Where's the Sense of Urgency in Milwaukee?
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Luckily for fans, sports writers and bloggers alike, hindsight is 20/20 and it gives us something to talk and write about. But the scenario that unfolded Sunday night during the Milwaukee-Philadelphia game could have and should have been avoided several times over.
Allow me to paint a picture for you: It is the top of the eighth, Brewers are ahead 6-1. Carlos Villanueva walks Jimmy Rollins then gives up a double to Tadahito Iguchi, putting Rollins on third with no outs. With the pitchers' spot set to lead off the next inning for the Brewers, manager Ned Yost elects against a double switch, bringing in Scott Linebrink, who proceeds to strike out the next three batters.
The Brewers go quietly in the bottom of the inning, with Joe Dillon hitting for Linebrink, who is relieved in the top of the inning by Matt Wise. The first batter, Wes Helms, reaches on an error by Wise. The second batter, Jayson Werth, hits a home run to cut the lead to three and chase Wise from the game.
Enter closer Francisco Cordero to try and seal the game. Chris Coste pops out to second, then pinch hitter Carlos Ruiz, lines out to right. Now with two outs, Cordero falls apart. Rollins walks and advances to second on fielder indifference. Iguchi reaches on an infield single as Rollins advances to third. Cordero walks Pat Burrell to load the bases and follows that up by hitting Ryan Howard; 6-4 Brewers. Aaron Rowand then ties the game with a two-run single.
The Brewers lose in extra innings.
A million questions entered my mind after this game, but the one that stuck out the most was this: "Why didn't Yost perform a double-switch in the eighth when he brought Linebrink in?"
- No. 1: The pitchers' spot was due to lead off the ninth inning. You're a National League manager in a pennant race, Ned. This is not a good time to overlook this.
- No. 2: Matt Wise has been absolutely horrid in his last four games. On July 23, Wise sported a 2.70 ERA after pitching 1 2/3 innings of scoreless ball. In his next outing, he gave up two runs in an inning pitched; in the appearance after that, he gave up three hits and one run while recording just one out; and finally, in his next outing, he didn't throw one strike as he walked two batters on eight straight pitches and was pulled in the middle of facing his third batter after beginning that at-bat with two more balls.
- No. 3: Yes, a five-run lead should be more than enough for your bullpen to handle, especially when your closer comes in with a three-run lead, but, like I said in point No. 1, you're in a pennant race and there should be some sense of urgency to avoid these collapses at any and all costs.
Nevermind the fact that Yost allowed his obviously struggling closer to remain in the game after he walked two batters, gave up a single to a third and beaned another, the situation should've never gotten to the point where Cordero was needed.
And this has been my only knock on Ned Yost throughout his entire tenure as the manager of the Milwaukee Brewers. He waits far too long to make moves. I have seen him put every ounce of trust into a struggling player only to have it prove costly to the team more times than not.
Rickie Weeks, who was batting just .212 this season, was just a week ago finally sent down for some work in the minor leagues. Chris Capuano is still in the starting rotation after not recording a win since May 7 when his ERA was still at 2.31! It is now 4.86 and the Brewers have not won a single one of his last 13 starts.
The Cubs are right on the Brewers tails in the Central and yesterday was a perfect day to extend the lead back to two games. Yesterday was a perfect day to flex some muscle and sweep one of the better teams in the National League. He got a terrific game from his starting pitcher, although it was only 5 2/3 innings, but by Jeff Suppan standards these days, the one run allowed was phenomenal. But Yost blew it.
Now the Brewers head out on the road for six games sans momentum, something they could certainly use on the road, where they are just 21-32.
