Did Tony La Genius outsmart himself in game three?
The scene:
It is the top of the seventh inning of a scoreless pitching duel between Cardinals lefty Jaime Garcia and Phillies southpaw, Cole Hamels.
Shane Victorino singles to open the inning. With John Mayberry batting, Yadier Molina is charged with a passed ball (insert Brandon Phillips giggles here). Mayberry flies out. Placido Polanco grounds out to third.
There are two outs with Victorino on second base with two outs and Carlos Ruiz at the plate with Hamels on deck.
The choices:
1) Allow Garcia pitch to the righthanded hitting Ruiz
2) Bring in a right hander from the bullpen to pitch to Ruiz. (La Russa has been known to use five pitches to get six outs)
3) Walk Ruiz and pitch to Hamels, a light hitting (.160), left handed batter or a pinch hitter, getting Hamels out of the Cardinals hitter's hair.
La Russa elected to walk Ruiz.
Phillies manager, Charlie Manuel, sent Ben Francisco.
Now its La Russa's turn.
1) Bring in a righthander from the bullpen to pitch to Francisco
2) Allow Garcia to pitch to Francisco.
La Russa chose the latter and the Cardinals paid big time.
Francisco hit a game winning three-run home run to put the Phillies in control.
St. Louis scored two runs off the Phillies bullpen but Ryan Madson closed out the win to put Phillie up 2-1 in the series.
Did La Russa make the correct decisions that just happened to turn out badly for the Cardinals? Did La Russa make the wrong decisions that cost the Cardinals the game?
Cincinnati Sports News and Commentary
About Me
- Gary Schatz
- I am a freelance writer. I've covered the Cincinnati Reds, Bengals and others since 1992. I have a background in sales as well. I've sold consumer electronics, advertising and consumer package goods for companies ranging from the now defunct Circuit City to Procter&Gamble. I have worked as a stats operator for Xavier University, the University of Cincinnati, the College of Mount St. Joe and Colerain High School.
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