Good managing rarely–if ever–wins you games but as you can see above bad managing sure does lose them (ask any Yankees fan about the 2003 World Series, watch their eyes turn red and start shooting lasers if that is not enough proof).
The pivotal point in this game came when the Red Sox started catching up and Joe Maddon decided it was a fabulous idea to bring in Dan Wheeler (who had pitched 3.1 innings his last outing, a huge amount for a middle relief pitcher) with nobody warming. And then kept him in when he clearly did not have anything. JP Howell only started warming up when the tying run had scored.
Here’s a recap of the 8th inning if you missed it:
- J. Bay walked
- J.D. Drew homered to deep right, J. Bay scored
- J. Lowrie flied out to left center
- S. Casey hit for J. Varitek
- S. Casey struck out swinging
- M. Kotsay doubled to deep center
- C. Crisp singled to right, M. Kotsay scored, C. Crisp out at second
So basically, on top of everything else the only reason the inning ended was becaause Wheeler got lucky and Coco got caught. Someone should have at least been warming up after the Drew homerun, and it is utterly inexplicable that Wheeler was still in after the Kotsay double.
Conclusion: All managers (in the modern era!) named Joe are horrible and you cannot convince me otherwise.
Why on earth one would decide to pass up the chance of getting an out with Bay at bat in lieu of pitching a fast ball to J.D. Drew in a clutch situation is baffling to me. Drew’s career is built on hitting like that.
Almost as baffling as Ortiz attempting a bunt…