This year’s All-Star game is another perfect example of how managers and coaches don’t understand strategy and don’t understand their players. A few years ago, the N.L. blew another All-Star game when the N.L. manager brought in Trevor Hoffman to give up 2 runs and the one-run lead in the 9th, despite the fact everyone else knew it was the wrong move. That manager also failed to put in better defensive players who were available in an effort to hold the 9th-inning lead, and that also cost the N.L.
During this year’s game, which the National League was leading, I made the statement that Hurdle should only pitch Billy Wagner and Brad Lidge as a last resort, as I don’t believe either perform well on the “big stage.” So, what does Hurdle do?
The N.L. led 3-2 in the bottom of the 8th, and Brian Wilson retires the first two american league hitters, including one by strikeout. Hurdle then takes out a pitcher who is doing well, and brings in Wagner, who promptly gives up 2 hits and the tying run. Despite the fact that Wagner actually struck out Longoria (but the ump failed to call the strike) to end the inning prior to the run-scoring double to tie the game, Wagner should never have been brought into the game.
Hurdle announced prior to the game that he was saving Lidge to be the closer, which I knew was a huge mistake for the reason above. Lidge did have to pitch the 15th as the N.L. was out of pitchers, and promptly gave up the winning run.
In the 10th inning, facing Mariano Rivera, the best closer in the a.l., the N.L. had first and third, one out. Hurdle didn’t squeeze, and the N.L. didn’t score.
In the 12th, the N.L. had bases loaded, one out, and Dan Uggla up. Prior to this at-bat, he had 2 errors, a strikeout and had hit into a double play. Uggla would go on to have 3 strikeouts and a double play in 4 at-bats, and commit 3 errors. This was obviously not his night, so you need to squeeze in this situation. Hurdle didn’t squeeze, he struck out, and the N.L. didn’t score.
I realize the a.l. could have squeezed twice also and won the game, but didn’t squeeze and didn’t score. I continue to push the value of squeezes, but especially in an All-Star game when you are facing the best pitchers, it makes even more sense. I didn’t hear one announcer mention this or see anything written about the failure to squeeze and thus score in these situations. Even when the winning run scored in the 15th, a halfway decent throw would have gotten the runner and ended the inning, and the failure to squeeze would have again cost a team the winning run.
As per usual, the 2-run homerun for the a.l. to tie the game at 2 was hit by J.D. Drew, a National Leaguer, off Edinson Volquez, an american leaguer.
The only bright spot to the National League loss, which was caused entirely by Clint Hurdle, is the fact that now the Cubs will win the World Series at home, as Game 4 will be in the National League park.
1.Leo on July 16th, 2008 1:41 pm
The American League really “toyed” with the N.L. last night. It was like a heavyweight boxer just trying to drag the fight on and on. They really won the game several times way before the 15th inning, but due to terrible calls by the umps (the call at home was wrong….Cabrera never touched Kinsler stealing 2nd base, etc.) the game had to continue until the “inevitable” happened.
2. Frank on July 16th, 2008 7:15 pm
Is the National League still in the Major Leagues?? AL is 11-0-1 in the last 12; 17-3-1 in the last 21–I heard Selig was going to require the AL pitchers to pitch from second base next year.
3. Larry on July 16th, 2008 10:55 pm
Leo, you are correct that the a.l. got robbed by those 2 calls. However, you are ignoring the earlier two calls on the bases where the N.L. was robbed. You are also ignoring the fact that the first pitch to Longoria before he doubled to tie the game at 3 with 2 outs in the 8th was a strike, but called a ball. The 1-2 pitch that would have ended the inning was also a strike, but was called a ball. Frank, when the N.L. won every game for two decades, they outplayed the a.l. every year. Many of the a.l. wins in this streak saw the N.L. outplay the a.l., but lose due to horrible managing such as this year, the Trevor Hoffman year, etc. It’s not that the a.l. players are outplaying the N.L. players, as the N.L. players frequently outplay the a.l. players.