He's under contract for two more seasons, he's not going anywhere for a while.Scott Boras is already plotting Britton's departure
No, this was way worse. You had to win 2 games in that series, you can only get Pedro for one, so you might as well get fully rested Pedro. You may disagree, but the logic is defensible.Feels like when Jimy pitched Schourek in elimination game in 98 instead of Pedro on short rest.
Ironically, IIRC Shoerek didn't give up any runs anyway and the Sox got completely shut down. (1-0 final I think?)No, this was way worse. You had to win 2 games in that series, you can only get Pedro for one, so you might as well get fully rested Pedro. You may disagree, but the logic is defensible.
There was no promise of another game here for either team. You only had to win one inning and it was over.
Wow.On July 31st, Britton pitched the 9th and 10th at Toronto in a 2-2 game that the O's ended up winning 6-2 in 12.
http://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/id/360731114
There is no way this is worse than Grady Little, Little turned an almost sure win into a loss. At worst Buck lost a 50/50 game.Britton is among the top 5 pitchers mentioned in the AL Cy Young discussion. He finished with the lowest ERA in the history of baseball for a minimum of 50 IP. At the absolute latest how was he not brought in to face EE? He should have pitched the 9th and 10th. This may actually be worse than Grady Little. He's getting skewered all over the internet. What a complete moron.
Recency bias.Wow.
Why in the hell would Buck be willing to do this in a regular season game but not a must win play in game? Boggles the mind.On July 31st, Britton pitched the 9th and 10th at Toronto in a 2-2 game that the O's ended up winning 6-2 in 12.
http://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/id/360731114
I agree with this but its close. There is simply no way you leave a pitcher of Britton's caliber out of this game. He had to use him, he got away with cheating death in earlier innings and this was the perfect place with Travis, Donaldson and Encarnacion coming up. But Ubaldo Jimenez who would be out of baseball next year (and still might be) were he not owed another $13mm was the call.There is no way this is worse than Grady Little, Little turned an almost sure win into a loss. At worst Buck lost a 50/50 game.
Grady left one of the best pitchers of all time on the mound, Buck left Ubaldo on the moundThere is no way this is worse than Grady Little, Little turned an almost sure win into a loss. At worst Buck lost a 50/50 game.
Pedro's numbers after 100 pitches were not all that great, and with a 3 run lead there was no reason to push him.Grady left one of the best pitchers of all time on the mound, Buck left Ubaldo on the mound
Sure but Ubaldo probably wasn't available that game.On July 31st, Britton pitched the 9th and 10th at Toronto in a 2-2 game that the O's ended up winning 6-2 in 12.
http://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/id/360731114
Yeah, this is only analogous if Pedro were able to pitch both games 4 and 5.Feels like when Jimy pitched Schourek in elimination game in 98 instead of Pedro on short rest.
Buck pissy? Can't be.Showalter was pretty pissy about being asked about Britton. Maybe don't make idiotic decisions if you don't want to be questioned about it.
Wow.
Recency bias.
I was listening to the Toronto radio feed and they assumed the Briton hurt himself in the bullpen - was the only obvious reason why he wasn't used.
Sox and Rocks' post is why I said "wow"..the fact that Buck did the exact right thing and had it work 2 months ago and followed that up with tonight's dumbfuckery..."wow"Why in the hell would Buck be willing to do this in a regular season game but not a must win play in game? Boggles the mind.
Well, what about if you let Britton pitch a 2nd inning? Or maybe even a 3rd? That's got to improve your chances since you're facing Liriano.This was a tie game, even if he uses Britton and he pitches a scoreless 11th, the O's are still no better than 50/50 to win it.
Ubaldos stats after any number of pitches are probably worse and he got left in with multiple men on vs the heart of the order where any hit ends the seasonPedro's numbers after 100 pitches were not all that great, and with a 3 run lead there was no reason to push him.
This was a tie game, even if he uses Britton and he pitches a scoreless 11th, the O's are still no better than 50/50 to win it.
If you can't grasp the concept of blowing a game that one had a 90% chance to win is worse than blowing a game one had a 50% chance to win (at best). I don't know what else there is I can say.Ubaldos stats after any number of pitches are probably worse and he got left in with multiple men on vs the heart of the order where any hit ends the season
True the Sox were up by three runs. But it was Pedro a sure fire HOFer that he went too long with instead of calling on Mike Timlin. Everyone except Little knew Pedro was done but it was still Pedro, one of the greatest ever. Buck chose a washed up starter who was converted to a reliever like yesterday ahead of the most elite closer in baseball. As Dejesus said he already cheated death in the 9th and now even with Jiminez giving up 2 straight hits he still held Britton back. It looks like Britton would have been the last man out of the pen if Baltimore hadn't taken a lead. This has to be one of the worst strategies in playoff history.There is no way this is worse than Grady Little, Little turned an almost sure win into a loss. At worst Buck lost a 50/50 game.
No one is arguing that it was a horrible decision, one of the worst ever, just not as bad as Grady Little's.True the Sox were up by three runs. But it was Pedro a sure fire HOFer that he went too long with instead of calling on Mike Timlin. Everyone except Little knew Pedro was done but it was still Pedro, one of the greatest ever. Buck chose a washed up starter who was converted to a reliever like yesterday ahead of the most elite closer in baseball. As Dejesus said he already cheated death in the 9th and now even with Jiminez giving up 2 straight hits he still held Britton back. It looks like Britton would have been the last man out of the pen if Baltimore hadn't taken a lead. This has to be one of the worst strategies in playoff history.
Ok if there is one small sliver of good to come out of this crime against baseball humanity, its this tweet. Though I feel sick for Simon.
So is he. He sounded dumbfounded by the whole thingI am still waiting for Britton to come into this game.
Dude, that was the end of the game.Dempsey said buck made the right call. Gotta save britton for the end of the game...
I can see now I was being nearly creative enough.I'm not rooting for either of these teams.
Best outcome to me is something that causes great heartache for one of the fanbases.
No hitter loss would be a good one. Monster 9th inning rally another. Lose the game on a blown and non-reviewable call another.
I'll keep thinking of more
To be fair, he got away with using Duensing for an out before that. Brian Duensing!!As I think back to the end of the game last night, what impresses me the most is not the stupidity of bringing in Jimenez, but how quickly Karma decided to bite Buck in the ass for it. I mean, what did he throw out there? 6 pitches total? And every swing was solid contact until he gave up the rocket.
Awesome.