The baseball season is well under way, and it’s good to see that managers still haven’t learned and don’t adequately scout opponents. Here are examples from Cub and White Sox games from the last few days.
The Sox were batting in the bottom of the 9th in a tie game against the Yankees, and A.J. Pierzynski led off. During the 2005 season, I pointed out that every homerun I’ve seen Pierzynski hit is off a low pitch. Joba Chamberlain throws him a low pitch, and he flies out to the wall. I realized the Yankees must not watch game tapes, and this was proven a few batters later. The Sox had the winning run on second, and Joe Crede up. I pointed out during the 2005 season that Crede goes up to bat looking for breaking balls, and all the homeruns and key hits I’ve seen him get are on breaking balls. Chamberlain throws him two fastballs, and it’s 0-2. He then throws him a breaking ball, and Crede lines the game-winning hit. A few days later, Crede came to bat in the bottom of the 9th against Baltimore with the bases loaded, down 5-1, so he was the tying run. The pitcher threw him nothing but fastballs, and of course he swung late and hit a routine fly to short right to end the game. Obviously Baltimore watches films, and the Yankees do not.
I’ve pointed out many times that, in my opinion, attempting to steal third base is the most stupid play in sports. The risk-reward ratio is ridiculous. Being on third instead of second has far less benefit than the risk of being thrown out and taking your team out of an inning, as well as switching the momentum to the other team. A few nights ago, my son and I were talking about how Theriot continues to try to steal third at Piniella’s urging, and that this would cost the Cubs a game very soon. THE NEXT NIGHT, Theriot tried to steal third, was out, and this cost the Cubs the game. In addition to the stupidity of this, the Cubs had Lee, Ramirez, and Fukudome due up, three MVP candidates. In this same game, with the score tied at 3 in the 8th, the Cubs had first and third, one out, didn’t squeeze and didn’t score. The Nationals hadn’t scored an earned run since the first inning, so this run would probably have won the game for the Cubs.
Teams will never learn.