Mike Napoli hit a bases loaded double to put his squad over the National League champs in a 4-2 win.
How this came about is very questionable.
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| Jim LaBarbara The Music Proffessor |
Since, I cover the Cincinnati Reds. I've heard all year people bashing Dusty Baker. I can't even count how many Reds fans mention Tony La Russa as the better manager. I don't buy it for a minute, having talked to both since 1996. I've dealt with Baker since 1993 as the manager for San Francisco, then Chicago. Since he came to Cincinnati, I have talked to him nearly every day when the Reds were home and for six weeks during spring training.
Why did St. Louis lose game five?
To start off, they left 12 runners on base. The manager can't help that. It happened to Baker much too often this season and Reds fans blamed Baker's lineups. That blame is misplaced. One can blame the Reds hitters and/or credit the opposing pitchers but blaming the manager is wrong, weak and unfair. The same goes tonight for La Russa. His hitters not getting the big hit is not La Russa's fault.
La Russa, as the manager is responsible for a lack of effective communication during the game.
A little background, there was a game early last season in which the Reds beat the Cardinals by a run. The game ended with a baserunner, whose name escapes me, was caught stealing second with Albert Pujols at the plate. That begs a question.
In game five of the World Series, a tie game, Allen Craig was caught stealing second with Pujols at the plate.. If it was strategy, La Russa should be questioned. Tim McCarver, the Fox analyst thought that Pujols called the hit and run. Yet, Pujols didn't swing. Do you blame Pujols or question La Russa?
As ESPN analyst, Barry Larkin said, "You don't know the Texas Rangers as you know the pitchers in you own league."
The pitch from Alexi Ogando was way up and outside. Pujols couldn't make contact with the pitch, yet he is supposed to swing to keep the catcher back or possibly distract the catcher. Pujols didn't swing and catcher Mike Napoli threw Craig out easily. Ogando then walked Pujols intentionally and ended up pitching out of a bases loaded, two out jam of his own making.
An even larger breakdown in communication occurred in the bottom of the eighth.
Chris Carpenter pitched through the seventh inning. Octavio Dotel took over to start the eighth. Michael Young doubled to lead off the inning. Dotel struck out Adrian Beltre, who earlier tied the game with a home run off Carpenter.
Dotel was ordered to walk Nelson Cruz with lefthanded hitting David Murphy due up.
La Russa brought in newly acquired lefthander, Mark Rzepczynski, to face Murphy. It was the right move and as also happened quite a few times to Baker in the Reds disappointing season, Rzepczynski's pitch was too good. Instead of a double play ball, hit hard enough to turn, the weakly hit ball was right back to the mound. It was like a change up to a hitter. Murphy had a big swing but he was so far out in front that he hit it weakly off the end of the bat and "Scrabble" couldn't handle it, deflecting the ball to second baseman, Nick Punto. Punto couldn't make the play and the bases were loades.
La Russa wanted Jason Motte to pitch to Mike Napoli. Last night La Russa brought in Mitchell Boggs to face Napoli and the catcher drilled the first pitch for a three-run home run.
The problem was, the Cardinals had the wrong pitcher, Lance Lynn warming in the bullpen. Rzepczynski had to face Napoli. How did this happen?
In the post game interview, La Russa said that the bullpen couldn't hear him and thought he said Lynn rather than Motte. He also said that Lynn was unavailable for the game.
What?
The pitching coach, Dave Duncan, is supposed to give the bullpen coach a list of pitchers noting who is available and who is not. That is a daily chore of every pitching coach in baseball. Even if they couldn't hear, wouldn't the pregame list throw up a red flag to the bullpen coach?
Could La Russa have mentioned Lynn by mistake? Could the bullpen coach assume that La Russa had changed his mind?
Larkin on ESPN gave a possible speculation that the St. Louis bullpen is unclear about their roles in the game plan. La Russa has been using Motte to close games during the last month of the season and the postseason. The Cardinals skipper has declined to name Motte as the closer. Larkin thinks the lack of such a declaration has led to confusion.
The result was that Rzepczynski was mismatched against Napoli. Napoli took full advantage, hitting a double to the left field gap to bring home two runs, giving the Rangers the final margin.
The confusion continued for the Cardinals. La Russa went to the bullpen again and Lynn showed up on the mound again instead of Motte. La Russa had Lynn intentionally walk Ian Kinsler. Managers will allow the departing pitcher issue an intentional walk for a couple reasons. One is a relief pitcher must face one batter. If Ron Washington brought in a pinch hitter, La Russa can either leave the current pitcher on the mound or find a better matchup. Secondly, a manager doesn't want a new pitcher to throw four balls intentionally then turn around and be expected to throw strikes. It sets up the wrong rhythm.
Risking the walk to load the bases with two outs could have led to a big inning at a time when La Russa's team needed to limit damage.
Motte did get out of the inning.
Neftali Feliz came out of the Texas bullpen to close the game but he hit Craig with a two strike pitch. Pujols came to the plate as the tying run. With a full count Craig was running again. Again Napoli was thrown out after Pujols struck out swinging. Feliz walked Matt Holliday but struck out Lance Berkman.
Berkman swung through a pitch that hit off Napoli's shin guard and rolled toward first. Napoli had to chase it down and throw Berkman out at first. A weird ending to a weird game.
La Russa's explanation of the poor communication is plausible but he clearly stated his preference for Motte. But it is also possible that he refused to take blame or "credit the Texas fans" for disrupting communication.
Either way it is the leaders responsibility to communicate clearly and make sure others know the plan.
La Russa insists on keeping strategy secret and on Wednesday his lack of faith in his longtime coaches probably cost his team an important game.
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