Hurdle moves

BigRapidsJackass · 05-15-2008, 03:48 PM

Clint's gotten a big fat pass ever since that 21 Days in September thing.

Here's a couple persistent patterns that bother me:

1. Use of Jeff Baker. So you teach him second base, and you keep him on the roster. Everyone says he performed well at the position in spring. Then Nix is a flop and Tulo goes down. I guess this is the big opportunity we've been keepin him around for, right? Nope. Even Jonathan Herrera vaults above him on the 2B depth chart. Which makes me ask again: what on earth is he doing on this roster? He's the third-string second baseman, a grossly inadequate corner player (from an offensive perspective) and a really crappy pinch hitter. Greg Norton was floating around out there and floated his way to the Braves. I don't like him, but at least he's the classic "veteran bat off the bench." Given that Baker gives you nothing right now, Norton would be preferable.

2. Game situation a couple nights ago: 9th inning. One out. Helton walks. Pinch runner? Jonathan Herrera. Podsednik is on the bench. Even Drew and Frazier assume Hurdle will go to Pods. If Pods has value, it is in his baserunning -- and base stealing -- ability. And Pods is running well and seems healthy. He may have lost a step since his prime, but he's still a very, very good base stealer. He was an elite base stealer in his prime -- something Willy Taveras never was and never will be. He can still take the bag when the whole world knows he's going. You kept him on the roster for this situation, just like the Red Sox had Dave Roberts on their roster for this purpose in 2004, and you go to .... Jonathan Herrera?? No stolen base. Double play ball. Game over.

3. Bunt-Hungry Maniac Hurdle used to sacrifice leadoff doubles to third. And he'd do it with a pretty skilled hitter like Kaz Matsui. I hated it. Spilly leads off yesterday's game with a walk. Quintanilla up (why is he batting second?), so I assume the BHM is going to bunt. The way the offense is going (and the way Q cannot hit) I can't really complain. But no. Q is hitting away. Or rather, taking strike 3 away. Holliday doubles. Helton (you guessed it) walks. Atkins strikes out, Hawpe dribbles or pops out. Inning over. No runs in. Moral: don't have the little guy who can "handle the bat" batting second unless you're actually going to have him "handle the bat."

BigRapidsJackass · 06-12-2008, 12:06 AM

Wednesday night's game:

0-0 score in the top of the 9th.

Let the weird moves begin.

1. Double switch. Now we all know Hurdle loves the double switch. But now he's starting to fetishize it. Brings in Speier and Herrera at the same time. Drew and Huson notice that Herrera is penciled in to hit in Ian Stewart's #2 spot, and Speier (then Fuentes) remain batting 9th. Drew and Huson comment that this is awfully smart of Clint. Maybe he'll want to use Baker as a pinch hitter in the #9 slot, and by penciling in Herrera to bat 2nd he keeps that option open. Of course, that option was always open. It's called pinch hitting for the pitcher. No double switch required. So I guess Herrera was really just a defensive replacement. And he is a better second baseman than Stewart, but do you really want to give away Stewart's bat in a tie ballgame? Weird.

2. Bottom of the 9th. Bases loaded. Atkins on 3rd. Podsednik available. Jeff Baker hitting for Q. No pinch runner for Atkins. Medium-length fly to CF. Gallego holds up Atkins. He holds him up knowing that the pitcher's slot is up next, and remember: Clint in his wisdom didn't pencil Herrera into the 9 hole. That means Pods vs. a lefty or Torrealba is all you've got left. Typically in such a situation you'll go for it and send the runner. Weirder.

3. Having spent Baker, and not having scored the run (which would've scored if Pods had been pinch running) you're stuck with Torrealba hitting. Short flyball to LF, and Gallego sends Atkins. Molina drops the ball or it's out #3. Weirdest.

But we won, so nobody will remember.

05-15-2008, 03:48 PM	#1 (permalink)
BigRapidsJackass Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,069	Hurdle moves Clint's gotten a big fat pass ever since that 21 Days in September thing. Here's a couple persistent patterns that bother me: 1. Use of Jeff Baker. So you teach him second base, and you keep him on the roster. Everyone says he performed well at the position in spring. Then Nix is a flop and Tulo goes down. I guess this is the big opportunity we've been keepin him around for, right? Nope. Even Jonathan Herrera vaults above him on the 2B depth chart. Which makes me ask again: what on earth is he doing on this roster? He's the third-string second baseman, a grossly inadequate corner player (from an offensive perspective) and a really crappy pinch hitter. Greg Norton was floating around out there and floated his way to the Braves. I don't like him, but at least he's the classic "veteran bat off the bench." Given that Baker gives you nothing right now, Norton would be preferable. 2. Game situation a couple nights ago: 9th inning. One out. Helton walks. Pinch runner? Jonathan Herrera. Podsednik is on the bench. Even Drew and Frazier assume Hurdle will go to Pods. If Pods has value, it is in his baserunning -- and base stealing -- ability. And Pods is running well and seems healthy. He may have lost a step since his prime, but he's still a very, very good base stealer. He was an elite base stealer in his prime -- something Willy Taveras never was and never will be. He can still take the bag when the whole world knows he's going. You kept him on the roster for this situation, just like the Red Sox had Dave Roberts on their roster for this purpose in 2004, and you go to .... Jonathan Herrera?? No stolen base. Double play ball. Game over. 3. Bunt-Hungry Maniac Hurdle used to sacrifice leadoff doubles to third. And he'd do it with a pretty skilled hitter like Kaz Matsui. I hated it. Spilly leads off yesterday's game with a walk. Quintanilla up (why is he batting second?), so I assume the BHM is going to bunt. The way the offense is going (and the way Q cannot hit) I can't really complain. But no. Q is hitting away. Or rather, taking strike 3 away. Holliday doubles. Helton (you guessed it) walks. Atkins strikes out, Hawpe dribbles or pops out. Inning over. No runs in. Moral: don't have the little guy who can "handle the bat" batting second unless you're actually going to have him "handle the bat."

06-12-2008, 12:06 AM	#2 (permalink)
BigRapidsJackass Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,069	Wednesday night's game: 0-0 score in the top of the 9th. Let the weird moves begin. 1. Double switch. Now we all know Hurdle loves the double switch. But now he's starting to fetishize it. Brings in Speier and Herrera at the same time. Drew and Huson notice that Herrera is penciled in to hit in Ian Stewart's #2 spot, and Speier (then Fuentes) remain batting 9th. Drew and Huson comment that this is awfully smart of Clint. Maybe he'll want to use Baker as a pinch hitter in the #9 slot, and by penciling in Herrera to bat 2nd he keeps that option open. Of course, that option was always open. It's called pinch hitting for the pitcher. No double switch required. So I guess Herrera was really just a defensive replacement. And he is a better second baseman than Stewart, but do you really want to give away Stewart's bat in a tie ballgame? Weird. 2. Bottom of the 9th. Bases loaded. Atkins on 3rd. Podsednik available. Jeff Baker hitting for Q. No pinch runner for Atkins. Medium-length fly to CF. Gallego holds up Atkins. He holds him up knowing that the pitcher's slot is up next, and remember: Clint in his wisdom didn't pencil Herrera into the 9 hole. That means Pods vs. a lefty or Torrealba is all you've got left. Typically in such a situation you'll go for it and send the runner. Weirder. 3. Having spent Baker, and not having scored the run (which would've scored if Pods had been pinch running) you're stuck with Torrealba hitting. Short flyball to LF, and Gallego sends Atkins. Molina drops the ball or it's out #3. Weirdest. But we won, so nobody will remember.