a considered a sign of honor/respect to have that role. Granted, the game has evolved, but most of the best hitters in the game are my age and likely grew up with that same understanding.
But my larger point is that it takes skill from the manager to make these decisions in a way that the players are understand and embrace, which is different from it being a "swipe of the pen".
I found the Adonis decision more damnable due to Snit falling into the sample size trap rather than lineup optimization. The hitter Adonis was in the second half definitely warranted justification for hitting second.
As for Chapman, absolutely true. Although, didn't Maddon due some of this in the Dodgers series? In general it seems like a lot of teams this postseason through their big guns lots of innings.
It's hard to comprehend how stupid the Indians are being right now. Dude, you have a 3-1 lead, finish it off. The Cubs take it and win the series now. Just absolutely idiotic.
If the Indians were just smart, they would have won!
"Yes, I did think Aldrich was good UNTIL I SAW HIM PLAY. "- thethe
I thought the same thing. My guess is Maddon felt neither Strop nor Wood had enough time to get loose after the Rizzo HR. The question here--at least to me--is "What's the difference between a five-run lead and a seven-run lead in the whole scheme of things?" I would have had those guys warming up at the beginning of the top of the ninth. Maddon's problem is that his bullpen is iffy beyond Chapman, so once you use Chapman in any situation, you almost have to keep riding him til the end.
Both guys have been managing aggressively but I think an argument can be made that their aggressiveness is getting the better of them. I keep having visions of Gene Mauch (who I watched managed the Twins in the 1970s). Lots of tinkering trying to reconstruct the odds.
"Yes, I did think Aldrich was good UNTIL I SAW HIM PLAY. "- thethe
This should be a fun Game 7. I doubt we see any Indians pitchers not named Kluber, Miller, and Allen; and I doubt we see much from the Cubs pitchers outside of Hendricks, Chapman, and maybe Lester.
The tough question for the Indians will be (assuming the game is close): when do you pull Kluber for Miller? Do you do it at the first sign of trouble after the 3rd or 4th? Because Kluber is a great pitcher, and you don't want to take him out prematurely. But if you wait, he could give up another hit or two, and then you're in serious trouble.
It will be very interesting to watch.
Game 7 should be really fun to watch. Lester will come in at any sign of trouble I'm sure Hendricks. Chapman will pitch 2 innings if he needs to also. I'd guess that Lackey will be used if he needs to. If the Indians have a lead after 5 then it's gonna get really really tough for the Cubs. Schwarber coming back for the WS has been a huge boost for the Cubs and makes it even more fun to watch.
If I'm the Indians I plan on Allen for 2 and Miller for 2. Possibly Shaw for 1 during a stretch of RH bats. I would try to avoid taking Kluber out before the 4th, but if he's in trouble in the 4, I would not hesitate to pull him.
The bigger question is why didn't the Indians find some scummy lefty to add to bullpen?
"Yes, I did think Aldrich was good UNTIL I SAW HIM PLAY. "- thethe
Coppy will make a trade right after the celebratory dog pile.
clvclv (11-02-2016)
Tonight is going to be a more traditional model. Hendricks is going to throw a shutout and Kluber, weakened just a touch by overuse, is going to allow a run or two before leaving in the fifth for Miller and Allen.
Has there EVER been a statement and question a certain someone should absolutely never have made and asked publicly more than...
Kinda pathetic to see yourself as a message board knight in shining armor. How impotent does someone have to be in real life to resort to playing hero on a message board?