Game 75 – New Manager, Same Team

The Jays certainly had no problem showing Cito exactly what is wrong w/this team as they got shutout for 12 innings and lost 1-0. Although they did manage 1 hit w/a RISP, but it was just an infield hit so it didn’t score anyone. They ended up 1 for 6 for the game. Let’s not forget the Jays also hit into 2 more DP’s.

On the other side the Pirates only managed a 1 for 8 w/RISP and their lone hit was also of the infield variety not scoring a run, but it helped lead to the only run of the game thanks to a rare error from McDonald. Not to make excuses, but it was a tough bounce for McDonald and there is no time to try and catch it on the good hop. Plus even if he makes the play and throws the runner out at the plate, the Pirates would still have bases loaded w/1 out.

Already you can see some different managing philosophies from Gaston as he let Downs go 2 innings. Although Downs only threw 9 pitches in his 1st inning and the game was still tied so why not extend him. He also brought Ryan into the game in the middle of an inning. Of course Gibbons did this lots w/Ryan in 2006 but since TJ surgery has always used Ryan only to start innings.

I am surprised that he did bring Ryan in at that time, not b/c it was w/a runner on base but b/c it was not yet a save situation. Unless your closer is able to throw more than 1 inning I see no point in bringing him in until you have a lead to protect. If you are on the road and if you are going to win then no matter what at some point you will need to protect a lead for 1 final inning. Why not save your closer for that point? Of course you could argue that sometimes it is better to use your closer in the most important situation, which doesn’t always come at the end. Truthfully that is a strategy I wish you would see more often, using your best relief pitcher (usually your closer) in the 7th or 8th if the situation calls for it. But for now let’s just consider an extra inning game. Unless you get into a man at 3rd less than 2 outs situation it is hard to pick a spot that is the most important since you don’t know how many times you will have to go through the lineup. I would still bring in a lefty after Wolfe gave up the 1B in the 11th since 3 of the next 4 hitters were LH, but I would have brought in Carlson.

Based on tonight’s lineup, let’s hope Gaston is going to use McDonald as Halladay’s personal SS.

That line drive off Halladay was very scary. I couldn’t believe he was still standing there. And not that it is all that important compared to Halladay’s well being, but how did that manage to bounce right to Rolen to end the inning. It goes anywhere else and the Pirates score a run as they had bases loaded.

Now for the stats:
Adv: Michaels
P-Adv: Frasor (2)
Adv+: Wilson
P-Adv+: Carlson (1)
WG: Rios (3), Mientkiewicz, Wilson
ME(r): Wilson