Brain Cramps

I have to say that Joe Maddon has done a remarkable job keeping his team on track despite notable injuries to a number of key players in the course of the season.  Over the year, he has lost two of his starters, Darvish and Chatwood, the one to injury, the other to incompetence.  He has also lost his closer Morrow for most of the season.  Plus significant DL stints for Rizzo, Bryant, Zobrist, Russell, and Heyward.

That having been said, his performance as a game manager leaves a lot to be desired.  I recollect Theo Epstein having said they never really considered game management skills in selecting the manager.  In this respect, he was being unusually frank.

Not since Game 7 of the 2016 World Series have I seen a worse managed game and there were some honest excuses for that performance.  The worst of all decisions was allowing Pedro Strop to hit with the bases loaded and one out in a one run game.  I know he wanted to keep Strop in the game to pitch the bottom of the 10th.  But Strop has never pitched three innings in his life.  So with this decision, you might have told Strop to just stand there and take a strikeout.  After all, Rizzo was on deck.  Or you might have had him bunt.  Worst case scenario, Strop hits into a double play.  Even worse, he gets hurt.  Bingo.  Incidentally, the guy who is warming up who is obviously such a risk that his appearance is worth all this drama, Rosario, breezes through bottom of the inning to gain the save.

That was the most egregious blunder, but not the only one.  Top of the fifth, Mongomery is breezing along with a 2-1 lead.  He gives up a single.  Captain Hook emerges from the dugout, takes him out after 62 pitches, and promptly watches the lead disappear.  Six more relievers follow, all but Edwards holding the Nationals in check.

Next questionable decision: hitting Contreras for Caratini with the bases loaded.  Caratini is the hottest hitter in the lineup over the past week next to Bryant.  Contreras strikes out.

Next odd decision: Zobrist bats for Bote with the bases loaded, an odd choice in itself, strikes out.  Zobrist does not remain in the game.  He is replaced by Gore, who, I think, has one hit in his whole career.  Sure enough, Gore comes up later in the top of the ninth with a man on base, bunts into a double play.  You would think that a guy whose only asset is speed would have figured out how to bunt, wouldn't you? Perhaps that explains why he has only one hit.

Anyway, they survived what I thought was an absolute must win game.  Back to Chicago now to face the Reds.