Game 1, and already Sveum has proven he doesn’t have a clue. Here are three late-game moves that were idiotic, each of which cost the Cubs the game:
1. Top of the eighth, 1-0 Cubs. Dempster is pitching a one-hitter with 10 strikeouts. He gets the first guy out, and the second guy gets a seeing-eye single that wasn’t hard hit. He gets the next guy out for the second out. Instead of leaving Dempster in, since he is in complete command and struck out the on-deck (not next) hitter three times, he takes him out and brings in Wood. Wood only pitched a few innings this spring and Sveum is assuming he’ll be on like Dempster was, which I’ve always said is a dangerous assumption. Even if Dempster was on a pitch count, you’ve got to leave him in for that batter. In addition, taking out a pitcher who has dominated you gives the other team new life. Even though the Cubs should have been out of the inning due to a bad non-strike-three call which the replay showed, Wood walked the first three guys he faced, even after going 0-2, I believe, on the third guy, forcing in the tying run.
2. Sveum brings in Marmol in the ninth, which is a non-save situation, which means he’ll give up a run, which he did even after getting the first two outs.
3. The Cubs get a triple with one out in the bottom of the ninth, putting the tying run on third. Sveum doesn’t squeeze, and the Cubs don’t score. Sveum was assuming Jeff Baker would get a hit or hit a fly ball into the wind.
I was told Soriano was out trying to steal third in the fourth inning. I feel trying to steal third is the most stupid play in sports unless you’re Rickey Henderson in your prime, so if Soriano did this, he should be benched for a week. However, I blame Sveum for this too, as he should have made it clear to his players if you try to steal third, safe or out, you’re benched for a week. The risks are so much greater than the reward. I also tell them you only try to take third on a wild pitch/passed ball if you can go in standing up. I also tell them if they slide into first, unless to avoid a tag, they’re benched for a week.