Braves Journal: Cardinals 3, Braves 2
I’m a great admirer of Bobby’s, as you all know, but I knew that last night’s outmaneuvering by LaRussa reminded me of something. Here it is. I wrote this up nearly seven years ago (!) on the first incarnation of this site; I’m still getting those archives converted into Movable Type. I rarely wrote at this length at that time, but I thought that the events of the ninth inning on July 31, 1998 were worth the effort.
Things worth noticing:
1. Bobby was platooning at two positions in the outfield at the time, even though Ryan Klesko and Michael Tucker were far better players than Mondesi and Jordan are now.
2. The bench was pretty darned strong, and had six players because the Braves weren’t carrying seven relievers.
3. I actually mentioned the possible use of Keith Lockhart (with Klesko and Tucker also possibilities) as seemingly a good thing.
4. It was all Andruw’s fault.
Can you clarify a point for me?
Do the Braves conside Hampton a legitimate pinch hittter/runner, giving them justification to carry seven relievers. If so why do they use him so infrequently?
Or a those points just concidental?
Please excuse my spelling errors. The sun came out here in Indianapolis for the first time in a week and I was dazzled.
I don’t think Cox likes to use pitchers and pinch-hitters/pinch-runners unless it’s absolutely necessary OR if he needs someone to lay down a bunt late in a game. The possibility of a pulled hamstring running the bases is just too high.
I still don’t get the rationale of running for Estrada when he’s on first. Maybe you do it if he’s on second, but what’s the possibility that Perez is going to hit one down in the corner against a hard-throwing righty? Not much.
Better you let LaRoche hit, maybe he singles to tie the game and then you take your chances with Furcal driving in Estrada from second with a two-out hit.
Or maybe LaRoche homers. We’ll never know.
That should read pitchers as pinch-hitters/pinch-runners …