If you pop over to MetsBlog, Matt has posted the audio from Jerry’s post game conference.
As I managed from home last night, I wondered why K-Rod was sitting in the bullpen while the game melted down.
Jerry says, “that’s not what a closer does. Â That’s not his role.”
Why?
I know that if you get out of the inning that you have to bat and field again, but isn’t the point to rack up TEAM WINS not saves?
Why does K-Rod have to be a “closer?” Â He can only pitch to end a game? Â Why can’t he be a late-innings-shut down guy?
Kids, back in the 1970’s before Creeping LaRussa-ism there were what I call “Gossage Saves.” Â If your team was up in the 7th 3-2 and there was a runner on second and the next three hitters were Ruth, Gehrig and Aaron you brought in Gossage to shut the game down right there. Â Who cares about the S column? Â Get those three out and then let someone else get the 7-8-9 guys. Â Gossage often pitched multiple innings (imagine that!)
Let’s look at the week so far:
- Sunday: Â a 6-0 win. Â K-Rod gets to chill.
- Monday: a 10-3 loss. Â K-Rod gets to chill.
- Tuesday: Â K-Rod enjoys his third night off in the row as the Mets lose in the Bottom of the 9th. Â Why use him when there might be a save in the 27th inning?
- Wednesday: Â k-Rod throws 19 more pitches than I have this week, gets his 18th save pitching 1 and 1/3 in a 6-5 win.
- Thursday: Â K-Rod rests and waits for the save in the 29th inning.
If I’m managing, I try to get last night’s game to the 10th and then figure it out from there. Â Once that bottom of the 9th starts the game is in Sudden Death Overtime.
I’d rather you guys kill me when I run out of pitchers in the 15th than kill me for a loss in 9. Â If Iggy blows it in the 10th because I’ve already used K-Rod, well that’s extra innings for you.
We all saw that game melting down last night. Â Why give it away so easily?
When a game is on the table to win, win it.
When a game is obviously lost (like Dickey’s last start) then you let the clowns in your bullpen pitch. Â I’d let Ollie rot out there and pitch the last 6 innings of every 10-3 loss. Â Torre had a nice run in NYC using “his guys” in wins and the clowns in losses. Â I’m using all my bench and my reserve catcher. Â If I run out of catchers in the 17th inning I’ll just torture Tatis and make him catch and if we lose on a passed ball, so be it. Â Better that than one of my marquee players sits on his hands because he has some “role.”
The role is to win games.
UPDATED:
Comment from Brendan:
K-rod did pitch Tuesday. He threw a scoreless 8th to keep the Mets in it. Which is exactly how you would want him used. Poor research.
Shannon:
Yep. Â Busted.