Derek’s right, of course. Guardado should have been brought in to face Palmeiro. The only thing I can think of is that he wasn’t ready, but who knows. Actually, I take that back — Derek’s probably right in saying that lefty-specialist Myers was brought in to face lefty Palmeiro, then that “closer Guardado” (not “lefty Guardado”) was brought in to face Lopez.
Hey, at least Moyer pitched decently tonight.
I was happy, however, to see Melvin disregard traditional closer roles and use Guardado in the game’s biggest situation — bases loaded in the bottom of the 8th, up two runs.
Well, sort of. But not really. From ESPN’s game log:
-Bottom of the 8th inning
-L Bigbie walked.
-B Roberts walked, L Bigbie to second.
-S Hasegawa relieved R Villone.
-M Mora grounded into fielder’s choice to first, L Bigbie out at third, B Roberts to second.
-M Tejada hit by pitch, B Roberts to third, M Mora to second.
-M Myers relieved S Hasegawa.
-R Palmeiro popped out to shortstop.
-E Guardado relieved M Myers.
-J Lopez grounded into fielder’s choice to shortstop, M Tejada out at second.
Why did LHP Mike Myers (“So I Signed A Bad Reliever”) pitch to lefty Palmeiro and then get removed for Guardado? Was Guardado not ready and then ready a batter later? Or was Melvin using lefty specialist Myers to get out a left-handed batter and then bringing in his closer, who happens to be left-handed, to finish off the game? And do you want Myers pitching to Palmeiro?
Also, did you notice that they had Thornton up when it looked like they need a reliever when they were behind, but when they were ahead it became the good guys? Does Melvin take naps when the team’s behind, and tell Lachemann to wake him up if the team ties or goes ahead?
Isn’t it the manager’s job to lead, to challenge his team to win? What does it mean when the guy in charge gives up when he’s losing and only gets excited and active when he’s ahead? That’s not leadership, that’s not even cheer-leading. And with a harmonious clubhouse of team players and veteran leaders, what exactly does he do for his paycheck?
As Derek mentioned, yesterday’s game would have been a complete waste of time if not for the win. I was happy, however, to see Melvin disregard traditional closer roles and use Guardado in the game’s biggest situation — bases loaded in the bottom of the 8th, up two runs. If your closer is your best pitcher — and on most teams, he is — you should use him in these situations and not save him for the 9th when your team is up three runs. So, kudos for that one Bob.
As for Villone, these comments don’t surprise me at all. Believe it or not, he has starter-like incentives in his contract, despite that he was (supposedly) signed to be a reliever. I don’t recall the specifics, but I believe he gets a bonus for each five games started, and the bonuses increase the more games he starts.
I’m working on a new Big Board, but seeing as I have to be at work in 45 minutes… you might have to wait until tomorrow.
Melvin, on Rafael Soriano:
“It would take a circumstance we wouldn’t like to get into for him to start.”
“The guy we would start is Villone. Obviously, where has been with the pitch count, if the need were to happen soon, and we felt like we needed a right-hander, we would look at him.”
“But we felt going into the season that with the success he had in the bullpen, that’s the role he’s best suited for. I think one of the reasons we have struggled is because we missed him down there.”
In a way, Melvin’s on the right track. Soriano gets strikeouts which are immune from poor defense which, as I harp on constantly, is the M’s problem. But this is like.. “The reason I need to find my favorite tire jack is so I can more quickly change the flat tires I get because I drive through the loose nail storage yard on my way to work every day.”
Ron Villone’s best year overall was probably 1999, when at 29 he started twenty two games for the Reds and went 9-7 with a 4.52 ERA. In 143 innings he allowed only eight homers (really good), struck out 97 (okay, that’s decent) and walked 73 (allright).
Rafael Soriano started 8 games in 2002, and as a starter he went 0-3 with a 5.10 ERA. In his 42 innings, he allowed 8 HRs (umm… which is okay), gave up 16 walks and struck out 26. He was 22 at the time. Since then, he’s continued to improve.
Soriano 2002 struggled in the rotation, unable to work other pitches in consistently. He was still only slightly less effective than Villone 1999. A healthy Soriano should be in the rotation. A healthy Villone fills an role largely destroyed by modern scheduling: the swingman, a guy who can pitch long relief and take spot starts as required (like for double-headers, traditionally).
“It would take a circumstance we wouldn’t like to get into for him to start.”
Here’s a circumstance I’d like, and would get Soriano a chance to start: everyone gets fired, starting with Melvin and working their way on up the ladder, and they’re replaced by a bunch of smart, creative thinkers who see the potential greatness in Soriano, and take him off his tether. What kind of an insane team commits to this kind of value-limiting strategy where being stubborn about player usage is more important than putting the best team on the field, even when it comes to deploying the resources you already have on hand?